New grants to drive innovation across Europe

Three Swiss startups are part of large projects focusing on advancing composite structural health monitoring repair technology, recording digital biomarkers to better predict Parkinson’s Disease, and enable digital transformation in Canton Graubünden.

CompPair and its consortium partners have been awarded a contract in the European Space Agency - ESA FIRST! campaign for autonomous damage sensing and repair. ESA will support the Composite Autonomous SenSing AnD RepAir (CASSANDRA) project, which aims to demonstrate the efficacy of integrating health monitoring and healing systems into composite structures, such as panels, fabricated with CompPair’s technology HealTech CS01. By autonomously sensing and healing damage throughout the lifetime of space structures, including reusable launchers, the project aims to enhance safety and extend the operational lifespan of critical aerospace infrastructure. Project lead CompPair is collaborating with Com&Sens, and CSEM as subcontractors.

MachineMD secures bi-lateral grant
Swiss startup machineMD, the developer of a fully automated, non-invasive diagnostic device that measures eye and pupil movements and important biomarkers to diagnose neurological disorders and Oxford-based medtech startup, gaitQ, have been awarded a million-dollar research grant from InnovateUK and Innosuisse. The 18-month research project will record mobility and eye movement data from 100 UK and Swiss People with Parkinson (PwP) as they go about their daily lives, to help more effectively monitor the development of the disease. The data will be used to establish patterns of behaviour and provide clinicians with insight to deliver more effective treatment plans, ultimately helping earlier detection and treatment of the condition. The data will be collected and analysed at the University of Exeter (UoE) and University Hospital Zurich (USZ).

Reech AG receives funding from Kt. Graubünden
The Graubünden joint venture ZENDRA AG (consisting of REECH AG and X STATIK AG) and its partner INFRADIGITAL AG have secured a cantonal contribution grant of a maximum of 122,000 francs grant from the Canton Graubünden for the project "ALPIN QUATTRO Digital-Twin". As part of the framework of the law to promote the digital transformation in Graubünden, the total investment costs in this project amount to 293,900 francs. The project team aims to develop methods, tools and software solutions to support the planning, procurement, production, assembly, construction, commissioning and operation of alpine ground-mounted photovoltaic systems as a "consortium for alpine photovoltaic systems". The focus will be on a digital twin that supports all processes in the value chain. A minimum viable product (MVP) will cover the planning phase up to and including construction. Reech is an engineering company specializing in renewable energy, particularly photovoltaics.

(RAN)