The Arthritis Ideator Program – $50,000 in Grants

The Arthritis Society is inviting entrepreneurs from across Canada to help us fight the fire of arthritis. Arthritis is a huge problem looking for solutions. Millions of people are counting on innovators and change makers to help them manage their disease. The Arthritis Ideator Program will give innovators access to people living with arthritis who can support beta testing, focus groups, surveys, etc. as well as expert advice from the Arthritis Society and the broader arthritis ecosystem.

We’re looking for ideas and products that could help improve the lives of people with arthritis to be submitted to our new Arthritis Ideator Program. Four submissions will each receive a $50,000 grant to help bring the idea or product to the people who could benefit from them. This funding is provided by donations through the Arthritis Society and are not affiliated with the Canadian government.

Eligible Ideas and Innovations:

Ideas and innovations might include, for example: 

• Assistive devices for aiding mobility or making the activities of daily living easier for people with arthritis. 
• Technology that can help people better manage their disease. 
• An app that helps people monitor their symptoms. 

Program Timeline:

Submissions for this new competition will be accepted until Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. Eight finalists will be selected by an expert panel from among the applicants received, and the finalists will present their ideas at the Arthritis Ideation Den™ event on Thursday, April 21, 2022. The top three innovations will each receive a $50,000 prize. An additional finalist, selected for the People’s Choice Award, will also receive $50,000. 

Learn more about our Arthritis Ideator Program and how to apply. 

The Importance of the Arthritis Ideator Program:

Arthritis care and treatment needs transformational change. It is the most common chronic condition in Canada, and it’s a leading cause of disability. Most people, however, underestimate the seriousness of arthritis. As a collection of more than 100 different conditions affecting joints and other tissues, arthritis impacts people of all ages, including children. The majority of people with the disease are under 65 years of age. Arthritis causes excruciating pain, restricts mobility and diminishes quality of life.

The Arthritis Society is Canada’s national charity dedicated to fighting the fire of arthritis and one day finding a cure. We provide support and education to help people manage their arthritis and live their best life, we advocate for improved access to treatment, and we invest in research to find new, better treatments and a cure.

We recently started focusing on innovation in new ways because we know that if we’re going to tackle the larger and the smaller problems of arthritis, we need to pull out all the stops. We need to do things differently if we’re going to get different results.

The Arthritis Ideator Program is a key pillar of the Arthritis Society’s bold new innovation strategy. It’s one way for us to tap into Canada’s brightest talent in areas we haven’t before.

If no bold idea goes ignored, we can help improve the lives of the six million Canadians living with arthritis.

Where to Apply for the Arthritis Ideator Program:

Apply for the Arthritis Ideator Program through the online portal before December 21, 2021 to be eligible for up to $50,000 in grant funding from the Arthritis Society.

Author Bio:

Trish Barbato is the President and CEO of the Arthritis Society. She has more than 20 years of experience as a senior leader in the fields of health and senior living. She has built a reputation as a leader skilled at driving organization change, guiding organization to innovate, harnessing technology and inspiring people to achieve clear strategic objectives. Trish is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant, a published author and international speaker on topics such as design thinking, innovation and leadership.