It’s 2017 and new challenges are ahead of the region’s innovators, entrepreneurs & startups.

Etisalat Digital and Dubai Future Accelerators have recently launched their new healthtech challenge aiming to make healthcare services smarter and more efficient. The ultimate challenge is to reduce patients’ emergency room (ER) visits in the UAE by 30% over the next 10 years through predictive healthcare management enabled by technologies such as IoT, wearables, telemedicine, the cloud, artificial intelligence, Big Data and analytics.

Applications will be open until January 11, 2017, and will be evaluated, afterwhich startups will be shortlisted and selected by January 22. The program begins on February 12, 2017, and ends on April 13 (9 weeks).

Participating startups will have the opportunity to network with a number of stakeholders as well as access resources and expertise from Etisalat Digital. Startups will also have the following benefits if chosen to participate:

• Airfare and accommodation in Dubai
• Dedicated coworking space at DFA
• Support and mentorship from trainers and experts in their field.
• Access to DFA prototype lab.
• Potential partnerships.
• Zero equity in return for startups participation

By the end of the program, Etisalat Digital will reach a final decision to sign a commercial agreement (MOU or contract) with selected startups.

Startups with whom a commercial agreement is concluded by the end of the program will be on boarded in the Etisalat Scale-ups program where they will receive funding, access to Etisalat Digital resources and experts, office space, and support to deliver the pilot project to effectively demonstrate the value and future potential of the partnership and technology.

Apply here before January 11.