Boryung Crowns Victors of the Innovative Humans In Space Challenge 2024
On December 18, 2024, Boryung proudly announced the winners of its 3rd Humans In Space (HIS) Challenge, a trailblazing global competition aimed at addressing the healthcare challenges associated with space exploration. This annual event started in 2022 and has since gathered innovative minds from around the world to tackle healthcare issues not only in space but also on Earth by utilizing the unique conditions of the space environment.
Hosted during the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan, Italy, this year's HIS Challenge showcased not only the remarkable ingenuity of participants but also introduced significant modifications to its prize structure. Unlike previous years where equity investments were the primary financial support, this year introduced the Orbital Launch Funding (OLF), expanding investment opportunities designed to stimulate groundbreaking research and experimentation in space healthcare.
The OLF offers selected teams a unique chance to send their experiments to the International Space Station (ISS) for real-world testing. This year, the competition attracted participation from over 70 teams across 11 countries, reflecting a diverse and competitive backdrop. A rigorous evaluation process involved 56 prestigious judges, including representatives from NASA and the Harvard Center for Space Medicine Research, who conducted a thorough assessment to determine the finalists.
Ultimately, 11 ambitious startups and researchers competed in the final round, where a panel of 22 judges selected four outstanding teams as winners and two additional teams were recognized as HIS Catalyst group members. In the equity investment category, Paris-based Exobiosphere, Swiss startup Prometheus Life Technologies, and U.S.-based Ejenta each secured USD 50,000 to support their innovative healthcare solutions.
Prometheus Life Technologies, claiming the top award, focuses on producing high-quality organoids in microgravity, promising advancements in drug development and testing that could revolutionize healthcare. Ejenta, on the other hand, is developing AI-driven health monitoring services tailored specifically for astronaut missions, illustrating the fusion of technology and healthcare in the challenging context of space.
In the OLF category, Dr. Charles Chiu's team from the University of California, San Francisco, emerged victorious. They are working on innovative diagnostic solutions that address infectious diseases that astronauts might face in space, receiving up to USD 250,000 in funding for their project. This substantial backing allows them to plan and execute an experiment in space within the next 18 months, marking a significant step forward in space healthcare research.
The HIS Catalyst group, consisting of Scott Ritter from Germany’s DLR and Dr. JangKeun Kim from South Korea, will undergo a year-long preparation phase aimed at finalizing their projects to meet OLF requirements. Their selection signifies the commitment to nurturing innovative research endeavors destined for future space missions.
Jack Lim, Executive Director of Boryung's Strategic Investment Division, reflected on the evolution of the HIS Challenge, emphasizing the growing professionalism and sophistication of the applicants. Lim announced that the program has gained notable traction within the space healthcare landscape and aims to create a global ecosystem that nurtures innovative solutions.
The event at IAC was not limited to the challenge alone. Boryung hosted an engaging Astronaut Talk session featuring Koichi Wakata, a notable Japanese astronaut, who captivated attendees with insights into space healthcare. Their exhibit even earned the Creative Booth Award for its innovative presentation of advancements in space medicine.
Moreover, Boryung fortified its role as a leader in space healthcare by signing partnerships with key organizations like Intuitive Machines and the German Aerospace Center, promising collaborative efforts to push the frontiers of healthcare research in space. As Boryung continues to pave the way in this vital field, the future appears bright for the intersection of health and space, heralding innovations that could benefit not just astronauts but all of humanity.
Hosted during the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan, Italy, this year's HIS Challenge showcased not only the remarkable ingenuity of participants but also introduced significant modifications to its prize structure. Unlike previous years where equity investments were the primary financial support, this year introduced the Orbital Launch Funding (OLF), expanding investment opportunities designed to stimulate groundbreaking research and experimentation in space healthcare.
The OLF offers selected teams a unique chance to send their experiments to the International Space Station (ISS) for real-world testing. This year, the competition attracted participation from over 70 teams across 11 countries, reflecting a diverse and competitive backdrop. A rigorous evaluation process involved 56 prestigious judges, including representatives from NASA and the Harvard Center for Space Medicine Research, who conducted a thorough assessment to determine the finalists.
Ultimately, 11 ambitious startups and researchers competed in the final round, where a panel of 22 judges selected four outstanding teams as winners and two additional teams were recognized as HIS Catalyst group members. In the equity investment category, Paris-based Exobiosphere, Swiss startup Prometheus Life Technologies, and U.S.-based Ejenta each secured USD 50,000 to support their innovative healthcare solutions.
Prometheus Life Technologies, claiming the top award, focuses on producing high-quality organoids in microgravity, promising advancements in drug development and testing that could revolutionize healthcare. Ejenta, on the other hand, is developing AI-driven health monitoring services tailored specifically for astronaut missions, illustrating the fusion of technology and healthcare in the challenging context of space.
In the OLF category, Dr. Charles Chiu's team from the University of California, San Francisco, emerged victorious. They are working on innovative diagnostic solutions that address infectious diseases that astronauts might face in space, receiving up to USD 250,000 in funding for their project. This substantial backing allows them to plan and execute an experiment in space within the next 18 months, marking a significant step forward in space healthcare research.
The HIS Catalyst group, consisting of Scott Ritter from Germany’s DLR and Dr. JangKeun Kim from South Korea, will undergo a year-long preparation phase aimed at finalizing their projects to meet OLF requirements. Their selection signifies the commitment to nurturing innovative research endeavors destined for future space missions.
Jack Lim, Executive Director of Boryung's Strategic Investment Division, reflected on the evolution of the HIS Challenge, emphasizing the growing professionalism and sophistication of the applicants. Lim announced that the program has gained notable traction within the space healthcare landscape and aims to create a global ecosystem that nurtures innovative solutions.
The event at IAC was not limited to the challenge alone. Boryung hosted an engaging Astronaut Talk session featuring Koichi Wakata, a notable Japanese astronaut, who captivated attendees with insights into space healthcare. Their exhibit even earned the Creative Booth Award for its innovative presentation of advancements in space medicine.
Moreover, Boryung fortified its role as a leader in space healthcare by signing partnerships with key organizations like Intuitive Machines and the German Aerospace Center, promising collaborative efforts to push the frontiers of healthcare research in space. As Boryung continues to pave the way in this vital field, the future appears bright for the intersection of health and space, heralding innovations that could benefit not just astronauts but all of humanity.
Topics Health）
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