The Innovation Unit – UPF Business Shuttle has published the results of the new edition of the UPF INNOValora programme. In this fourth call, five innovative projects of UPF will obtain funding and support to promote their development and explore their commercial potential, thus contributing to the University’s commitment for academic research to generate a social and economic impact.

The five selected projects address topics from various branches of knowledge. Two of them come from the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (MELIS), a further two belong to the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC), and a fifth, to the Department of Communication (DCOM). This is the first time that a project in the field of the Social Sciences has been selected to receive funding from this programme, which highlights the fact that research in this area of knowledge can also have a social and/or economic impact and can become a competitive solution in the market. 

Each of them will receive 50,000 euros to carry out proofs of concept with the results linked to their research activity over a period of ten months. These trials will allow them greater chances of success in their process of developing new products and services that can respond to the needs of the market or society. At the same time, the projects will enjoy the advice of a mentor from the same sector who will support them in business management. 

Moreover, the UPF Board of Trustees will offer them a specialized training plan in knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship that will help them acquire the necessary skills to transfer their innovative ideas to the business fabric. The Board will also grant 5,000 euros to the project that demonstrates the best development in relation to its focus and expected impact on the market.

Twenty minutes to defend the project

On 25 April, the final of the programme was held, at which the 10 projects selected from the 19 submissions, defended their proposals by means of a pitch that allowed them a 7-minute presentation with a subsequent round of questions and answers. The jury, all of whom are from outside the University and experts in various fields of knowledge, selected the five projects with the greatest outreach. They are:

1. LIFUS-SC, focused ultrasound therapy (FUS) to promote neurorepair and slow progression in spinal cord diseases

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging technology to treat diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), including the spinal cord. The aim of this project is to develop an FUS-based medical device, to stimulate the spinal cord of patients with spinal cord injury and thus promote their recovery and slow down the progression of the disease.

Team: Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo, Pablo Villoslada Diaz and Agustin Conesa Beltran, of the Dynamical Systems Biology Research Group of the MELIS.

2. T-bio, in vivo nucleic acid delivery through bio-nanoparticle engineering

The in vivo genetic editing of human cells, through the transfer of genetic material to the cells of an individual, aims to create new therapies capable of curing diseases that currently have no therapeutic solution. However, there is currently no solution on the market with a specific, directed system of administration that does not present problems with immune system response, nor have negative repercussions on the genetic material. 

The team of T-bio is developing a virus-like particle (VLP) release technology that aims to overcome the current difficulties of gene editing for the treatment of various genetic and acquired diseases.

Team: Marc Güell and Dimitrie Ivancic, of the Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory (TECNIO centre) of the MELIS. 

3. YouthLab, a laboratory on Youth, Mediation and Inclusion Policies

The YouthLab project aims to develop a prototype Laboratory for transfer, consultancy and mentoring in the field of youth and social inclusion to advise local and international administrations, educational entities, NGOs and youth organizations on mediation to prevent violence and social exclusion, especially in relation to youth sectors.

Team: Carles Feixa, María Oliver, José Sánchez, Nele Hansen and Montserrat Iniesta, of the Youth, Society and Communication Research Group (JOVIScom) of the DCOM.
 

4. PULL, protecting users’ losses: a new market maker for decentralized exchange

This project seeks to implement a protocol for decentralized exchange (DEX) applicable to blockchain-based cryptocurrency exchange platforms that do not depend on a central authority, which allows preventing fraud and eliminating extra costs of illegal practices associated with transactions. 

Team: Vanesa Daza and Conor McMenamin, of the Wireless and Secure Communications Research Group (WiSeCom).

5. VIDAA, virtual platform for the implementation of devices in interventions to close the left atrial appendage of the heart.

VIDAA is a web platform that aims to help medical personnel in the planning of interventions to close the left atrial appendage of the heart. Using computed tomography (CT) images, the personalized heart of the patient is obtained. Then, the effectiveness of different devices available on the market can be assessed, simulating their behaviour and extracting morphological parameters of the heart using artificial intelligence.

Team: Oscar Cámara, Jordi Mill, Andy Luis Olivares and Ainhoa Marina Aguado of the Physense Research Group, a member of BCN MedTech (TECNIO centre) of the DTIC.

A jury of independent, external professionals

The jury is made up of renowned professionals in different areas of scientific and industrial knowledge and in the fields of technology transfer, entrepreneurship and investment.

The evaluation panel applied its professional judgement and experience to provide a qualitative and rigorous assessment, based on the evaluation criteria pre-established in the call (technology, novelty and IP, market potential and team).

Tom Hockaday: "INNOValora is a fantastic programme, and well done to UPF for supporting the programme for this fourth round. Providing proof-of-concept funding is essential for a strong technology and knowledge transfer programme.”

The members of the jury highlighted both the quality and the level of innovation of all the projects submitted. One of them, Tom Hockaday, an expert on innovation, comments: “We have seen ten projects and selected the five strongest from UPF’s wide range of research activities, including for the first time among the finalists a project in the field of Social Sciences. INNOValora is a fantastic programme, and well done to UPF for supporting the programme for this fourth round. Providing proof-of-concept funding is essential for a strong technology and knowledge transfer programme.”

The jury members for the 2022 edition were:

• Tom Hockaday, CEO of the innovation consultancy Technology Transfer Innovation. 

• Francisco Badia, partner of the Grow Venture Partners investment fund and founder of the consultant ImpulsetoGrow.

• Carlos Corominas, Investment Operations Analyst at Grow Venture Partners.

• Clara Campàs, managing partner and co-founder of the venture capital manager Asabys Partners.

• Antonio Limatola, Senior Associate at Asabys Partners.

• Elena Rico, managing partner at the fund manager Impact Partners Iberica.

• Luis Ruiz Ávila, CEO of the companies Leukos Biotech and RUTI Immune and mentor of the EIT Health innovation network.

• Jordi Janer, R&D Manager at Voctro Labs/Voicemod. 

• Pastora Martínez, commissioner for International Action at the UOC.

Once again, this programme to promote knowledge transfer highlights the work of the research staff who conduct research at the University and generate knowledge, recognizing the most promising projects capable of increasing the impact of research on society and of seeking returns on public investment in research.