The Isle of Man has named four winners in its 2026 Innovation Challenge on health and social care. The programme drew 125 entries from 25 countries, with winners selected from 15 finalists.
Concentric Health won the Working Smarter category, BeatModules took the Wellness award, and Plainstep won Home First. A separate Biosphere Award went to The Wellbeing Doctors and helfy.
Now in its fourth year, the annual challenge focused this time on health and social care. It was designed to connect businesses with practical problems faced by healthcare services and communities.
Finalists took part in a 10-week process involving the Isle of Man Government, Manx Care, Public Health Isle of Man and frontline professionals. The programme ended with presentations in Douglas before a judging panel drawn from health innovation, public health and Manx institutions.
Each winner offered a different approach to care delivery and prevention. Concentric Health developed a digital consent and shared decision-making system for clinicians and patients, while BeatModules runs a wellbeing and education platform aimed at helping young people build healthier habits.
Plainstep’s platform is designed to recover unused outpatient appointments through automated waitlist management. The Biosphere Award winner, The Wellbeing Doctors and helfy, offers a doctor-led digital health service built around clinical diagnostics and lifestyle medicine.
The challenge was led by Digital Isle of Man, an agency within the Department for Enterprise, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, Manx Care and Public Health Isle of Man. Judges included Philip Jennings, Chief Executive Officer at Health Innovation North West Coast; Teresa Cope, Chief Executive, Manx Care; Professor Tim O’Neill, Interim Chief Executive, Department of Health & Social Care; Dr Matt Tyrer, Director of Public Health, Isle of Man; and Jason Bissell, Chair, Biosphere Isle of Man.
This year’s finalists reflected a broad range of work across health technology and service redesign, including clinical support tools, remote monitoring systems, digital care platforms, workforce tools and community-based models.
Support package
The four winners will now receive six months of support through the programme, including access to mentors, investors, regulators, government representatives and industry stakeholders.
Officials presented the challenge as part of a wider effort to build the Isle of Man’s profile as a place where companies can work with public bodies and test products in live settings. For finalists, the value extended beyond the awards through direct contact with decision-makers and potential users.
Claire Christian, Minister for Health and Social Care, said: “Health and social care systems across the world are facing significant challenges, but they are also facing unprecedented opportunities for innovation.
“Throughout this Challenge we have seen inspiring ideas, talented founders and practical solutions that have the potential to improve outcomes for patients, support healthcare professionals and strengthen services. The Challenge has demonstrated the value of bringing global ideas and expertise together with local challenges and priorities.
“We look forward to continuing conversations with the winners and exploring how innovation can help shape the future of health and social care both on the Isle of Man and beyond.”
Lyle Wraxall, Chief Executive of Digital Isle of Man, said: “The Innovation Challenge demonstrates what can happen when innovation is connected to access: access to expertise, access to decision-makers and access to real-world environments where ideas can be tested and refined. The calibre of companies attracted to this year’s programme reflects the growing international reputation of the Isle of Man as a place where innovators can engage directly with decision-makers, access expertise and move from concept to practical application.
“What makes the Isle of Man unique is its ability to bring together innovators, clinicians, policymakers and regulators in a way that allows ideas to be explored, challenged and progressed quickly.
“For many finalists, the greatest value of the Challenge extends beyond the awards themselves. It lies in the relationships built throughout the programme and the opportunities those relationships create.
“We look forward to continuing those conversations with this year’s winners as they explore future partnerships, pilots and commercial opportunities both on the Isle of Man and beyond.”
According to the organisers, the challenge received 467 registrations in total, its highest level to date.