The Association of Companies and Entities of the BIO sector that includes Biotechnology, Biomedicine and Bioeconomy, and that constitute the cluster of the Valencian Community, Bioval, recognized during the sixth Biotec Night, through the Bioval 2023 awards, the work of Evolving Therapeutics, Madeinplant and Luis Chimeno, founder of Oscillum, all of them related to the University of Valencia Science Park (PCUV) and AgrotecUV
The sixth edition of Biotec Night, organized by Bioval, was held on November 9 in La Marina de València with the aim of taking a step forward in the consolidation of a cluster, which aims to be the umbrella of all biotechnology companies in the Valencian Community. In this context, three innovative companies that are part of AgrotecUV and the University of Valencia Science Park (PCUV) were recognized. The UV spin-off, Evolving Therapeutics, which works on a personalized system for isolating environmental bacteriophages aimed at tackling the problem of antimicrobial resistance, was recognized as the Best Bioval 2023 Associate; Madeinplant, dedicated to the reprogramming of plants to improve their agronomic characteristics, won the Value Proposition 2023 award; and finally Luis Chimeno, CEO of Oscillum, a company that develops and produces smart labels that trace and provide information on food, drugs or cream, was awarded the Young Talent award.
"These awards are already an unmissable event in our sector and the level is getting higher and higher. The Valencian Community is a very important node in biotechnology and the quality of all the award winners is proof of that," said Ángela Pérez, who headed the jury as president of Bioval. "As a novelty, this year we wanted to expand the awards to extend our recognition to dissemination, which is very important to continue progressing in our area, making society an accomplice in our progress, since it is for them that we develop the biotech products and services that will improve our lives and in which we trust our future," added the president.
"These awards are already an unmissable event in our sector and the level is getting higher and higher. The Valencian Community is a very important node in biotechnology and the quality of all the award winners is proof of this", Ángela Pérez, president of Bioval
The jury included Ángela Pérez, president of Bioval and VP Health in Code; Ainhoa Genovés, general director of the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe; Alicia Medrano, member of the board of directors of AJEV; Arantxa Torres, director of the territorial center of RTVE in the CV; Encarna Mazón, director of the Chair of Business Culture of the UV; Marta Iranzo, president of the Mediterranean Marketing Club and VP of EVAP; Maxi Pérez, branch manager of Caixa Popular; Ismael Valero, head of Lanzadera Corporate; Pepe Peris, general director of Angels and Víctor Rodríguez, regional key account manager of Promega.
Also recognized during the gala were Lucía Almagro, biotechnologist and editor of the account @diariodeunacientifica and author of the book Un virus en apuros, the first winner of the new bioval award for Scientific Dissemination; and Marta García Escolano, winner of the Female Leadership award, who develops neurocosmetics in PROSPERA Biotech for extremely sensitive skins, such as those which have received chemo or radiotherapy treatment.
Evolving Therapeutics, Bioval Best Partner Award 2023
Evolving Therapeutics won the Best Associate Bioval 2023 award. The spin-off of the University of Valencia, very recently created, was founded by Dr. Pilar Domingo Calap and Dr. Marisa Domingo Calap, and with the support of the Respiralia Foundation, a non-profit association for cystic fibrosis. Its work, which is focused on the fight against multi-resistant bacteria, seeks to develop products that are capable of preventing, treating and diagnosing bacterial diseases that are currently untreatable. "Right now, our company is in an exciting stage of development and growth. Despite being a young company, we have made significant progress since our inception and have reached key milestones along the way," Evolving says.
"We are a very new company and this award is an opportunity for us to enter and make ourselves known to the entire biotech ecosystem. We are very grateful to all the partners who trust in our project and who have voted for this award, which is not only a source of pride for our team, but also symbolizes an endorsement of our mission and vision as a company," they acknowledge from the organization, while adding that "the Bioval award encourages us to continue innovating and overcoming challenges, it is a source of motivation to continue innovating and a validation of our contribution to the Valencian bio sector. We are excited and grateful for this honor, and we are committed to continue working to make a positive difference in our field and in the community".
