Connecticut Children’s Launches New Center for Innovation

Hartford, Conn. – Connecticut Children’s is pleased to announce the launch of its new Center for Innovation, a formal commitment to pioneer child health innovation that will turn ideas from “What if, into What’s Next.” The primary goal of the new Center will be to foster innovative thinking within the hospital and with external partners in order to ultimately improve patient experience, outcomes and cost in Connecticut and beyond.

The Center for Innovation will offer Connecticut Children’s team members an infrastructure to support innovation, attend workshops and take advantage of numerous programs to support strategic incubation and acceleration for ideas identified as having potential for commercialization.

“The Center for Innovation represents the realization of our strategic plan to embrace innovation and support our researchers and innovators as we uncover powerful, life-changing ideas in the pursuit of health and well-being for children,” said Gil Peri, President and Chief Operating Officer. “I am most proud that Connecticut Children’s is not just facilitating the exploration of innovation, rather we are 100 percent committed to this program through the development of a dedicated innovation lab, strong education tracks, mentorship, partner infrastructure and more.”

At launch, core resources include access to a network of experienced business and entrepreneur mentors, facilitation of medical and technological partners, corporate partners and a robust project management tracking system. A series of workshops will be offered to focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, with courses that include market assessment, product development and competitive differentiation, brand development and much more.

After the vetting process, potential ventures will receive additional support including a dedicated mentor and support for business plan development, legal and other corporate partner services, along with intense extracurricular training in pitching and implementation planning.

“The Connecticut Children’s Center for Innovation will provide selected entrepreneurs and established businesses the opportunity to co-develop and clinically validate innovations that have market potential to improve child health,” said Peri.

About Connecticut Children’s
Connecticut Children’s is the only hospital in Connecticut dedicated exclusively to the care of children and ranked one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and a Magnet® designated hospital. Connecticut Children’s provides more than 30 pediatric specialties along with community-based programs to uniquely care for the physical, social, and emotional needs of children. Our team of pediatric experts and care coordinators bring access to breakthrough research, advanced treatments for both rare and common diseases, and innovative health and safety programs to every child. Connecticut Children’s is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to improve access to healthcare for all children through convenient locations, care alliances and partnerships.