Reimagining Women’s Heart Health – A Social Innovation Challenge

Priority Areas

Proposed models may focus on (but are not limited to):

1. Early risk identification 
   e.g. gender-specific risk assessment tools, AI-enabled screening, postpartum-to-primary care transition models
2. Community-embedded prevention models 
   e.g. culturally tailored programs for underserved populations to encourage screening, healthcare access, and adherence
3. Access innovation & care navigation 
   e.g. reducing diagnostic delay, ensuring follow-up
4. Employer or payer-based Interventions 
   e.g., employer-based detection and follow-up, sustainable financing approaches tied to outcomes

We strongly encourage solutions that keep health equity and community co-design front and center.

Geographic Scope

While cross-country comparative or adaptable models are strongly encouraged, applicants must propose implementation a Proof of Concept (PoC) in two different geographies of which one must be of the following: United States, Germany, China, Japan.

Eligibility

We invite submissions from public–private partnerships, health systems, enterprises, community‑based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions, and warmly encourage collaborations to maximize impact.

Submission Requirements

-please complete the provided template in maximum 3 pages

1. Problem definition (country-specific context required)
2. Description of the innovation model, with a short theory of change and measurable outcomes
3. Target population and health equity strategy
4. Sustainability pathway (revenue, reimbursement, policy integration, partnerships, etc.)
5. Measurable outcomes
6. Scalability strategy
7. Organizational capabilities and strengths, leadership team, and partners
8. Estimated budget and use of funds
9. Submitted ideas must not contain any personal data of any kind. All concepts, models, or proposed interventions must be formulated without including identifiable or potentially identifiable information about individuals, whether patients, community members, employees, or collaborators. This includes, but is not limited to, names, contact details, demographic identifiers, health information, or any other data that could directly or indirectly identify a person. Submissions must rely exclusively on anonymized, aggregated, or hypothetical examples to ensure full compliance with data protection and privacy requirements.

Selection Criteria

The selection of submissions will be made at the sole discretion of the Novartis Foundations, in accordance with the evaluation requirements outlined above. All submissions will be reviewed by a qualified panel with relevant expertise, who will assess each proposal based on the strength of the unmet need addressed, the potential for measurable social impact, the degree of innovation and integration of advanced technologies, the feasibility within the proposed country context, the ability to implement the proposed initiative effectively within the chosen geographies, sustainability beyond philanthropic funding, scalability across regions or systems, and the leadership capability and partnerships of the proposing organization. Proposals must also include an estimated budget and a clear description of the intended use of funds, which will form part of the overall assessment.

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Selected submissions will be invited to participate in the subsequent Request for Proposals process. During this stage, applicants may be asked to provide additional information, clarifications, or supporting documentation to enable a more detailed assessment of their proposed model. Only those submissions invited to the RFP phase will be eligible for further consideration and potential funding.