2026 FCVC Innovation Challenge

• Limit videos to 3 minutes

• Briefly describe:

  • The problem you are trying to solve

  • The idea or solution that you are pitching

  • Who your idea will benefit

  • How you will go about executing your idea

  • Total amount of funds requested

  • How you will utilize the funds if awarded (your budget)

  • The team that will complete the work

• Videos can be filmed on a phone or tablet, on Zoom, or any other method of creating a video file. Videos can feature team members' faces, a presentation, or a tour through a space - feel free to get creative! Videos will be available to the public, so videos must be HIIPA compliant. See below for additional criteria.

• Your Commercial Product/Service Innovation will be evaluated on elements of the following criteria:

  • Is your project aligned with FCVC Mission of superior compassionate patient and family-centered care, innovative science and discovery, and excellence in education?

  • Technology/Idea

    • What problem is your idea trying to solve and why your idea would solve this problem?

    • Who is impacted by the problem?

    • What is the severity of the problem?

    • How frequently does the problem occur?

    • Is there established intellectual property or the potential for intellectual property?

    • Have you collected preliminary data (as applicable)? Did your preliminary data demonstrate that your idea is feasible?

  • Team

    • What are the current skills/roles/expertise of team members?

    • Why is your team the right group to bring this product to market?

    • Are there any gaps in skills or expertise that need to be filled to take the product to market?

  • Value Proposition/Market Needs

    • What is your unique value proposition?

    • What is the value your product provides?

    • Is there a market opportunity to be captured or to make the project feasible? Please provide appropriate supportive data.

    • How have you engaged relevant stakeholders?

    • Are there other currently available solutions to the problem? If so, why is your solution more effective than other currently available solutions?

  • Implementation Strategy

    • Can you identify an implementation path? What metrics will measure and define success?

    • What is your budget? If additional funds are required for full implementation, what is your follow-on funding strategy after 1 year?

    • Have you identified key partnerships?

• Your System-based/Process Improvement Innovation will be evaluated on elements of the following criteria:

  • Specific

    • What problem is your idea trying to solve and why your idea would solve this problem?

    • Who is impacted by the problem?

    • What is the severity of the problem?

    • How frequently does the problem occur?

  • Measurable

    • What metrics will measure and define success?

    • How will it add value to the CVC? (examples: time saved, costs saved/avoided, increased customer or staff satisfaction, increased customer or staff safety, reduced readmissions or length of stay, organizational design improvement, increased preventative behaviors)

  • Achievable

    • Have you identified appropriate skills/roles needed to execute your project? Which of these need to be filled?

    • Have you collected preliminary data (as applicable)? Did your preliminary data demonstrate that your idea is feasible?

  • Relevant

    • Is your project aligned with FCVC Mission of superior compassionate patient and family-centered care, innovative science and discovery, and excellence in education?

    • How is it innovative at University of Michigan Health?

    • How have you engaged relevant stakeholders?

    • Are there other currently available solutions to the problem? If so, why is your solution more effective than other currently available solutions?

  • Timebound

    • How will your project be implemented?

    • What is your timeline?

    • What are your major milestones?

  • Budget

    • What is your budget? If additional funds are required for full implementation, what is your strategy for sustainability after 1 year?

• Your Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation will be evaluated on elements of the following criteria:

  • Is your project aligned with FCVC's Mission of superior compassionate patient and family-centered care, innovative science and discovery, and excellence in education?

  • Technology and Model Development

    • What problem is your idea trying to solve and why your idea would solve this problem?

    • Who is impacted by the problem?

    • What is the severity of the problem?

    • How frequently does the problem occur?

    • Is there established intellectual property or the potential for intellectual property?

    • How was the solution trained, and what model was used (e.g., AI algorithm type)?

    • Is the model type appropriate to the output/outcome type?

    • How was the possibility of unfairness or bias eliminated? Assure proper consideration of this issue.

    • Were clinicians and relevant domain experts involved in the development process?

  • Resources - Team, Data, and Compute

    • What are the current skills/roles/expertise of team members? Does the team have a data scientist or a biostatistician?

    • Why is your team the right group to bring this product to market?

    • Are there any gaps in skills or expertise that need to be filled to take the product to market?

    • What patient population was used (inclusion and exclusion criteria)? What are the main characteristics of the clinical setting?

    • What was the size of the patient population?

    • What were the main characteristics of the patient population? 

  • Value Proposition / Market Needs

    • What is your unique value proposition? What is the value your product provides?

    • What is the clinical need and problem that the solution is trying to solve?

    • Is there a market opportunity to be captured or to make the project feasible? Please provide appropriate supportive data.

    • How have you engaged relevant stakeholders?

    • Are there other currently available solutions to the problem? If so, why is your solution more effective than other currently available solutions?

    • What is the current workflow process, and how are decisions made? What are the negative implications of the current situation? What is the proposed new workflow process assisted by an AI-driven solution?

