Johnson & Johnson is offering funding to support innovative AI solutions in surgical care worldwide.
To accelerate the adoption of AI in the operating room, Johnson & Johnson MedTech has launched the Polyphonic AI Fund for Surgery QuickFire Challenge.
The company is inviting researchers and innovators across the globe in surgical data science to submit ideas for AI technologies that can:
• Enhance surgical decision-making
• Improve data management and governance
• Increase surgical efficiency in connected operating rooms.
J&J is providing grants of up to $100,000, along with mentorship and access to advanced computing resources.
Recently, J&J partnered with Nvidia in March 2024 to develop surgical software that supports real-time data analysis during procedures. This collaboration combines J&J’s expertise in medical technology with Nvidia’s powerful AI chips.
In June 2024, J&J launched the Polyphonic platform to aid in developing and deploying surgical AI applications. To further support this initiative, AWS has joined as a partner, providing cloud computing capabilities, tools, and mentorship to help developers bring their AI innovations to life.
Innovators around the world are invited to submit ideas for AI technologies with the potential to enhance surgical care and improve patient outcomes across the following categories:
• Surgical decision support: Perioperative AI that augments delivery of care throughout the procedure, reduces cognitive load and has the potential to serve as a surgeon co-pilot
• Data management and governance processes: Efforts pursuing breakthroughs in data infrastructure, privacy and consent management, labelling frameworks, and regulatory research
• Surgical efficiency: AI that boosts coordination across care teams, amplifies care team proficiency and improves patient management, all towards enabling seamless delivery of perioperative care.
Specific surgical areas of interest include soft tissue surgery including but not limited to colorectal, bariatric, thoracic, urology, gynaecology and general surgery.
Applicants may receive cutting-edge computing tools, software development kits and cloud services to advance their innovations.
The application deadline for this funding is 22 August 22 2025.
Successful applicants will be announced in September or October, with subsequent reviews on a rolling basis through the end of 2026.
A spokesperson said: ‘At Johnson & Johnson, we seek to identify and source promising AI-driven innovation that has the potential to transform surgical care. This challenge builds on J&J MedTech’s commitment to progress what’s next in surgery to help improve patient outcomes.’
For details, click here.
