The Portuguese startup BAC3GEL, based in the Taguspark Incubator, has received an award from Headstart Innostars, a programme promoted by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in Health (EIT), one of the most prestigious European competitions for startups operating in the area of health. Participation in this European competition is only possible with pre-approval and BAC3GEL was one of 15 projects chosen out of 150. The company develops human mucus models, generating infections in vitro to discover and test the effectiveness of new antibiotics and food supplements.
“This recognition is extremely important for Bac3Gel, not only due to the entity that gave the award, but also for the opportunities, experiences and partnerships it will generate. The EIT Health Headstart programme aims to support and accelerate the transfer of innovative healthcare technologies to the market. This support is provided at various levels, namely through access to a European network specialised in innovation for health, including equipment suppliers, the pharmaceutical industry, universities and research centres, prize money of € 40,000, with the opportunity to compete for an additional € 10,000, and access to a business mentor”, explains Sebastião van Uden, CEO of BAC3GEL.
BAC3GEL distributes models that allow infections to be generated in vitro to discover and test the effectiveness of new antibiotics in an efficient and reproducible way, as well as the creation of mini-intestines in the laboratory to aid the development of food supplements, such as probiotics and prebiotics. With these models, BAC3GEL offers the pharmaceutical and food industries the opportunity to develop new therapies in a shorter period of time and at reduced cost.
Originating in Taguspark, this technological platform allows different commercial solutions to be developed, which are condensed into specific products to create the ability to grow microorganisms in the same way as they grow in the human body.
