IDEA² at MIT linQ is an international innovation training program that helps individuals and teams turn emerging biomedical technology ideas into healthcare innovations. Led by Dr. Martha Gray and co-chaired by Dr. Mercedes Balcells and David Rothkopf, this January we're hosting eight international teams working on cutting-edge medical technologies—from AI-powered MRI algorithms and precision spinal surgery platforms to implantable devices and wearable health monitors. During the two-day kickoff workshop on January 29-30th, teams will engage in intensive, hands-on sessions where they present their projects to internationally-recognized experts and faculty mentors, then immediately dive into collaborative working sessions that challenge their technical, regulatory, clinical, and business strategies. The days' informal but intensive atmosphere fosters the kind of direct, probing conversations that help early-stage innovators see their projects from entirely new perspectives—and by the workshop's conclusion, each team will be matched with dedicated mentors who will guide them through the next six months of IDEA².