What would SPARK NTD do?
SPARK NTD focus on boosting talent within the partners and associated groups with the following actions: Outreach and Training, Mentoring and Support, and Funding.
Outreach and training: Engage with and complement existing programs
These include targeted online workshops, presence at conferences and training materials. This would be advice tailored to NTDs including scientific questions but also team, IP and funding/regulatory approaches to help them plan for future success. Ventures would be encouraged to share their ideas for initial feedback.
Mentoring and support
SPARK NTD will provide structured support along the proven SPARK model using the network of mentors and experts from partners. This would enable selected ventures to go from good ideas to great projects or alternatively stop when the science didn’t support development of a competitive product. This would be open to all modalities and geographies and include selection and feedback from an external jury.
Funding
SPARK NTD will provide microfunding (10-50k CHF) for projects to answer specific questions based on jury feedback. Advice will also be given to connect projects to relevant local and international funding agencies including NTD specific offers of both resources such as GSKs Open lab and funding. Experience from INCATE has shown that curating projects to apply for the right funding gave a significant boost beyond direct funding
Governance
SPARK NTD is currently collectively resourced and managed by its founding partners. During 2026, we are establishing a Launch Advisory Board bringing together leaders from industry, product development, endemic-country health systems, and the broader NTD community to guide strategy, strengthen governance, and help build the connections and resources the programme needs to grow. The partnership will be managed by an independent board and financed through a mix of funding sources supporting both the ongoing administration and the individual projects.
