The Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE), which includes the Scientific Park of the University of Valencia, has taken advantage of the 14th edition of Transfiere, held at FYCMA (Malaga Congress and Exhibition Centre), to officially present the APTE Top 100 Startups of 2024, a list that recognizes the 100 most innovative projects arising in the 51 science and technology parks members of APTE in cutting-edge areas ranging from biotechnology to artificial intelligenceThe event was attended by Rocío Castrillo, director of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Enisa (National Innovation Company), and Felipe Romera, president of APTE, in addition to a delegation of more than thirty startups included in the list.
During his speech, Felipe Romera highlighted that the APTE Top 100 Startups initiative was launched at the end of 2023 with the aim of recognizing the entrepreneurial talent emerging in Spanish science and technology parks and giving these companies visibility to the investment market potential in high growth projects. He also noted the importance of presenting this list within the framework of Transfiere, a key forum for innovation and knowledge transfer, and emphasized the diversity of sectors represented.
For his part, Rocío Castrillo has underlined the fundamental role of the APTENISA startup creation and acceleration program, promoted by APTE with the support of Enisa, in the generation of innovative companies. Eight of the listed startups have emerged from this program, which reinforces its impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem, he said. He also highlighted a particularly relevant data in terms of equality: 36% of the startups on the list are led by women, either as CEO or founders.
During the event, three listed startups shared their experiences and the differential value of their projects. In the first place is MacroCarbon (Canarian Foundation Science and Technology Park of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), represented by Miriam Arellano, head of Operations and Local Relations, which cultivates floating macroalgae for the production of biofuels and whose business model contributes to the capture of CO₂ and offers high added value products for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and textile industries. In second place is Nanostine (Science Park of Madrid), a spin-off of CSIC led by Daniel González, which develops high purity nanoparticles using sustainable technology without generating toxic by-products, providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods. In third place, Sialtrónica (Avilés Science and Technology Park) participated, with Lorena Turrado at the head of the R&D&I area, which designs technological solutions to improve safety and mobility efficiency by integrating LED lighting, cameras and IoT sensors.
With initiatives like this, APTE reinforces its commitment to innovation and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Spain, facilitating the connection between startups, the world of investors and key representatives of the technology sector.
All these developments have in common that they seek to correct the skin imbalance through biotechnological assets capable of modulating communities of microorganisms and treat them naturally. The products designed by this company are made with pre-and postbiotics of natural origin, as scientifically proven active ingredients.
14th edition of Transfiere, held by APTE in Malaga. Photo: APTE
The APTE Top 100 Startups 2024 list includes two companies located in the scientific-business area of the University of Valencia Science Park: Matteco and Persiskin. Matteco is a materials technology company with the mission to decarbonize the economy and accelerate the energy transition, starting with solutions for green hydrogen production; while Persiskin is a technology-based company that develops a vegan leather similar to animal leather as a possible substitute for synthetic material, but made with more than 75% of plant matter.
Dentro del listado APTE Top 100 Startups de 2024 se encuentran dos empresas situadas en el ámbito científico-empresarial del Parc Científic de la Universitat de València: Matteco y Persiskin. Matteco es una empresa de tecnología de materiales con la misión de descarbonizar la economía y acelerar la transición energética, empezando con soluciones para la producción de hidrógeno verde; mientras que Persiskin es una empresa de base tecnológica que desarrolla un cuero vegano símil al cuero animal como posible sustituto al material sintético, pero hecho con más de un 75% de materia vegetal.
Matteco and Persiskin, PCUV companies, among the 100 most innovative companies according to APTE
For this ranking, initiatives have been selected in the following areas: biotechnology, artificial intelligence, clean energy, telecommunications, health, space, automotive, agrotech, blockchain, software, electronics and environmental sustainability. The objective pursued by APTE with this initiative, which is being carried out for the second consecutive year, is to recognise the 100 most outstanding start-ups in Spanish science and technology parks and highlight the quality and entrepreneurial capacity that develops in these environments.
About the APTE
The Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain was created in 1989 as a non-profit association whose main objective is to collaborate through the development and dissemination of science and technology parks, the renewal and diversification of productive activity, technological progress and economic development. It currently has 60 member parks spread throughout Spain. 52 of them are Partner parks, that is fully operational, 4 are Affiliates in the process of development and finally 4 members Collaborators. In 2023, these parks hosted 5,908 entities with a turnover of 28,917 million euros. These firms employ more than 161,435 people, of whom 38,656 are engaged in R & D work.
Source: APTE