The HI_DOS program is aimed at Quebec SMEs and is designed to support the security certification and regulatory approval processes as well as the interoperability activities of companies wishing to commercialize connected objects in the healthcare field. Implemented by the Regroupements Sectoriels de Recherche Inductriels (RSRI) Prompt and Medteq+, it is funded by the Ministère de l’Economie et de l’Innovation du Québec (MEI).

The COVID-19 health crisis has led health networks to reflect on how to provide care in the event of a pandemic. Reducing contact between health professionals and patients is necessary to limit the spread of viruses. The use of connected objects allowing remote monitoring in hospitals or at home is a solution.

The challenges of deploying and using connected objects in healthcare are numerous: confidentiality
are numerous: confidentiality, connectivity, interoperability and security of care.

The objective of the HI_DOS program is to support SMEs wishing to market new connected objects in health in their efforts to certify these products.

The RSRI partners

Quebec’s nine RSRIs help propel the province’s economy by catalyzing the emergence of leaders in all emerging technology sectors. They connect entrepreneurs with researchers for innovative projects.

RSRI PROMPT and MEDTEQ+ are partners in the implementation of this program, the two organizations are complementary. Quebec companies with less than 250 employees, members or future members of one of these RSRIs, will be able to be accompanied for two years by both organizations according to their needs.

PROMPT

Created in 2002, Prompt allows, thanks to the financial support of the Quebec government, the creation of partnerships and the setting up of innovation and R&D projects in the ICT, digital, AI, cybersecurity, telecommunications, quantum computing sectors… Within the framework of the HI_DOS program, it will particularly support companies in the field of connected objects and cybersecurity certification.

MEDTEQ+

Officially launched in January 2013 thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, MEDTEQ+ aims to accelerate the development of innovative solutions, their validation and
their integration into health networks and to position, locally and internationally, the products and
products and services from the Quebec and Canadian medtech sector. Together with its partners, it will support companies in the area of licensing and validation in real environments.

The first companies selected

Last May, PROMPT and MEDTEQ+ presented the nine SMEs of the first cohort, selected following a call for projects. They will receive financial support from the MEI for a total of 350,000 per project and per company.

The nine companies selected are: NeuroServo, Eli Health, VitalTracer Children, Carré Technologies, Motion Composites, Thorasys, MY01, Ditch Labs and iMD Research.

Among the projects submitted were:

• The vest developed by Carré Technologies that allows for remote monitoring of patients’ condition, thus reducing travel and absences from work;
• The intelligent medical vaporizer developed by Ditch Labs, combining pharmacology and artificial intelligence to offer a personalized treatment aimed at stopping nicotine consumption and reducing smoking-related deaths;
• The chest patch designed by Vital Tracer to track five vital signs in children and use machine learning algorithms to anticipate critical periods and avoid ICU readmissions;
• The portable brain signal sensor system, capable of detecting abnormalities in real time, whose easy deployment avoids emergency transport of patients from less equipped or isolated medical centers, designed by Neuro Servo.

Translated from Canada : Focus sur HI_DOS, programme Homologation Internet des Objets en Santé