SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre hosts inaugural Asia-Pacific hackathon on health and climate

13 markets, 16 teams, 48 Hours: Innovating for a healthier, sustainable future

Singapore, 13 January 2025 - Taking place from 17th to 18th January 2025, the inaugural Asia-Pacific Global Health Innovation Hackathon 2025 will bring together 16 dynamic teams from 13 Asia-Pacific markets in a unique regional event addressing the urgent intersection of health challenges and climate change. Jointly hosted by the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medicine Innovation Institute, the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, and the SingHealth International Collaboration Office, under the auspices of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, this first of its kind initiative sets the stage for transformative, scalable solutions to tackle some of the region’s most pressing health issues.

Climate change impacts human health through significant environmental alterations. Repercussions include deteriorating air quality, which exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, which affect disease vector distribution. Further, increased extreme weather events such as typhoons and heatwaves contribute to water-related illnesses and heat strokes, while climate-induced changes in food systems heighten the risk of undernutrition and foodborne diseases. Climate change also has far-reaching consequences on mental health and overall well-being.¹ These multifaceted health impacts underscore the urgent need for comprehensive climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

To address these pressing issues, the hackathon will convene teams of three to four participants, comprising innovators, technical experts, researchers and healthcare professionals. Participants will hail from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam to develop potential data driven solutions. Participants will receive expert guidance from mentors from Duke-NUS Medical School, the National Environment Agency, the National University of Singapore, Open Government Products (OGP), Singapore Biodesign Fellows, SingHealth, the World Health Organization and other participating organisations to help them refine and implement their solutions.

The two-day event will conclude on 18 January 2025, with a pitch session where each team will present their concepts to a judging panel, comprising referees from International Finance Corporation, the international non-profit global health organisation PATH, Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance, and the World Health Organization.

Three winning teams will be awarded a six-month incubation programme to further develop their concepts into fundable solutions. This programme includes mentorship from dedicated experts in health, sustainability, and innovation for all team members. As part of the experience, teams will take part in a two-week, in-person intensive incubation session in Singapore. The rest of the incubation programme will be conducted with virtual support and mentorship.

Professor Ng Wai Hoe, Group CEO, SingHealth, shared, “Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it's a pressing healthcare concern. Singapore’s unique position as a densely populated, low-lying tropical city-state makes us especially vulnerable to rising temperatures and evolving infectious disease patterns. This hackathon, in line with our focus on transforming ideas to impact, is a unique platform for participants to innovate at the intersection of climate resilience and medicine to positively impact patient care. By bringing together diverse expertise in innovation, research, and medicine, we are catalysing solutions tailored to our communities' specific needs. Our goal is to pioneer smart, sustainable healthcare initiatives that will meet the challenges Singapore faces but be able to adapt and scale them across the region and beyond."

“This hackathon embodies the very essence of why we champion innovation — to find creative solutions to pressing challenges, improve patient outcomes, and address the impact of climate change through technology and collaboration. We are organising the hackathon because by coming together across geographical boundaries, healthcare professionals can bring different perspectives to common problems and multiply the impact and reach of our innovations. This hackathon will empower healthcare professionals from more than 13 markets to harness innovation, technology and redesigned workflows to create meaningful, scalable solutions at the intersection of climate resilience and human health,” added Ms Lee Chen Ee, Group Director, SingHealth Division of Innovation & Transformation, and Co-Chair of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medicine Innovation Institute.

“Healthcare challenges transcend geographical borders. We are excited by this opportunity to bring together participants from across the Asia-Pacific region and from diverse backgrounds to harness our collective expertise and perspectives so that we can catalyse groundbreaking and culturally attuned solutions. Ultimately, the goal is to forge a healthier and more equitable future for all,” said Ms Vijaya Rao, Director, International Collaboration Office, SingHealth, and Deputy Director, Clinical Health Systems Programme, SDGHI.

This first-of-its-kind hackathon in the Asia-Pacific region is made possible by the generous support of The Moh Family Foundation. Beyond the event, it seeks to kick-start the establishment of a regional network of innovators in climate health innovation who will advocate the urgent need for solutions that can mitigate and manage adverse health outcomes. A post-event alumni network will also be set up to further enhance interregional collaboration and foster the development of a thriving regional innovation ecosystem in climate health.

1. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/climatechange/health_impacts

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) draws on the collective strengths of SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School to provide our patients and community with the best outcomes and experience.

By leveraging the synergies in clinical care, research and education created through our Academic Clinical Programmes, Disease Centres and Joint Institutes, the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC fosters the exchange of scientific knowledge and clinical perspectives to accelerate innovation and new discoveries, advance the practice of medicine as well as nurture the next generation of healthcare professionals.

SingHealth delivers comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and integrated care across a network of acute hospitals, national specialty centres, polyclinics and community hospitals. Offering over 40 clinical specialties, SingHealth is Singapore’s largest public healthcare cluster.

Duke-NUS, Singapore’s flagship graduate-entry medical school, nurtures ‘Clinician Plus’ graduates to become leaders in the global healthcare and biomedical ecosystem, while scientists from its five Signature Research Programmes and 10 Centres transform medicine and improve lives in Asia and beyond.

For more information, please visit: www.singhealthdukenus.com.sg

About SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute

‘Advancing Health and Wellbeing in Asia and Beyond.’ The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) is an enabling platform for global health activities across the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre. Harnessing the strengths and expertise of SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School, the institute aims to address current and emerging health challenges across Asia and beyond. Working in collaboration with partners globally, we seek to tackle prevalent health challenges, strengthen health systems, and better insulate countries from pandemics and disease threats.

For more information, please visit: www.duke-nus.edu.sg/sdghi