"We are a very new company and this award is an opportunity for us to enter and make ourselves known to the entire biotech ecosystem. We are very grateful to all the partners who trust in our project and who have voted for this award, which is not only a source of pride for our team, but also symbolizes an endorsement of our mission and vision as a company"
On the other hand, from the company, they place the Valencian bio sector "in an exciting and promising moment for new startups", as they highlight "In recent years, there has been a growth in the region in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of biotechnology and biomedicine. Valencia has proven to be a favorable place for the creation and development of bio startups thanks to its favorable ecosystem for research and collaboration." "The presence of leading academic institutions, such as universities and research centers, has fostered the formation of solid networks between scientists, entrepreneurs and companies, making it easier for the transfer of knowledge and technology from academia to society, boosting the emergence of new companies in the bio sector," the organization concludes.
Madeinplant, Value Proposition Award 2023
Madeinplant was recognized with the 2023 Value Proposition Award. The company, a specialist in plant bio-design, is dedicated to the reprogramming of plants to improve their agronomic characteristics. One line of work is the reconversion of plants into biofactories of proteins and biomolecules of high added value with application in the agri-food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, to produce in a more sustainable way.
"This award represents the recognition of our community and our sector. It means that those who share our concerns and our way of understanding innovation as a tool for progress, have seen value in the proposal we make from Madeinplant to contribute to solving the great global challenges we face", explains Federico Grau, CEO and founder of Madeinplant, which in turn indicates that "the Valencian bio sector is in a moment of full effervescence with a series of initiatives to promote innovative proposals that should not be missed".
"The Valencian bio sector is in a moment of full effervescence with a series of initiatives to promote innovative proposals that should not be missed. The next decade is going to be key because many of the biotechnological advances that have been developed in recent years will be implemented", Federico Grau, CEO and founder of Madeinplant
Despite only being in business for a year, the founding team of this young company has more than 20 years of experience in the field of plant biotechnology. The organization operates in an environment like Valencia, where it "has managed to form a bio hub that is being consolidated. It is up to us to give it its own identity and make the Region a biotechnology center of reference. "The next decade will be key because many of the biotechnological advances that have been developed in recent years will be implemented," Grau emphasizes.
Luis Chimeno, Young Talent Award
The founder and COO of Oscillum, Luis Chimeno, received the Young Talent Award. His company develops and produces smart labels that trace and provide information about food, drugs or skin creams at a glance on the packaging. Currently, according to Chimeno, they are "in full growth at cruising speed focusing on more industrial and productive aspects, growing the team and working commercial areas not only in the European Union but also in Latin America offering solutions not only smart labeling but active packaging to improve and increase the shelf life of products from different sectors in which we work such as the food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals that are increasingly facing new challenges to which Oscillum can provide solutions.
"The award is a shot of energy for the whole team because it is a recognition that we are on the right track and that all our work has a meaning in society and can help us to improve little by little taking steps towards a more sustainable and safe production system. Of course, initiatives and awards like this are a beacon and an indicator that all the work and effort are put in a common interest", Luis Chimeno, founder of Oscillum
"The award is a shot of energy for the whole team because it is a recognition that we are on the right track and that all our work has a meaning in society and can help us to improve little by little taking steps towards a more sustainable and safe production system. Of course, initiatives and awards like this are a beacon and an indicator that all the work and effort are put in a common interest," says the COO of the startup integrated in the AgrotecUV incubator. He adds that "during the gala many aspects of the Valencian biotech sector and the great potential they have were discussed: from plants that can serve as biofactories for vaccines, to innovative therapies against diseases for which there is no cure or treatment".
Thus, Chimeno expresses that "health is a present and future challenge that will continue to improve and innovate in order to achieve a society with a higher quality of life. There are many challenges for the future, the progress and growth of the population in itself pose challenges in the agri-food and health sector, from the risk of bacterial resistance to the challenge of feeding a population with the limited cultivation space that we are going to find and I believe that the solution to all these problems is (and must be) through biotechnology".