ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic is now accepting applications for a new Social Innovation Grant poised to address health care disparities in Olmsted County. Visit the Mayo Clinic Community Engagement page for application materials and additional information. Applications are due July 31, 2023.

The grant, sponsored by Mayo Clinic’s Department of Medicine, will be awarded to digital innovation projects that improve health, enhance health care delivery, and promote greater health equity in the greater Rochester area. Mayo Clinic is working with the state’s Launch Minnesota program to connect with innovators, nonprofits, and small businesses from across the state to address these issues.

Successful proposals will impact mental health, substance use, and access to care, the three most critical needs identified in the area’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment.

“The Social Innovation Grant request for proposals is a new approach to addressing health equity. Our goal with this grant is to build something sustainable and potentially scalable throughout our community,” says Vijay Shah, M.D., chair of Mayo Clinic’s Department of Medicine in Rochester. “We want to connect our commitment to caring for our community with our business development expertise through this opportunity.” 

Application Details

Winning proposals will receive:

• Funding to support the development of a 12-month proof of concept. Award funds will be allocated based on the needs of each winning proposal.
• Personalized coaching and consulting sessions with internal business development experts and subject matter experts from the Mayo Clinic practice.
• Evaluation for possible business collaborations with Mayo Clinic and third-party partners.

Work will begin in fall 2023.

Small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) and nonprofit organizations seeking project support are encouraged to apply. Solutions should share implementation details, address barriers to success, demonstrate impact, and outline the potential for collaboration with Mayo Clinic and third-party partners. Ideal applicants will also have strategies to build a scalable, sustainable model and feature effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable technology.

For more application information on the Social Innovation Grant, visit the Mayo Clinic Community Engagement page.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About Launch Minnesota
Launch Minnesota is part of Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Office of Small Business Development. Launch Minnesota empowers and elevates our state’s innovation ecosystem. Launch Minnesota helps make Minnesota the best place to start and scale new ventures by providing access to capital, statewide connectivity, and expertise. Find additional details at LaunchMinnesota.org and the JoinUsMn.com website.

Media contact:

• Ryan Cardarella, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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