Johnson & Johnson Launches AI Surgery Fund with Nvidia and AWS

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in surgical practices. The pharmaceutical and medical device giant has partnered with tech behemoths Nvidia and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to establish the Polyphonic AI Fund for Surgery, a program designed to foster innovation in pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative care.

A Collaborative Effort to Revolutionize Surgical Care

The Polyphonic AI Fund for Surgery represents a significant step towards the digitalization of operating rooms worldwide. J&J MedTech, the company's medical technology division, will spearhead this initiative, accepting proposals from a diverse range of institutions and companies. The fund aims to support software developers focused on enhancing surgical procedures through AI applications.

Hani Abouhalka, Group Chairman for Surgery at J&J MedTech, emphasized the importance of open innovation, stating, "Open innovation and open minds breed the best solutions in service of patients." He further added, "Surgeons and their teams are asking for AI to make an impact. As global leaders in surgery, we are in a position to convene solutions that can improve surgery and offer the expertise and infrastructure to bring these solutions to light through our digital ecosystem."

Comprehensive Support for AI Innovators

The fund offers more than just financial backing. Selected recipients will receive:

• Grants of up to $100,000
• Mentorship and development workshops
• Access to advanced computing hardware
• AI modeling toolkits
• Valuable datasets

Importantly, J&J has confirmed that any intellectual property developed through this initiative will remain with the inventors, encouraging participation from a wide range of innovators.

Building on Existing Technological Foundations

This new fund builds upon J&J's existing technological initiatives, including the Polyphonic "social network" for surgeons launched in 2024. This platform allows healthcare providers to track patients through various stages of surgical care, from pre-operative preparation to post-operative recovery.

Additionally, J&J's ongoing collaboration with Nvidia focuses on developing real-time AI technologies for use in operating rooms, leveraging Nvidia's IGX and Holoscan edge-computing platforms.

The Polyphonic AI Fund for Surgery will also integrate with J&J Innovation's international QuickFire Challenge program, which has previously supported developments in neuroscience, oncology, respiratory therapies, and biodefense.

Applications for the fund will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with awardees announced quarterly through the end of 2026. The submission deadline for the first cohort is set for August 22, 2025, marking the beginning of what promises to be a transformative era in AI-assisted surgery.