    • What is the expected output of the AI solution? (Generated text? A predicted probability or classification based on input data? A causal estimate of how an outcome’s probability changes given certain interventions? Note that each option requires different analytical methods!)

  • Implementation and Monitoring Strategy

    • Can you identify an implementation path? What are the performance metrics (e.g., general accuracy / PPV / sensitivity) and thresholds above which it is worthwhile/reasonable to adopt an AI solution?

    • At which stage is the solution expected to integrate into the clinical workflow?

    • In which information system will the solution’s outputs be presented? What is the expected user experience (seamless integration into the workflow, availability, etc.)?

    • On which server is the solution planned to run? Will it have sufficient memory and processing abilities?

    • Will the required data inputs be delivered to the relevant server in a timely resolution? Is there a need for some data to be delivered in real time?

    • How often is an update (retraining) required from developmental and clinical perspectives?

    • Can the expected benefit of the solution deployment be quantified?

    • How will performance be evaluated and monitored over time? 

    • How will subjective user feedback (e.g., satisfaction, ease of use) be collected?

    • What is the plan for summarizing and reporting the ongoing evaluation?

    • What is your budget? If additional funds are required for full implementation, what is your follow-on funding strategy after 1 year?

    • Have you identified key partnerships?

• Use the video format as an opportunity to show the problem, team, or solution. 

• You can use Zoom to record yourself or a powerpoint presentation. 

What is the purpose of the Innovation Challenge?

The Innovation Challenge offers an opportunity for faculty, staff, trainees, patients, and families to design and implement novel solutions to improve the quality (safety, efficacy, timeliness, efficiency, patient-centeredness, equity) and cost of patient care in an interdisciplinary fashion. 

The Innovation Challenge funds innovation projects to apply knowledge to create something new or improved and does not fund research projects to advance knowledge. Research projects looking for funding should visit the FCVC Research Funding Opportunities website.

When does the Challenge start?

The Challenge will open for submissions starting January 6, 2026.  All ideas must be submitted by Friday, February 6, at 11:59 EST.

Who will see my idea?

Submitted proposals will be publicly viewable after a brief review for proprietary or sensitive information. 

What if I don’t have anyone to collaborate with?

Email FCVCInnovation@umich.edu with questions or to be connected to a team. Our hope is that teams will form around common interests and ideas.

I have a question or comment about a submission. How can I submit it?

Feel free to contact the teams directly or email FCVCInnovation@umich.edu. Your questions and comments can help strengthen proposals.

If I can’t think of an idea, are there still ways for me to participate in the Innovation Challenge?

Absolutely! You can spread the word about the challenge to your friends and colleagues, you can contact teams to comment on proposals, and you can also attend the contest event on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 3-5 pm.

What are the contest rules?

• You must be at least 18 years old to submit an idea or proposal.

• Any suggestions or ideas included in your comment will not be treated as confidential by Michigan.  Do not include any confidential information in your submission.

• Michigan is free to use and commercially exploit in any way, any and all ideas or suggestions you submit.  You will not be compensated for any ideas or suggestions you provide.  

• Projects based upon intellectual property must utilize intellectual property owned by the University of Michigan.

• You agree to release and hereby release Michigan from any claims you may have against Michigan in connection with ideas or suggestions provided in your comment.

What are the stipulations of funding?

• In case of overlap or any conditions that prevent your team from completing this project, unspent (prorated) funds must be returned.

• As a result of this award, we ask that you report regularly on the status of progress.

• We ask that you report the occurrence of any of the following:

  • Departmental or other funding as a result of this award

  • Abstracts, posters, or publications

  • Patent applications, technology transfer, or development of a spin-off company

  • Other relevant accomplishments or honors

• Use of funding for faculty or staff credentialing or training must be clearly linked to the outcomes or deliverables for your project. If credentialing or training is required for your proposal budget, it is recommended that you clarify with the Innovation Core Team while preparing your submission.

I submitted my idea, but I want to make a change. How can I do that?

• If the idea submission window is still open, email FCVCInnovation@umich.edu to let us know you would like to make a change.  If the submission window has closed and you have a major update (e.g., data, new team member), feel free to email us and let us know. We will try to incorporate the information into our judging process.

Can funding be used to support employee salaries?

• In certain projects, the best model of execution requires a designated employee, and this may require hiring a specific person/expertise. In some cases, a term-limited position can be supported, with no expectation that support for this position will be provided outside of the funding and term of this grant.

• If your project is likely to require the creation of a term-limited position, consider and plan for:

  • The time to post, interview, and hire for the new position.

  • Salary and benefits required for the position.

  • Is the intent to transition this position to an FTE? What is the path to this? How will this be justified within one year?

If my project previously won an Innovation Challenge grand prize or Just Do It Award, can we apply for additional funds for the project?

• No. Projects are awarded funding one time and are evaluated with the expectation that they will be sustained after the Innovation Challenge funding by another funding source.