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Criteria and guidelines

We believe in championing ideas that align with our mission to improve health and well-being through the power of innovative digital health solutions.

Before submitting an application, please review the information on this page. Taking this step will help ensure you are prepared for your online application.

Key eligibility criteria

To be eligible for support, your project should meet the following criteria:

  • Address an issue of public health interest where there is demonstrable unmet need
  • Use an innovative solution that may:
    • empower patients or raise awareness of a disease or mental health problem 
    • offer capacity building for healthcare professionals or patient advocates
    • support research programmes aimed at improving prevention or disease management
  • Leverage digital technology to provide an enhanced solution, support access, or increase reach
  • Demonstrate potential to deliver a measurable impact on patients
  • Be at an early stage of development or in need of digital transformation or upgrade.

Geographical focus areas

Applicants must be a non-profit organisation (legal status to be provided) based and operating in European Union countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom; or a European non-profit with activities outside the European territory.

To be eligible organisations must:

  • Have a track record of non-profit engagement (activity report to be provided)
  • Certify that it does not discriminate against its employees based on race, religion, colour, nationality, citizenship, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information or any other class protected by applicable law that requires equal opportunities. It is also necessary to certify that the organisation does not promote, support or practice activities that discriminate against protected classes.

The foundation will not support: 

  • Individuals
  • Requests for staff salaries (please see our FAQ for more information)
  • Requests for operational costs of any kind (e.g. event logistics, travel expenses, hardware or office equipment such as laptops, phones etc.)
  • Political campaigns, fraternal or lobbying groups
  • Projects that interfere with Boston Scientific business activities
  • Projects that encourage off-label use of products/devices
  • Activities that are purely promotional
  • Activities that cannot demonstrate a lasting impact or that do not have a long-term digital presence, such as a one-off virtual or face-to-face event. However, the foundation reserves the right to evaluate this type of request if the content to be delivered is aligned with our strategic focus
  • Funding for business development and marketing (digital acquisition, sales, design, business-to-business action, trade fairs, recruitment, data analysts, customer acquisition, etc.).

Grant application process

Grant applications are accepted during two application windows each year: 01 January – 31 March and 01 June – 30 September.
Non-profit organisations interested in applying to Boston Scientific Foundation Europe must submit a proposal and provide the requested documents. 

Before preparing your proposal:

  • Please review the application guide, which outlines all the required content your submission must cover
  • Download the budget calendar for completion.

Questions may be directed to bscieuropefundation@bsci.com.

                                                        

Review process

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Applications are preliminarily assessed by the BSFE Review Committee who meet at the beginning of each month. Applicants may be contacted with questions about their proposal.

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Eligible applications will be submitted to the BSFE Board for voting. Applicants may be invited to present to the Board via video call. 

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Applicants will be informed of the Board’s decision via email.

Submit your application

                                                        

ⓘ   The foundation Board will make final decisions on the award of grants and there is no guarantee that a grant will be awarded
ⓘ   Donation requests that do not correspond with our foundation eligibility criteria will not be processed

Frequently asked questions

BSFE is a legal entity established in France, at Boston Scientific EMEA Headquarters in Paris, and it is regulated under French laws. The foundation is an independent structure from a legal and operational standpoint, funded by Boston Scientific. 

BSFE will be able to support local non-profit organisations based in European Union countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom; or European non-profit organisations covering other EMEA countries.

The BSFE Board consists of nine members (six Boston Scientific employees and three patient advocates). Members are elected for three years.

The mission of BSFE is to help communities improve their health and well-being by supporting innovative digital health solutions.

These are two separate legal entities that have a different geographical scope, legal structure and focus. However, both support the values of Boston Scientific.

Digital solutions that we may support include, but are not limited to: apps, platforms, online learning, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, machine-learning, social media initiatives, podcasts, tele-health, mobile health, wearable software, gamification. 

Once we have received your application it is checked to make sure all requirements have been met. A first review is then conducted by the BSFE Review Committee, who decide which applications are eligible to be submitted to the Board for voting.
The process from submission until Board decision typically takes four months.

When an application is successfully submitted, you will see a confirmation message. If you did not see this confirmation, please contact us at bscieuropefoundation@bsci.com.

The Charitable Donation Funds will be paid after the execution of the grant award notification letter designated to facilitate the commencement of the project. Payment may be made in two or more instalments, with the first being paid after signature and subsequent instalments upon receipt of a comprehensive interim progress report, intended to support the second phase of activities.

Non-profit organisations should apply through the foundation web page by filling in the online application form, making sure first that the project is aligned with the eligibility criteria.

Yes, in fact we encourage it! We have a team of country ambassadors who will be happy to speak with you about your project. Contact us and we will put you in touch with the appropriate person: bscieuropefoundation@bsci.com.

Grant amounts vary depending on the complexity, scale and duration of a project. A typical range is €20,000-€50,000, but a limited number of larger grants may be considered for projects that show extraordinary reach and impact or that are multi-year. If a partial grant could allow you to still offer the programme with modifications, this should be noted within the proposal.

BSFE will not allocate funding for staff salaries. However, fees associated with the development of a project, whether for the organisation’s internal staff or external providers, directly tied to the project’s scope will be taken into consideration. All costs associated with the project must be detailed in the budget calendar accompanying the application and will be assessed by the BSFE Review Committee. If you would like to discuss your project before submitting your application, you can reach us at bscieuropefoundation@bsci.com. We are always happy to support the process.

Every Boston Scientific Foundation Europe (BSFE) grantee is required to submit at least two reports depending on the duration of the project:

  • An interim progress report: this must be submitted partway through the project. Upon review and approval, the second instalment of funds will be released to support the next phase of activities.
  • A final year-end report: this is due within 30 days of the anniversary of the grant award letter.