Johnson & Johnson MedTech (NYSE: JNJ) today announced the launch of the Polyphonic AI fund for Surgery.
The fund aims to help develop AI solutions that solve challenges before, during and after surgery. A coalition of companies joined this effort, including Nvidia and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The initiative builds on Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s work to advance AI to redefine modern surgical practices and improve patient outcomes.
J&J says its Polyphonic AI Fund for Surgery aims to ensure the acceleration and responsible governance of data. Its focus centers around proposals that support AI model development, data engineering and management and AI governance.
Initially, one initiative intends to leverage the QuickFire Challenge program, seeking submissions from applicants and grant funding for selected awardees from academic and non-academic institutions, researchers, developers, startups, and established companies. Selected applicant will have the opportunity to receive grant funding up to $100,000 and mentorship from experts across Johnson & Johnson.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech says the effort builds on its own expertise in surgery, Nvidia’s AI infrastructure and AWS’ cloud leadership. It also leverages a previous relationship as the company struck a deal with Nvidia around using AI in surgical robotics about a year ago.
The fund seeks to accelerate how AI reaches global operating rooms by creating high-quality data sets with AI-based annotations. It enables collaborative AI model development and establishes a governance framework for surgical video data science.
“Open innovation and open minds breed the best solutions in service of patients,” said Hani Abouhalka, chair, Surgery, Johnson & Johnson MedTech. “Surgeons and their teams are asking for AI to make an impact. As global leaders in surgery, we are in a position to convene solutions that can improve surgery and offer the expertise and infrastructure to bring these solutions to light through our digital ecosystem.”
Thinking about applying? Learn more about the program in an interview with J&J MedTech SVP and Global Head of Digital Shan Jegatheeswaran at Medical Design & Outsourcing.
