Healthcare Innovation World Cup: Call for Breakthrough Ideas to Tackle Diabetes

New York & Ingelheim, Germany, February 25, 2013– Starting today, entrepreneurs and innovators with novel solutions for tackling the worldwide diabetes epidemic are invited to enter the Healthcare Innovation World Cup for a chance to win part of $75,000 in total funding and key visibility with industry leaders.

"Diabetes imposes a staggering medical and financial toll, and the epidemic is only growing. We must give nascent entrepreneurs and innovators a platform to demonstrate the disruptive technology solutions and care delivery innovations needed to turn this tide," said Klaus Wilgenbus, SVP, PM business development and licensing/strategy at Boehringer Ingelheim, which is funding the competition. "Our goal is to identify the brightest ideas and provide the resources to help achieve scalability."

The Healthcare Innovation and Technology Lab, the World Cup's organizer, will accept initial entries worldwide via www.healthcareinnovationworldcup.com from February 25 to March 31, 2013.

Leaders from healthcare and technology organizations will select the most innovative and promising submissions, and semifinalists will receive expense-paid trips to present business plans at events in New Delhi, India and in New York, USA. The World Cup will culminate in a final event at the German Center for Research and Innovation on May 10 in New York City.

For more information and to enter, visit www.healthcareinnovationworldcup.com.

About theHealthcare Innovation World Cup 

The Healthcare Innovation World Cup challenges entrepreneurs and innovators in healthcare and information technology to tackle global public health issues. In 2013, the competition invites participants worldwide to propose solutions for improving diabetes prevention and management, offering $75,000 in total prize money and opportunities to showcase their work. www.healthcareinnovationworldcup.com

About theHIT Lab 

The Healthcare Innovation and Technology Lab is a cross-disciplinary public health teaching and research organization that studies and educates others about the impact of healthcare information and communications technology on public health. Based in New York, NY, the Lab's team includes faculty, scientists, research scholars and students from top universities around the world. www.hitlab.org

About Boehringer Ingelheim  

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 44,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

In 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 13.2 billion euro. R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 23.5% of its net sales. www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/

About the German Center for Research and Innovation 

The German Center for Research and Innovation provides information and support for the realization of cooperative and collaborative projects between North America and Germany. With the goal of enhancing communication on the critical challenges of the 21st century, GCRI hosts a wide range of events from lectures and exhibitions to workshops and science dinners. Opened in February 2010, GCRI was created as a cornerstone of the German government's initiative to internationalize science and research and is one of five centers worldwide. www.germaninnovation.org

Healthcare Innovation and Technology Lab Media Contact
Annie Alley
Healthcare Innovation and Technology Lab
Phone: +1 (212) 543-0100
e-mail