What if you’re a doctor or researcher with a promising AI idea, but no budget to get started? For participants of the exquAIro AI & Data Bootcamp, concrete support is available. Through our dedicated funding scheme, the exquAIro Grants, we offer financial backing to clinician-scientist and biomedical researchers who, after successfully completing the bootcamp, want to start working on AI applications that can improve healthcare.
“We see in our bootcamps that there are so many good ideas, but it’s difficult to plant the first seed,” says Prof. Dr. Gerard Koppelman, Chair of the Board of exquAIro. “With the exquAIro Grants, we aim to lower that threshold and empower people to truly get their innovative plans off the ground.”
Two types of grants
The grants are available in two forms: Pilot Grants and Impact Grants. The Pilot Grants are intended for smaller, exploratory projects and range from €50,000 to a maximum of €75,000 over a period of two years. These grants can, for example, be used to generate an initial dataset or to demonstrate that an AI application works in practice.
The first round of exquAIro Pilot Grants was completed in October 2024, with two grants awarded to Menno Douwes and Martin de Borst, both of whom successfully completed the exquAIro Bootcamp. Prof. Dr. Gerard Koppelman: “This is an important milestone for them, and for the further development of medical innovations that emerge from our bootcamp.”
The Impact Grants go one step further. These grants — to up to approximately €1 million — are aimed at projects that are already further developed and have the potential to make a large-scale impact on medical practice. These larger grants are financed through external funds, with exquAIro actively helping to connect applicants to the right funding sources.
Core criteria for a successful application
The exquAIro Grants target biomedical researchers and clinician-scientists who want to realize their AI projects, with a strong focus on societal relevance. “The grants are intended for projects that can really make a difference in healthcare,” says Prof. Dr. Gerard Koppelman, Chair of the Board of exquAIro. exquAIro uses three core criteria in the selection and review process.
“We’re looking first for projects that use unique data — for example, data that’s only available at UMCG or through collaboration with other institutions. Second, we want to see the application of state-of-the-art AI models to that data. And third: how can your discovery be turned into real impact for the patient? That could mean cost savings, valorization, or even the development of patents or new companies.”
Koppelman stresses that exquAIro works closely with the UMCG Innovation Center to bring scientific discoveries to market. “We don’t just want to develop technology: we want to ensure it’s actually implemented in care, so that it provides tangible benefits for patients and healthcare professionals.”
The process
The grant application and review process is straightforward. Participants in the exquAIro AI & Data Bootcamp start working on their grant application during the training and can submit their proposal to the foundation afterward. Koppelman highlights the independence and international scope of the review process: “The applications are reviewed by an independent committee of internal and external international experts. For each proposal, we assess what expertise is needed; if that expertise isn’t available in the standing committee, additional experts are brought in to ensure a thorough evaluation.”
Open to everyone in biomedical research
Gerard Koppelman emphasizes that the exquAIro Bootcamp is open to anyone active in biomedical research — from clinician-scientists to biomedical researchers. “We have an open and inclusive approach, giving everyone involved in biomedical research a chance to contribute to medical innovation,” says Koppelman. “Applicants for the grants must first complete the Bootcamp successfully, as this guarantees excellent quality of the application.
Want to know more?
Interested in the exquAIro Bootcamps, and the exquAIro Grants? Contact Prof. Dr. Gerard Koppelman, Chair of the Board of exquAIro or send an email at info@exquAIro.com. Or explore the detailed information at our website.