AgeTech Innovation Challenge

The US population aged 65 and older is projected to nearly double over the next three decades, rising from 43.1 million in 2012 to an estimated 83.7 million in 2050. With older adults spending more than 80% of their time in and around the house, there is a tremendous opportunity to transform the home environment from a potential source of safety risk into a space of security, good health and independence.

The University of Pittsburgh Healthy Home Laboratory (HHL) is a community laboratory that brings the best science into home settings to maximize health, independence and safety. The HHL designs, develops, evaluates and deploys new and existing technologies, advancing healthy home services and interventions in the community, and creating comprehensive health and environmental assessments to help people live independently and safely at home.

The AgeTech Innovation Challenge will advance Pitt innovations with commercial promise through the direct award of funds, access to the personnel and research resources available in the HHL, and mentorship and support from the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE).  Awards will be granted in amounts up to $50,000 to support pre-commercialization efforts of Pitt technologies with high commercial potential and compelling proof-of-principle or proof-of-concept data.

The HHL, a part of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Pitt Health Policy Institute, and the OIE are sponsoring the AgeTech Innovation Challenge to support the development and commercialization of novel technology solutions designed to meet the needs of the world’s aging population.

The AgeTech Innovation Challenge prioritizes innovations focused on enhancing and maintaining Mobility or Cognition for older adults living at home, which are both foundational elements of health and independence. Technologies should specifically address both of the following goals:

  • Promote Independence to Support Aging in Place: Technologies aiming to promote independence in completing activities of daily living, including by reducing the need for caregiver support, and/or reducing injury risk.
  • Mobility and/or Cognitive Decline: Technologies that specifically address cognitive and/or mobility impairments, which are consistent with increased injury risk, need for caregiver support, or reduced independence.

The AgeTech Innovation Challenge is supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Biotechnology Research Program for the commercialization of applied research and does not support basic research or proof-of-principle studies.

For additional questions, please contact Dori Miller.

The AgeTech Innovation Challenge Spring 2026 Application will open on March 2

Informational Webinar- March 4

Register Today!

About the AgeTech Innovation Challenge

  • Awards are granted in amounts of up to $50,000 for projects lasting 6-9 months. It is anticipated that a maximum of two (2) awards will be granted.
  • This program supports either:
    • Proof-of-Concept funds to generate data validating the real-world applicability of a Pitt technology, demonstrating that it addresses the problem to a commercially relevant degree. Proof-of-Concept funds cannot be used to support simplified environment proof-of-principle studies or hypothesis-based research.
    • Last Mile funds to validate key technical assumptions or risks before transitioning a Pitt technology out of the academic environment. Last Mile funds cannot be used for early proof-of-concept, proof-of-principle or hypothesis-based research.
  • Eligible technologies include: mobility devices, home accessibility modifications, orientation and cognition support, medication management support, home hazard, and safety automation, wandering hardware/software, smart home technologies, web/app software, etc.
  • Ineligible technologies include: Therapeutics and class 2 and 3 medical devices.
  • Awardees are required to communicate and engage with the OIE and the HHL regularly to track project progress and to participate in innovation and commercialization education and events. Communications include a project kickoff meeting, progress reports, and update meetings.
  • Awardees will receive support from the HHL, including access to technical and clinical expertise, access to the research resources (e.g. space, research registry), and connections to community partners to support the design, development, evaluation, and commercialization of the Pitt technology.
  • Awardees will also receive commercialization and intellectual property guidance and expertise from the OIE New Ventures and Licensing teams.
  • Funding is released according to a milestone-based project plan developed in collaboration with the OIE and HHL. Each project will have 1-2 quantifiable technical/scientific milestone and 1 business development milestone. Examples of business development milestones include customer discovery training, curated education, market assessments, or outreach to potential industry partners.
  • Projects are expected to start within one month of the award date (pending any necessary regulatory approvals or purchasing contracts) and should be completed within 9 months of the project start date. Applicants should ensure that timelines are appropriate for the proposed milestones and that the resources are available to meet the AgeTech Innovation Challenge requirements and timeline.
  • The funding source for the AgeTech Innovation Challenge requires that all funds be spent by a specified deadline, and no-cost extensions may not be available. Applicants are encouraged to scope their projects carefully to ensure that all work can be completed within a 6–9 month timeframe
  • Desired outcomes of funded projects included:
    • Development and de-risking of Pitt intellectual property,
    • Follow–on federal, foundation, or industry funding,
    • Creation of commercialization opportunities through industry partnerships or new venture creation, and/or
    • Impactful use of Pitt technology outside of the lab.

  • The AgeTech Innovation Challenge is open to Pitt faculty, postdocs, students, and staff. Postdocs, students, and staff must identify a Pitt faculty member to serve as the PI.
  • An invention disclosure is not required to apply to the AgeTech Innovation Challenge. However, applicants selected as finalists will be required to submit an invention disclosure to the OIE.
  • Projects must support the further development or validation of intellectual property assigned to Pitt.
    • Under certain circumstances, funding may support IP co-owned by Pitt and another academic institution.
    • The technology must be unencumbered from obligations that would prevent the University from moving forward with commercialization. Under certain circumstances, technologies with pre-existing options may be considered.
    • Investigators are encouraged to connect with their licensing manager regarding the ownership of their IP prior to submitting an application.
  • Eligible technologies include: mobility devices, home accessibility modifications, orientation and cognition support, medication management support, home hazard, and safety automation, wandering hardware/software, smart home technologies, web/app software, etc.
  • Ineligible technologies include: Therapeutics and class 2 and 3 medical devices.
  • Projects with funding from another source to complete the same work are not eligible. Applicants should not propose projects that have already been funded through a grant, contract, or other funding source, including Pitt internal funding mechanisms.

  • Applications are submitted on Pitt InfoReady and are reviewed by the OIE and HHL.
  • Final technical/scientific and business development milestones are developed in collaboration with the OIE and HLL.

Submissions must demonstrate innovation in novel technologies supporting either mobility or cognition, promote Independence to support aging in place, and articulate a clear plan for technical validation, commercial potential, and downstream funding. Projects are selected for near-term commercialization potential and societal impact using the following criteria:

  • Eligibility and fit for the AgeTech Innovation Challenge
  • Scientific merit and novelty
  • Status and strength of the intellectual property
  • Technology stage of development. Technology has the potential to scale to achieve significant societal and/or economic impact.
  • Market opportunity
  • Customer and/or industry feedback
  • Feasibility of the proposed project within the given timeframe and amount of funding available.
  • Commercialization plan and anticipated outcomes
  • Team qualifications

Funds from the AgeTech Innovation Challenge may only be used for the direct costs of the activities detailed in the approved project plan and budget. Faculty personnel costs will be considered but must be limited to $10,000.

Eligible expenses include:

  • Lab supplies, research animals, prototyping supplies, fabrication or manufacturing expenses, and trial costs
  • Postdoc, student, and technician salaries
  • Consultants, contract research organizations (CRO), and service providers. All providers are required to assign IP rights to the University prior to beginning work
  • With prior approval from OIE, travel costs related directly to meeting an approved milestone

Ineligible expenses include:

  • Overhead/indirect costs
  • Tuition
  • Travel
  • Capital equipment
  • Computer equipment
  • Publication costs

  • Applications Open: March 2, 2026
  • Informational Webinar: March 4, 2026, at 12:00pm
  • Applications Close: March 21, 2026
  • Anticipated Award Date: Week of April 27, 2026
  • Anticipated Project Start Date: Week of May 11, 2026

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