Future of Healthcare using Artificial Intelligence Mission to France

Date: May 16 to 20, 2022

Request for expression of interest

Global Affairs Canada, through the Embassy of Canada in France and the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), will be pleased to receive your application to participate in the "Future of Healthcare using Artificial Intelligence" Mission to France, which will take place from May 16 to 20, 2022, in Paris and Grenoble.

Interested companies must apply no later than February 25, 2022.

Note: This mission is being planned as an in-person event requiring travel to France. However, travel must be consistent with Canada's travel advice and advisories and those of France. If these advisories recommend against travel to France at the time the mission, the mission may have to take place virtually. This means  some elements of the program would be held virtually and others may have to be cancelled. Additionally, any funding approved for participant travel to the mission would be rescinded.

Mission objective

The mission will focus on identifying collaboration opportunities for Canadian Small-to Medium-Size Enterprises (SMEs) with potential French partners for industrial R&D collaboration specific to the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence in the digital healthcare sector.

Examples of R&D collaboration include, but are not limited to the following:

• validation of Canadian technology to the French markets;
• adaptation of Canadian technology to meet French market characteristics; and/or,
• joint development of new products, technologies and/or services by combining Canadian and French technology.

Canadian delegate profile

Canadian participants to the mission to France should meet the requirements below in order to benefit from this initiative:

• Profit-oriented, small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) incorporated in Canada;
• Previous experience in commercializing technology for domestic and/or international markets;
• Capacity and interest to co-develop technology with French partners;
• Committed to expansion to the French market; and,
• Sufficient working capital and human resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results

Technology and products of particular interest for this mission include:

• AI for augmented diagnosis (imaging, omics, neurotechnoloy);
• AI for personalized medicine (oncology, neurology, cardiology, ophthalmology);
• AI for medical research, prevention and pandemic preparedness (data analytics).

Mission Description

The Future of Healthcare using Artificial Intelligence mission will be taking place over a four-day period in May 2022 and will consist of multiple B2B activities and meeting with key digital healthcare-related organizations. The mission will focus on establishing industrial R&D collaborations opportunities (specifically for technology co-development validation and adaption) in the digital health sector and has been designed to promote discussions on commercialization-oriented R&D collaboration opportunities.

Planned elements of the mission include:

• Pre-mission briefing and pitch training sessions;
• Information sessions providing market insights, and joint R&D funding opportunities.
• Speaking opportunities for Canadian participants to present their company capabilities for industrial R&D collaborations to French stakeholders, including healthcare companies, research labs, university hospitals, private hospitals, health tech clusters, and public health agencies.
• Tailored B2B meetings with French companies (SMEs and MNEs), and Research Centres to discuss R&D collaborations opportunities.
• Networking opportunities with key stakeholders of the digital health ecosystems: technology SMEs, key opinion leaders, health industries, digital health systems integrators, health insurance companies.
• Site visits of leading digital health ecosystem infrastructures in 2 cities: Paris and Grenoble.

Why France?

The French healthcare is public, and the market access is driven by reimbursement. The regulatory pathway can be long and complex, and specific to the country. This in-market partnering mission will provide an opportunity to better understand how to address those challenges.

The digital health sector in France is thriving, with a focus on AI, and the French context is currently favourable for technological partnership and co-innovation projects with:

• 2B€ to be invested in digital health by 2030, in which 1,5 B€ comes from the private sector.
• 650 M€ allocated by the Government for a transition towards 5P medicine (predictive, preventive, personalized, patient centered and value based) .
• Recognized critical role of AI to advance Medical research.
• New AI and oncology association with a goal of generating new R&D collaborations.
• Over 50 validation projects in real care settings funded by the Government by 2025.
• Home of leading industry champions in digital health such as: Sanofi, Servier, Ipsen, Dassault Systems, Thales, etc.
• A similar model as the German DiGA Fast Track value assessment process currently under evaluation.
• Strong France-Canada partnership on data governance and innovation in AI.

Financial support for travel to the mission

The Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) may provide financial support to eligible Canadian participants for 50% of all eligible expenses (see application process below) that include but are not limited to the following:

• Economy airfare;
• Local transportation;
• Accommodation;
• Meals; and,
• Conference registration fees.

See CIIP Applicant Guide for the complete list of eligible expenses. The CIIP Applicant Guide can be received by contacting CIIP at innovation@international.gc.ca.

How to apply for participation

1. Interested companies should request an application form from Sandrine Caduc (Sandrine.caduc@international.gc.ca), Trade Commissioner (Innovation) at the Embassy of Canada in Paris. In your request, please provide a brief summary of your company.
2. A full application form requesting additional information on your company, your technology and your interest in discussing possible R&D opportunities will be sent to you. In your request, please respond to every question in detail.
3. Completed application forms are due no later than February 25, 2022 to Sandrine Caduc in Paris (Sandrine.caduc@international.gc.ca).
4. The Embassy of Canada in Paris and NRC IRAP will select companies to participate in the mission. Selected applicants can expect to be notified no later than March 8, 2022.
5. Companies formally selected to participate in the mission will be invited to apply for travel funding support. Interested participants should request a travel funding form from Sandrine Caduc (Sandrine.caduc@international.gc.ca).
6. Companies who have applied for travel support will be notified of the funding decision no later than March 25, 2022.

Important notes:

Participation is limited. Applications submitted will be assessed to determine the applicant's eligibility to participate in this R&D mission, based on the quality of the information on the company, the company's technology and the appropriateness of the technology for the CIIP target market.

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please see the CIIP webpage and/or email CIIP at innovation@international.gc.ca. 

Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in collaboration with the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) delivers the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) in France. CIIP supports industrial R&D collaborations between Canadian SMEs and companies in key markets, including France.