Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the opening of the Industry Innovation Competition by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) making available $80 million for private sector innovations.

The competition is the most recent effort under the VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2), a department-wide program that brings innovations to VA’s challenges by involving employees and the private sector in the creation of solutions in service to veterans.

Public and private companies, entrepreneurs, universities and nonprofits are encouraged to participate in the competition, targeting advancements the following advancements in healthcare:

• Telehealth;
• New models of dialysis and renal disease prevention;
• Improvement of polytrauma care; and
• Reduction of adverse drug events.