More than 200 attendees gathered at the Comis Hotel as innovators from 14 global teams showcased breakthrough technologies and competed to be crowned winners of the Isle of Man Innovation Challenge 2026.
The finalists were selected from a record 125 applications from 25 countries and competed across four categories: Wellness, Working Smarter, Home First and the Biosphere Award.
The winners were:
- Working Smarter: Concentric Health, for its AI-powered digital consent and shared decision-making platform.
- Wellness: BeatModules, for its digital wellbeing and education platform helping young people build healthier habits.
- Home First: Plainstep Ltd, for its platform that automates outpatient waiting list management and helps recover unused appointments.
- Biosphere Award: The Wellbeing Doctors / helfy®, for its doctor-led digital health platform combining clinical diagnostics, personalised lifestyle medicine and AI to help prevent chronic disease.
Now in its fourth year, the Innovation Challenge is led by Digital Isle of Man in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, Manx Care and Public Health Isle of Man. The programme connects innovators with clinicians, policymakers and frontline professionals to develop and test solutions to real-world healthcare challenges.
Claire Christian MHK, Minister for Health and Social Care, said: “Health and social care systems across the world are facing significant challenges, but they are also facing unprecedented opportunities for innovation and we want to harness this on the Island.
“Throughout this Challenge we have seen inspiring ideas, talented founders and practical solutions that have the potential to improve outcomes for patients, support healthcare professionals and strengthen services.
“The Innovation Challenge has demonstrated the value of bringing global ideas and expertise together with local challenges and priorities, and we look forward to continuing conversations with the winners as we explore how innovation can help shape the future of health and social care in the Isle of Man.”
Lyle Wraxall, Chief Executive of Digital Isle of Man, said: “The Innovation Challenge demonstrates what can happen when innovation is connected to access. Access to expertise, access to decision-makers and access to real-world environments where ideas can be tested and refined.
“The calibre of companies attracted to this year’s programme reflects the growing international reputation of the Isle of Man as a place where innovators can engage directly with decision-makers, access expertise and move from concept to practical application.
“For many finalists, the greatest value of the Challenge extends beyond the awards themselves. It lies in the relationships built throughout the programme and the opportunities those relationships create.
“We look forward to continuing those conversations with this year’s winners as they explore future partnerships, pilots and commercial opportunities both on the Isle of Man and beyond.”
Pictured: Left to right – Peter Tylee, Chloe Fox, Ed Lynch, Oliver le Brun
