Imagine an operating room where artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, enabled by advanced connectivity and fueled by device, patient and surgical data seamlessly work together. This vision is becoming a reality as innovators seek to unleash the full potential of these advanced technologies to drive real-time insights and continuous learning.
Around the world, more than 330 million surgical procedures are performed each year.1 To help meet this great patient need, over 90% of hospitals and healthcare systems in the United States now have an AI or automation strategy, a significant increase from 53% in 2019.2 These digital technologies are emerging as game changers in surgical environments where every second matters, playing a pivotal role in transforming outcomes for patients. Through connected systems and fueled by real-time collection, integration and analysis of surgical data, surgeons aim to leverage these tools to drive efficiencies, inform decision-making, and extend surgical training and education across the surgical continuum.3
To help accelerate the use of AI in surgery, Johnson & Johnson MedTech has launched the Polyphonic™ AI Fund for Surgery QuickFire Challenge. Researchers and innovators in the Surgical Data Science field worldwide are invited to submit ideas for AI technologies that have the potential to improve surgical decision-making, strengthen data management & governance processes, and drive surgical efficiency across the connected operating room (OR).
Selected applicant(s) will have the opportunity to receive grant funding up to $100,000 and mentorship from experts across Johnson & Johnson.* Awardees may also be eligible to receive computing tools and technologies to help advance their innovations, including access to: GPUs and related software for accelerated computing, cloud platform and application services, Machine Learning (ML) and AI modeling toolkits and other Software Development Kits (SDKs).
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and awardees will be announced quarterly through the end of 2026.
* Subject to terms and conditions of applicable QuickFire Challenge and execution of an award agreement
1Varghese, C., Harrison, E.M., O’Grady, G. et al. Artificial intelligence in surgery. Nat Med 30, 1257–1268 (2024).
2 Pifer R. Vast majority of hospitals say they have an AI strategy, up from just half last year. HealthcareDive (March 10, 2021).
3 Marwaha, J.S., Raza, M.M. & Kvedar, J.C. The digital transformation of surgery. npj Digit. Med. 6, 103 (2023).
At Johnson & Johnson, we seek to identify and source promising AI-driven innovation that has the potential to transform surgical care. This challenge builds on J&J MedTech’s commitment to progress what’s next in surgery to help improve patient outcomes.
Innovators around the world are invited to submit ideas for AI technologies with the potential to enhance surgical care and improve patient outcomes across the following categories:
Specific surgical areas of interest include: Soft tissue surgery including but not limited to colorectal, bariatric, thoracic, urology, gynecology and general surgery.
Selected applicant(s) will have the opportunity to receive grant funding up to $100,000 and mentorship from experts across Johnson & Johnson.* Awardees may also be eligible to receive computing tools and technologies to help advance their innovations, including access to: GPUs and related software for accelerated computing, cloud platform and application services, Machine Learning (ML) and AI modeling toolkits and other Software Development Kits (SDKs).
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and awardees will be announced quarterly through the end of 2026.
* Subject to terms and conditions of applicable QuickFire Challenge and execution of an award agreement
June 25, 2025
Launch
August 22, 2025 (Cohort #1)
Application deadline
September/October 2025 (Cohort #1)
Cohort award announcement
Q3 2025-Q4 2026
Ongoing application reviews & announcements
Whether you're applying to QuickFire Challenges, JLABS residency, or disease-specific innovation grants, your proposal must address a clear, unmet clinical or market need in areas J&J prioritizes (e.g., oncology, metabolic disorders, health equity)
Applications should directly link to J&J’s health equity, prevention, interception, or cure strategies
J&J favors transformative science or technology that is not just innovative but also scalable and impactful
Judges want a 12–18 month project plan with concrete deliverables and clear “time-to-market” goals
Show a solid team with relevant expertise, including leadership, technical competence, and financial capacity
For Innovation Grants or disease-specific awards (e.g., AACR-J&J Lung Cancer Grants), multi-institutional teams (2–3 PIs across institutions) with clinical components are required .
Health Equity and Veterans Challenges emphasize lived experience and team alignment with communities.
Provide transparent, justified budgets—QuickFire grants typically cap at US $250–500K, with higher-end provided via programs like JLABS + QuickFire .
Expect documentation of funding sources, existing partnerships, and financial solvency .
Many awards offer residency at JLABS, mentorship, and ecosystem access—but applicants must demonstrate readiness for such integration .
The offering includes capital-efficient lab space and entrepreneurship support
Competitive proposals detail key milestones, scalability strategy, and time-to-market within a short timeframe .
Strong plans also outline clinical validation components, especially for oncology or therapeutic innovations
Evaluation panels often include external experts, including subject-matter specialists and community stakeholders .
Community-based challenges emphasize lived experience with reviewers assessing feasibility, impact, team quality, and scalability.
📋 Quick Reference Summary
Success Factor | Action Items |
---|---|
Strategic alignment | Map proposal to J&J priorities & clinical gaps |
Innovation & milestone focus | Emphasize transformative potential & timeline |
Team strength | Showcase leadership, partnerships, and experience |
Budget clarity | Detail use of funds and funding sources |
Ecosystem integration | Demonstrate fit for JLABS and mentorship support |
Implementation plan | Define next steps, go-to-market, and validation |
Peer/external review readiness | Prepare for scrutiny by experts and communities |
🛠️ Pro Tips
Choose a fitting grant stream: QuickFire, disease-specific, health equity, or veterans initiatives.
Highlight unmet clinical or market need directly related to J&J’s innovation priorities.
Assemble a team early: consider cross-institutional and community-led collaborations.
Develop a detailed 12–18 month roadmap with milestones and go-to-market strategies.
Prepare a realistic, justified budget—including current funding and financial stability.
Engage with JLABS network early, showing readiness for incubation and mentorship.
Submit polished, non-confidential documentation—formatted to J&J’s application templates.
Tailor to reviewers: include both scientific experts and representatives of target communities.
Potential solutions will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers based on the following criteria:
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Johnson & Johnson
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
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Aug 22, 2025
Aug 22, 2025
$100,000
Affiliation: Johnson & Johnson
Address: New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
Website URL: https://jnjinnovation.com/innovation-challenges/Polyphonic-AI-Fund-for-Surgery-QuickFire-Challenge
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.