Delft-based Momo Medical wins Dutch Innovation Prize 2023 for its BedSense App

Delft-based Momo Medical, a company that improves patient safety through technology, has been announced as the winner of the Dutch Innovation Prize 2023 for its groundbreaking innovation, BedSense.

The Momo BedSense App provides caregivers insights and overview of all residents of the memory care community.

This recognition, awarded by the Amsterdam Center for Business Innovation (ACBI) of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and presented on the AVROTROS TV programme ‘De Wereld van Morgen’ on October 24, signifies Momo Medical’s contribution to addressing a social challenge.

The winner was revealed during the sixth BID National Innovation Gala, a collaborative event involving organisations like TNO, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the UvA, the BID, and Kasteel de Wittenburg.

Additionally, all the nominees were honoured with the BID Innovation Award, which included benefits such as €5,000 in TNO consultancy hours, tickets to the Masters of LXRY event in December, and tickets to the Big Improvement Day scheduled for January 16, 2024.

Ralph van Hessen, initiator of the BID says, “The fact that we have been able to present the BID Innovation Awards indicates that the Netherlands is becoming even more innovative. Thanks to the very successfully attended BID National Innovation Gala, the most innovative companies in the Netherlands have started to work together even more.”

“By the end of the evening, concrete actions have already been taken that will have a positive impact in the Netherlands. Together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the UvA, TNO and the BID, we have started an initiative in which we will bring innovative Netherlands together three times a year to promote innovation, creativity and collaboration,” adds Van Hessen.

Brief about the winner: Momo Medical

Founded in 2017, Momo Medical emphasises the vital role of technology in healthcare, aiming to enhance patient safety and support caregivers. 

The company believes that technology has the potential to make healthcare safer, smarter, and more efficient by providing timely and accurate information to healthcare professionals. 

Momo Medical focuses on preventing pressure ulcers through a monitoring system, demonstrating its commitment to improving healthcare outcomes through innovative solutions.

The company’s BedSense App, a sensor plate placed under nursing home mattresses, offers caregivers real-time insights into memory care residents.

This technology allows caregivers to proactively prevent falls by setting personalised alerts and detecting potential bed exits up to 70 seconds in advance, ensuring a safer and more comfortable night for all residents.

Currently, the App supports nursing staff in the Netherlands, Belgium, the US, and Germany.

According to a statement, the jury applauded Momo Medical for their innovative bed sensor, software, and mesh network solutions, acknowledging their valuable impact on healthcare technology.

Jury chairman Dr. Henk Volberda, professor of Strategy & Innovation at the UvA and director of the ACBI, says, “The winner of the Dutch Innovation Prize 2023 has set itself the goal of contributing in an innovative way to reducing the pressure on healthcare workers in a time of increasing double ageing and staff shortages.”

“New ways of working in healthcare have, therefore, become of great social importance. Momo Medical has shown that it is particularly successful in its mission to achieve innovation in healthcare.”

“They contribute to reducing the pressure on healthcare workers and increasing the quality of life of residents. In addition, Momo Medical is also clearly innovative on an organisational level,” adds Volberda.

The other four nominated companies

The Dutch Innovation Prize shortlisted Momo Medical along with other notable companies like Agri Poppe, Evalan, Mienis Water Purification, and The Protein Brewery. Each nominee stands out for their innovations addressing significant social challenges. 

The selection was based on extensive research, including surveys, desk research, and interviews. The jury evaluated factors like technological novelty, social impact, market position, and innovative organisational characteristics in their decision-making process.

The other four nominated startups include:

Agri Poppe

Family business Agri Poppe introduces a potato harvesting system that enhances the efficiency of existing 2-row and 4-row harvesters on diverse terrains. 

This innovation reduces locomotion force by 80 per cent, potentially halving emissions and lowering particulate matter and nitrogen emissions in agricultural operations.

Evalan

Evalan specialises in global IoT solutions and has developed an IoT connection piece, focusing on the entire IoT chain. This technology streamlines the creation of new IoT solutions to just a few weeks. 

It features an easy-to-connect IoT gateway for field installations and cloud applications for managing the distributed IoT system efficiently.

Mienis Water Purification

Mienis Water Purification, a family business, has created an automated ultrafiltration system that captures organic contaminants in drain, rain, and surface water. This innovation eliminates the need for gardeners to discharge water to control infection pressure. 

Additionally, the company has also developed a system generating oxygen and hydrogen nanobubbles, enhancing plant resilience and improving food production.

The Protein Brewery

The Protein Brewery (TPB) is a developer of protein-rich food ingredients done through fungal production methods. Its product, Fermotein, offers all essential amino acids, is tasteless, odourless, and high in fibre. 

TPB helps the food industry in producing simple, healthy, and sustainable products.

Brief about the Amsterdam Centre for Business Innovation

The ACBI is a knowledge centre affiliated with the Amsterdam Business School, University of Amsterdam. It focuses on diverse forms of business innovation, ranging from new management practices to collaborative value-creation methods. 

ACBI conducts extensive research and utilises academic insights to provide customised services to clients across various sectors. 

These services include commissioned research and executive education, aiming to enhance the innovation-driven competitiveness of businesses, sectors, and regions. 

ACBI claims to serve as a bridge between academia and industry, benefiting both the business community and society at large.