usMIMA, Subtilis Biomaterials and Tractivus chosen best bio companies of the year
<p class="field-item field-item-0">usMIMA, the winning project, has developed a medical device to treat chronic constipation, while the first runner-up has presented a solution for bone regeneration and the second runner-up has created two technological solutions to control stent-related complications. </p><p class="field-item field-item-1">The BioEmprenedorXXI award, which recognizes the projects in the life sciences arena with the greatest potential for growth, is promoted by “la Caixa”, the Barcelona City Council and Biocat.</p><p class="field-item field-item-2">The winners receive a total of €21,000 in prize money, as well as growth-acceleration actions and training, funding, internationalization and incubation activities. </p>
Barcelona, 3 December 2014. This afternoon, under the framework of the session on new trends in technology transfer, this year’s BioEmprenedorXXI awards were presented, recognizing the projects in the life sciences arena with the most potential for growth. usMIMA was the winning company, with Subtilis and Tractivus selected as first and second runners-up, respectively.
“la Caixa”, the Barcelona City Council –through Barcelona Activa- and Biocat promote this award valued at a total of €21,000, plus a package of growth-acceleration activities and training, internationalization and incubation actions, for the winning company and two runners-up.
Furthermore, the winning company will receive a free stay at the Barcelona Activa Glòries Business Incubator and fiscal and financial guidance from the Vilar Riba group, as well as the status of associated company at the Barcelona Science Park.
The independent panel of judges charged with assessing the projects was made up of more than twenty representatives of companies and organizations from the life sciences sector.
BioEntrepreneurs receive €21,000
usMIMA has developed a wearable medical device controlled by central software that simulates therapeutic massages as a non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment for chronic constipation without side effects. This company is a start-up that has come out of the d·HEALTH Barcelona postgraduate program promoted by Biocat to accelerate innovation in medical technology for healthcare. The team is made up of four entrepreneurs with multidisciplinary profiles who detected the business opportunity while on a clinical immersion at the Institut Guttmann.
Subtilis Biomaterials, a spin-off of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia that has received €6,000, designs, manufactures and markets orthopedic and dental bone-regeneration solutions.
Tractivus, which received €3,000, is the result of a collaboration between GEMAT (Materials Engineering Group), Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS) and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL). They have designed two types of technology with antibacterial properties to administer the proper dose of drugs over time, designed as a solution to stent-related complications.
Public-private partnership to foster innovative spirit and innovation
BioEmprenedorXXI is a program providing training, guidance and support for the creation and growth of technology-based companies in the life sciences arena. This year, a total of 13 entrepreneurs have participated, 7 of which have already set up their company and 3 that are in the process of doing so. In total, over the seven editions held so far, we have guided 108 business projects, 61 of which have become companies, raised more than €41.5 millions in funding and created more than 250 new jobs.
The aim is to create a solid foundation of new companies with potential for growth and to foster interaction among all the stakeholders in the sector, as well as transferring research developed at universities and research centers to market.
This initiative to foster entrepreneurial spirit and boost innovation in the life sciences arena has received support this year from Osborne Clarke, Vilar Riba, Almirall, Grifols, Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation and Reig Jofre.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Silvia Labé · Biocat · 662315400 · slabe@biocat.cat
Critina Aguilà · Barcelona Activa · 667.50.91.77 · cristina.aguila@barcelonactiva.cat
Marissé Arrufat · “la Caixa” · 608 73 31 70· marrufat@caixacapitalrisc.es
