Priority Digital Health Challenge 2025
The Priority Digital Health Challenge has been created to accelerate the development of innovative patient-centric solutions that address critical healthcare issues. Delivered by the AWS, Cogniss, and the Validitron, the Challenge brings together health experts, non-profits and health systems to develop impactful digital health solutions.
Launched in 2024, the programme has expanded its scope in 2025 to address a wider range of pressing health issues while continuing to welcome and encourage solutions that focus on underserved populations.
The Priority Digital Health Challenge 2025 will build on last year’s success, offering opportunities for innovators to develop, test and scale impactful solutions. The 2025 Challenge is supported by industry-leading partners the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH), Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) and Talking HealthTech.
We are running an information session on Thursday, 1 May 2025. Register here to join.
About the 2024 Challenge
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The inaugural edition of the Challenge, the Priority Population Digital Health Challenge 2024, focused on solutions aimed at underserved populations, tackling key health inequities through digital health solutions. Delivered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) Healthcare, Cogniss and The Validitron, the challenge attracted an incredible lineup of innovators from around the world.
Read about the winners in our press release. The two winning teams gained access to an exclusive, complimentary programme that offers guidance and support through the accelerated creation, validation and deployment of a digital health solution. This included a rapid development bootcamp, co-design and usability services, 12-month access to the Cogniss no-code platform, access to The Validitron Sandbox and services.
Both winners have successfully created and launched their digital health apps.
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Ruby Jackson’s app Melanatal has been making waves. Here is some recent coverage:
BBC | Article: Student creates app to improve care for black babies
Nursing Times | Article: Student midwife develops app to combat skin tone bias
Selection Process
The Challenge will follow a structured selection process:
Application submission: Applicants submit their concepts for review
Shortlisting: Selected applicants will be invited to answer questions or provide more details.
Pitch event: Finalists will virtually pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.
Final evaluation: Winners will be chosen on the day of the pitch event, based on innovation, impact potential, feasibility and scalability.
Key 2025 Dates
Application Criteria
We invite clinicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, health promoters and health providers with a patient-focussed app idea to apply.
The Challenge can be done alongside your normal day job but successful applicants will be able to demonstrate their commitment to the 12 month programme and the impact it will have on their work.
The Challenge is designed to support patient and consumer-facing digital health solutions that drive direct health outcomes, rather than the operational and administrative side of digital health, such as booking systems and EMRs. These are the kind of digital health solutions that are suitable for the Challenge:
Digital therapeutics and interventions
Health education and informational products
Remote patient monitoring solutions
Assessment and diagnostic tools
Diagnosis and treatment support tools
Mental health support products including addiction treatment
Decision support tools for clinicians
Judging Panel
The 2025 panel of healthcare leaders include:
Dr Rowland Illing
Chief Medical Officer and Global Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Annette Schmiede
CEO, Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC)
Anja Nikolic
CEO, Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH)
Peter Birch
Founder and CEO of Talking HealthTech
Prof Wendy Chapman
Director of the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, University of Melbourne
Leon Young
CEO & Founder of Cogniss
Delivered By
The Challenge is delivered by core partners who provide mentorship, resources and technology support for Challenge participants.
AWS is the trusted technology and innovation partner to the global healthcare and life sciences industry, providing unmatched reliability, security, and data privacy. AWS for Healthcare & Life Sciences provides an offering of AWS services and AWS Partner solutions used by thousands of customers globally.
Cogniss is a no-code ecosystem that enables healthcare experts and organsations to create advanced patient-facing digital health apps. No coding or design skills required. Its unique point-and-click interface empowers healthcare experts and organizations to build highly customized apps, at a fraction of the time and cost required by traditional code-based development.
The Validitron is a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and research experts in digital health implementation, human factors, and evaluation. Based at state-of-the-art simulation and design facilities within Melbourne Connect – The University of Melbourne's innovation precinct.
2025 Programme Partners
We are delighted to have the support of leading industry healthcare partners as part of the 2025 Challenge.
Talking HealthTech features content and community for those wanting to learn and connect about technology in healthcare. The podcast features regular discussions with doctors, developers and decision makers involved in digital health and innovation.
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) is Australia’s peak body for digital health representing a united and influential single voice for health informatics and digital health leaders and practioners.
Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) is advancing digital health innovation by linking academia, industry and government to accelerate research implementation, enable effective us of data, connect care, empower the health workforce and support consumers to confidently be in control of their health and wellbeing.
A Ripple Initiative
Interested in running a similar programme around a specific health area or challenge? We invite health systems, NGOs and industry sponsors to partner with us on a future Ripple Initiative. Email us at challenge@cogniss.com.