BioInnovate Programme

The BioInnovate Programme is a 10-month full-time specialist medical device and digital health innovation programme, based at the University of Galway. Focusing on a proven needs-led innovation process, BioInnovate participants are expertly guided with mentorship from academic, industry and clinical experts. The process, first established at Stanford University, involves three key steps – Identify, Invent, Implement. Working together in assigned multidisciplinary teams, participants work together to discover, filter and validate unmet healthcare needs (Identify), define the value proposition for solving the need, de-risk the business idea (Invent), and design a strategy for commercialisation (Implement). 

The BioInnovate Programme provides participants with a tax-free monthly scholarship totalling €38,000 over the 10-month duration (equivalent to an annual salary of €64,650 inclusive of tax). Additionally, programme fees up to €5,750 are covered. For more information, visit Programme Fees & Funding.  

Since the inception of BioInnovate, 33 health technology startups have been formed and our alumni network, (of 159 fellows), have gone on to become industry leaders within their respective fields and are driving advancements in medical technology globally.   

For a more detailed understanding of how the programme works and to see a monthly breakdown, visit our Programme Overview.

Apply for the BioInnovate Programme 2025/26

Since 2024, BioInnovate has been supported under Enterprise Ireland’s Innovators' Initiative programme, a new €30M national programme, co-funded by the EU under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), aimed at developing a series of immersive, needs-led innovation training programmes. Read more at: Enterprise Ireland Innovators' Initiative

BioInnovate is supported under the Innovators' Initiative Programme co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021 - 2027. Learn more.