Thirteen Swiss startups receive Eurostars grants

 

The European Commission has granted a EUROSTARS grant to thirteen Swiss startups and seven research institutions. The selected companies are united by one common characteristic: they all leverage high-tech technologies in their designated fields of medtech, biotech, additive manufacturing, nano-technology among others.

 

EUROSTARS is a joint initiative co-funded from the national budgets of 36 Eurostars and by the European Union through Horizon 2020. In the 2014-2020 period. The program has a total public budget of €1.14 billion. By providing financial aid, the initiative enables R&D-performing SMEs and research institutes from Eurostars participating states and partner countries to focus on their market-oriented research and development as well as improve their performance. In the 2019 cutoff, 20 projects led by Swiss startups and research institutes received the grants. The 2019 Eurostars Startups and projects include: Hylomorph – developed a biomaterial that interacts with the sensing mechanism of cells to maintain a healthy interaction between device and tissue implant. Its Eurostars project, CONFIRM, the startup and its team will develop conformal biocompatible coatings for medical implants and devices. RetinAI Medical - the Bernese startup builds Artificial Intelligence powered tools to tackle Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Retinal vascular diseases, like Diabetic Retinopathy, and Glaucoma. The Eurostars project, TIMAGE-R, focuses on Image analysis system for automated diagnosis and management of retinal diseases. Hemotune Ag – developed a medical device for blood purification. The startup and its project team will work on the project SEPurate, a novel blood purification device for treatment of sepsis, based on magnetic nanoparticles. Gtx Medical – the medtech company, is developing a neurostimulation therapy for spinal cord patients. Its Eurostars project CONFIRM! Focuses on the development of CONFIRMative neuromodulation surgery for rehabilitating people with spinal cord injury. Protoshape – as a pioneer in metal 3D printing, Ptotoshape and its partners focus on the project, DIAManT, in which they will develop direct Sensor integration by additive manufacturing technology. Bnovate Technologies – developed Bactosense a device for automated and continuous cells analysis in drinking water. The company and its partners will work on the project MultiSense Aqua, automated online flow cytometry for real-time monitoring of bacteria and particles in drinking water. Genomsys – is developing a new generation of tools and devices for the efficient compression, storage, transport and manipulation of genomic data. The company’s Eurostars project MEGAPIPELINE, focuses on the development of MPEG-G Enabled Genome Analysis Pipeline. Lunaphore – is developing laboratory automation solutions based on a unique microfluidic technology, called Fast Fluidic Exchange (FFeX). Its Eurostars project NGISS aims to develop the next generation in situ sequencing (NGISS). Alveolix –provides in-vitro solutions based on proprietary and unique organ-on-chip technologies aimed at improving preclinical decision-making. The Eurostars project, AIM4DOC, the company will develop an Advanced Inhalation Model for Drug Discovery on Chip. Saverna Therapeutics – Saverna uses the latest artificial intelligence tools to discover small molecules targeting RNA. Among its partners on the Eurostars project BUTTERFLY, Saverna will work with different partners including Spirochem, to develop the first small molecule drug inhibitor of microRNAs for the treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus. Qnami – the startup offer diamond solutions for Nanoscale imaging. In Eurostars, the startup will work on TSAR, a temperature sensor with atomic resolution. Insphero – the ETH Zurich spinoff developed 3D InSight Microtissues for highly predictive drug testing using the most advanced 3D cell culture technologies.  The Eurostars project Immune-NOVA, focuses on the development of CMTM6 inhibitors, modulation of PDL1 for cancer treatment. As its second Eurostars Project in the same Cutoff, Insphero and a group of parters will work on PAN-KIT, for the development of an optimized pancreatic cell tool kit to enable accelerated diabetes drug discovery. (RAN)