Impact4kids, new program to promote pediatric and maternal health innovation projects

i4KIDS, the pediatric innovation hub coordinated by SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital and Stanford Biodesign’s Impact1 has launched Impact4kids. It is the first acceleration program offering transatlantic collaboration between innovation ecosystems in the United States and Europe, it also seeks to drive and support innovation projects focused on pediatric and maternal health.

The aim is to promote and accelerate the development of disruptive technological solutions such as medical and biotechnological devices, digital health and healthcare services.

The Impact4kids program is designed to reinforce collaboration between the United States and Europe, connecting researchers, startups and entrepreneurs as experts in the two markets. The program offers personalised training, individual mentorship, direct connection with innovation networks in the two continents, and a network of expert contacts.

Startups, businesses and research projects which opted to participate in Impact4kids were able to present their applications until 26 January 2025.

Presentation of Impact4kids took place during pediatric Innovation Day (PID), celebrated in Barcelona on 21 November. PID took place in the Catalan capital, after being held in Varsovia and Riga for the last two years. The five projects supported by another acceleration program, the i4KIDS Acceleration Program’s Pitch Competition, were also announced during the event.

Those leading the five projects participated in the Pitch Competition presenting their progress to a jury of experts who assessed their potential impact, viability, and the communication skills of each startup’s representatives. X-Trem, a biomarker-based approach to classify the severity of infections which affect children, was selected and awarded 7500 euros to continue progressing towards their goal of reaching the market.