Karger Publishers has launched the call for applications for the 2025 Vesalius Innovation Award, which supports early-stage startups advancing innovation in health sciences and scholarly communication. Now in its sixth year, the award aims to recognize novel approaches to how scientific knowledge is communicated, evaluated, and applied—particularly in fields related to health sciences, open science, and public engagement.
Startups may submit applications between May 5 and August 2, 2025, through the dedicated portal at via.karger.com. The winner will receive a prize of $15,000, and two runners-up will each receive $5,000.
A jury composed of experts in health sciences and scholarly publishing will evaluate the submissions. The top five selected startups will be invited to present their innovations during STM Week, held at BMA House in London on December 9, 2025. The event offers finalists an opportunity to gain visibility and present their work to a broader professional audience.
The initiative, developed in partnership with the STM Association, continues to receive support from a range of sponsors. Organizers describe the award as a platform for highlighting solutions that combine data, ethics, innovation, and purpose to advance healthcare. It is framed as a celebration of technological and scientific convergence aimed at real-world impact.
In 2024, the award was presented to Knowledge Gate Group from Denmark for an AI-based platform that facilitates connections between research organizations and experts in life sciences. Runner-up prizes were awarded to Prof. Valmed®, which provides a CE-registered AI tool supporting clinical diagnostics and therapeutic decision-making, and Clear Skies, a startup focused on data analysis tools that promote research integrity. Organizers noted that many previous applicants have continued to engage with Karger Publishers beyond the award process.
Named after Andreas Vesalius, the pioneering anatomist of the Renaissance, the award remains open to startups that seek to drive innovation in the health sciences and scholarly communication sectors.
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