The SI-Lab: Innovation in Pediatric Surgery

May 21
3 min read

A Founding Project: The Creation of the SI-Lab

Every great journey begins with a first step. For SI-Lab, this step was the creation of an ecosystem dedicated to innovation in pediatric surgery. In 2023, faced with the technological, regulatory, and collaborative challenges of pediatric surgery, one thing became clear: it was necessary to break the isolation of innovative surgeons and provide them with the tools to transform their ideas into concrete solutions.

This is how SI-Lab was born, an innovation laboratory designed by and for pediatric surgeons, with a clear mission: to unite, accelerate and deploy the projects that will shape the surgery of tomorrow.

Why such a project?

Pediatric surgery faces unique challenges:

A lack of time and resources to innovate
Complex regulations, especially when it comes to technology for children
A fragmented ecosystem, where ideas struggle to find academic or financial partners

In May 2023, a Kaizen event revealed a pressing need: to create a collaborative space where surgeons, engineers, researchers, and industry professionals could jointly develop solutions. SI-Lab was born from this observation, with the support of the Fondation de l'Avenir, which believed in the project from January 2025.

A Platform for Innovating Together

The SI-Lab is more than just an incubator: it's a vibrant network, a toolbox, and a mark of quality. Here's what it already offers pediatric surgeons:

Access to expertise: lawyers, engineers, data scientists, to transform an idea into a prototype
Training courses: webinars on AI, entrepreneurship, or regulations, to develop skills
A "SI-Lab" label: a guarantee of reliability and attractiveness for partners
A national and international network: rapid dissemination of innovations, thanks to the community of pediatric surgeons, generalists by nature and connected to each other.

"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, working together is success." : A philosophy that has guided SI-Lab since its inception.

The First Achievements

In just 6 months, the SI-Lab has:

Structured a team: a dedicated project manager, an office, and an ethical charter.
Launched a web platform: a showcase for projects and a collaborative space
Organized 6 webinars on AI and innovation, with experts such as Dr. Dakuspa (PSORC)
15 projects have been identified to be supported, particularly during the SI-Lab Day on June 13, 2025, thanks to collective intelligence.
Partnerships were considered with actors such as the Atomic Energy Commission, or Visible Patient (augmented reality).

And tomorrow?

March 2027 will mark a key milestone: the SI-Lab Partners Day, where surgeons, industry professionals, and academics will come together to accelerate concrete projects. Key themes include:

Big data : How can we put this revolution to work for our patients?
The operating room of the future : So that our patients also benefit from tailored innovations.
Simulation : Never the first time in children. Pediatric surgery is the art of operating on rare diseases, and simulation in all its forms has never been more relevant!

This is just the beginning, but our indicators are already impressive: 46 members, 20 partners, 15 projects launched…

Join the Adventure!

The SI-Lab is your laboratory:

Are you a pediatric surgeon with an idea? We help you make it a reality.
Are you an industrial or academic partner ? We connect you to high-impact projects.
Are you a student or young innovator ? We offer internships and mentorships.