eXtended Reality Health Economic Acceleration and Development (xR HEAD) Program – Results announced

March 10, 2020

xR HEAD program's competition results much-needed funding for exciting innovations between VR and health.

March 10, 2020 (Edmonton, Alberta) – The xR HEAD program has released the results for the competition launched in November 2019.

xRHEAD enables the testing and adoption of Virtual and Augmented Reality(collectively “xR”) technologies in healthcare settings including provider andpatient education and direct patient care.

The Program is delivered in collaboration with the Virtual Reality and AugmentedReality Association (Alberta Chapter) – a globally recognized association thatis a thought-leader and catalyzer of technology development in the xR space.

This unique collaboration allows Alberta Innovates to deliver a first-of-kind opportunity to leverage global xR networks, resources, and markets to support the growth of our xR industry in Alberta and the adoption of Alberta-based xRapplications in health.

  • The projects will run from March 2020 to March 2022.
  • We received 21 application and 7 projects were ultimately selected.
  • The total value of all the awards is $1.6 million.
  • Applicants contributed a further $542 thousand.
  • The total xR HEAD investment amounts to $2.1 million.

Successful applicants for the xR HEAD program:

Applicant Receptor Project Title Award Value
Dynacor Communications Inc. Alberta Health Services – Emergency Medical Services Prolonged Exposure Therapy VR $174,040
ICOM Productions Inc. Bow Valley College Virtual Reality Focused Assessment Tool $250,000
University of Alberta Alberta Health Services – Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Glenrose: xR Simulations to Increase Patient Compliance for Rehabilitation $249,425
KO Group Ltd. University of Alberta – Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Degenerative Eye Condition VR Experience $250,000
Luxsonic Technologies, Inc. Pureform Diagnostic Imaging Clinics SieVrt – Clinical workflow integration of a virtual reality radiology system $202,650
Red Iron Labs Ltd. Lethbridge College CareGiVR: Building Self-Efficacy in Dementia Care Through Immersive Education $250,000
AnimationLeader Technology Inc. Caleo Health Development of a Standardized BioMechanics Assessment Protocol (BMAP) using Bodiometer’s AR-enabled Posture Tracking App $249,988

For more information about the xR HEAD program, visit the xR HEAD page.

Contact

Bindi Ferguson

Director, Commercialization (Health Innovation)

780-306-1099