OCI — Innovating Digital Health Solutions (IDHS)

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and partnerships.

• The applicant must be one or more Ontario Health Teams (OHTs), inclusive of Indigenous Health Care Organizations, or publicly funded Health Service Providers (HSPs).
• The project must be in collaboration with an Ontario-based for-profit digital health technology vendor.
• The technology partner must have a presence in Ontario with research and development and/or manufacturing capabilities and the commercial capacity to deliver the project.
• Collaborations may include community-based organizations and sector experts as additional partners.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

This grant requires collaboration with specific types of organizations and does not detail exclusions for ineligible companies or industries. Restrictions, if any, would aim to align resources with program goals.

Eligible expenses

This grant supports Ontario Health Teams and Indigenous Health Care Organizations in collaboration with technology vendors to implement innovative digital health solutions. The purpose is to improve patient care and optimize the health system through digital transformation.

• Evaluating and adopting digital health technologies that address Ontario’s health system priorities.
• Implementing digital health and virtual care solutions that improve patient outcomes.
• Driving collaboration between health service providers and technology vendors to scale health innovation.
• Enhancing chronic disease management through advanced digital solutions.
• Improving equitable access to digital health solutions in home or community settings.
• Streamlining care processes and improving health service workflows through digital solutions.
• Developing change management strategies for digital health technology implementation.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to Ontario-based companies as determined by the province's governmental priorities. Its purpose is to enhance the digital health innovation ecosystem within Ontario.

• Companies located in the province of Ontario, Canada.

The Innovating Digital Health Solutions (IDHS) program evaluates applications using a set of assessment criteria aligned with program objectives through an external review process. The evaluation and selection criteria include completeness, eligibility, financial compliance, and alignment with provincial digital health priorities.

• Completeness of application
• Eligibility of the applicant
• Financial compliance (appropriate use of funds)
• Alignment with provincial digital health priorities
• Program objectives
• Assessment against the challenge statements
• Quality of the project plan
• Potential patient benefits
• Economic and commercialization potential for the technology company
• Evidence supporting broader uptake and scalability of the technology

The Innovating Digital Health Solutions (IDHS) Program aims to support Ontario-based digital health technologies through collaborative projects involving Ontario Health Teams and technology vendors, while excluding certain activities and funds. Eligible expenses are detailed in the program's guidelines.

• Projects must be completed by March 31, 2024.
• Flow of funds follows a reimbursement model, with an initial 50% released upon project activation.
• All partners must maintain good financial and reporting standing with OCI.
• Funding decisions are made by an External and Internal Review Panel.
• Specific exclusions include clinical trials and activities outside of Ontario.
• Applicants must retain proof of purchases and relevant documentation for financial claims.
• A metrics survey must be completed annually for three years following project completion.