Four companies developing innovative solutions to improve health and social care have been crowned winners of the Isle of Man’s 2026 Innovation Challenge, following a global programme designed to connect innovators with real-world healthcare challenges and accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
The winners were selected from a group of 15 global finalists following a highly competitive process, which attracted a record-breaking 125 entries from 25 countries.
Now in its fourth year, the Challenge focused on health and social care, recognising the opportunity for innovation to play a greater role in supporting evolving patient needs, workforce demands, and service delivery.
The Challenge brought together innovators, clinicians, policymakers, public health leaders and community stakeholders to explore how technology, data and new approaches could help address some of the most pressing challenges facing health and care systems around the world.
Finalists took part in an intensive 10-week programme, working directly with Isle of Man Government, Manx Care, Public Health and frontline professionals to better understand sector needs and refine their solutions accordingly.
Unlike a traditional pitching competition, finalists were given direct access to decision-makers and end users, enabling them to test assumptions, refine their propositions and better understand user needs, service challenges and potential pathways to adoption.
The Challenge culminated in a live Finale Day in Douglas, where finalists presented their innovations to a panel of expert judges, industry leaders and healthcare professionals.
The 2026 category winners are:
· Working Smarter: Concentric Health – An AI-powered digital consent and shared decision-making platform that helps clinicians and patients make informed healthcare decisions through personalised, evidence-based information, replacing traditional paper-based processes.
· Wellness: BeatModules – A digital wellbeing and education platform that uses interactive learning, AI-supported behavioural simulations and peer-led content to help young people build healthier habits and make informed health decisions.
· Home First: Plainstep Ltd – A digital platform that helps healthcare providers recover unused outpatient appointments by automating waitlist management, reducing missed appointments and improving access to care without requiring new apps or systems.
An additional Biosphere Award was presented to The Wellbeing Doctors / helfy®, a doctor-led digital health platform that uses clinical diagnostics, personalised lifestyle medicine and AI to help prevent chronic disease, improve long-term health outcomes and empower people to take control of their wellbeing. This award reflects the Isle of Man’s whole-nation UNESCO Biosphere status, recognising the solution with the best potential to deliver positive environmental, community and economic impact.
This year’s finalists showcased a diverse range of innovations, including AI-powered clinical support tools, preventative health technologies, digital care platforms, workforce