Twelve finalists from three continents presented their innovations on the global ImagineIF! competition for healthcare startups, held on June 27 at the University of Cambridge. For the first time, Serbia also had its representative.

The Belgrade team, SafeCath, selected as the best at the local finals in Belgrade in March this year, presented an innovative catheter that, in relation to the existing one, represents a new technical solution on the market, which helps prevent the transfer of bacteria into sterile parts of the urinary tract.

First ImagineIF! competition and acceleration program in Serbia, Innovation Forum Cambridge was was organized in cooperation with Science Technology Park Belgrade (platinum partner) and HealthTechLab (silver partner).

– Winning the competition in Belgrade, was an amazing experience, but being in Cambridge as one of the 12 finalists is a game-changing experience. Please note that being at the Health Horizons conference, which hosted the Imagine If finale, helped us not only with potential networking but with establishing the actual contacts with investors and partners from world-leading companies within healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, such as Johnson&Johnson Innovation, Astra Zeneca, Phizer, etc. It also helped us strengthen our position and continue with bringing our product to life. And we learned a lot on each and every step we need to take. Being a small startup is hard, and we are only at the beginning, but Imagine If made us winners already, as our startup will continue to grow – said representatives of SafeCath team.

IMAGINE IF! is being held for the seventh consecutive year. Global accelerator was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, while Finals were judged by seasoned investors and pharma experts including Chair, Ann Connolly, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Nicolas Ibery, Health and Life Sciences, Edward Rayner, Arix Bioscience and Stephen Chan, Co-High Venture Capital Fund (China). London-based startup Jelly Drops, received the winning prize of $10,000 of funding and 6 months lab space for their innovative solution for hydration issues in those living with dementia in the form of a hydrating treat.