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HomeHealth Equity Innovation Challenge: Submit an idea

Submit an idea

We’re launching the Johnson & Johnson Health Equity Innovation Challenge to seek and accelerate innovations with the potential to advance health equity.
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The Challenge aims to support potential innovative solutions from local entrepreneurs, innovators, and local community-based organizations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia. We’re looking for locally inspired and generated innovative approaches to potentially improve health across a range of pathways: technology, education and training, enhancing diverse representation in science, and public policy and community-based advocacy.



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RTHE: Many hands make the idea work

Submit an idea

Applications for the Johnson & Johnson Health Equity Innovation Challenge will be open on October 2, 2023 and close on November 6, 2023.

Challenge eligibility

Submissions are limited to community-based innovators located within the greater metro areas of Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia. Submissions on behalf of large corporations and national organizations are not eligible.

Proposed solutions must aim to address health inequities that disproportionately impact communities of color. To be considered, submissions must meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria:

Focus on communities of color

  • Propose or demonstrate impact on people of color
  • Submissions must come from and be inspired by one of five cities of interest (Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia)
  • Have a demonstrable link to health and wellness outcomes

Transform or enhance culturally competent healthcare delivery

  • Propose or demonstrate direct impact on the focus community (people of color in one of the five cities of interest) and have broad impact beyond the applying individual or institution
  • Encourage participation or create pathways to achieve greater diversity in science

Community-based offerings

  • Explicitly involve community participation and drive engagement among targeted residents of color with potential solutions that are tailored specifically for each city’s cultural and community differences
  • Headquartered and operated in the community addressed by the application

Policy and Advocacy

  • Address a healthcare concern in a manner intended to improve quality of care and trust in healthcare systems through community-based advocacy initiatives

Evaluation criteria

An external group of public health and health equity experts will review submissions with the aim of ensuring a relevant, localized, and independent assessment in each of the five Challenge cities. Each application will be evaluated based on the ability to meet the following criteria:
  • Focus on health inequities experienced by people of color (see more on Focus Areas)
  • Ability to demonstrate need and measurably impact health within one of the defined metro areas
  • Potential to expand
  • Feasibility and practicality of the solution
  • Implementation plan and timeline
  • Current success metrics
  • Team quality and capabilities
  • Initial funding request does not exceed $75,000

Evaluation process

To identify top ideas and awardee recipients for funding and mentorship, Johnson & Johnson will work with an external group of public health and health equity experts with the aim of ensuring a relevant, localized, and independent assessment in each of the five Challenge cities.
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