Canadian innovators are mobilized by the Canadian Space Agency to bolster the development of new remote health technologies
The Health Beyond initiative was created by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to leverage our country’s expertise in healthcare, medical research and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. The initiative seeks to identify and develop innovative, relevant, and sustainable solutions for healthcare challenges that astronauts are likely to on deep-space missions. The information gathered will also help Canadians living in remote or isolated locations.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry stated, “Canadians living in remote or isolated communities share some of the same healthcare challenges as astronauts on missions to distant destinations. With the Deep Space Healthcare Challenge, the Government of Canada wants to find solutions that will benefit both astronauts and those living in medically isolated locations here on Earth.”
The CSA invited some of Canada’s prominent medical minds to form an Advisory Council on Deep-Space Healthcare. The Council produced a detailed report outlining possibilities for a comprehensive program that could benefit deep-space healthcare as well as terrestrial. In alignment with the one of the recommendations the Deep Space Healthcare Challenge was launched. Participants in this challenge will design new diagnostic and detection solutions to support frontline health workers in remote communities as well as crews on future, long-duration space missions. Canadian innovators are requested to submit a concept of their healthcare technology by February 1, 2022. The challenge is being run by the CSA in collaboration with the Privy Council Office’s Impact Canada