The competition, organized by the PerfeTTO Network and the Universities of Catania and Messina, recognized the four most innovative projects.
The first edition of StartUp Academy – Life Science concluded successfully at the University of Catania’s Palazzo dell’Etna, where the winning projects were announced; miRABreC was awarded first place, followed by TriBILife Innovations in second place, while GRAFT CARE and PROMOMIR shared third place.
The initiative is part of the activities of PerfeTTO Network, Italy’s first technology transfer network bringing together Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) from IRCCSs (Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare) and universities in the Life Sciences sector. The program was promoted by the Universities of Catania and Messina and the Italian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Fondazione Emblema, with the aim of identifying and supporting innovative ideas in the field of Life Sciences.
“The PerfeTTO Project represents the first example of collaboration between IRCCSs and universities in the field of technology transfer for the Life Sciences. Our ambition is to build an increasingly strong bridge between researchers, their ideas and industry partners, ensuring that the most innovative projects can effectively address unmet clinical needs,” explained Prof. Filippo Caraci, Scientific Coordinator of the PerfeTTO Project. Professor Veroux added: “The program provided participants a unique opportunity to challenge themselves while building valuable connections with leading professionals in the sector.”
Launched in November 2024, the StartUp Academy program combines coaching, mentoring, and training, supporting 13 entrepreneurial projects selected through a nationwide Call for Ideas. The selected teams, composed of multidisciplinary professionals with strong scientific and technical expertise, demonstrated significant innovation potential in the Life Sciences sector. Notably, 80% of participants are women.
“The 13 finalist projects covered a broad spectrum of innovation, ranging from digital rehabilitation and biomaterials to biomarkers and advanced therapies, combining technological innovation with sustainability and inclusiveness. Many proposals integrated AI and advanced technology, making them potential drivers of progress in the biomedical and healthcare sectors,” said Prof. Rosario Faraci, member of the StartUp Academy Scientific Committee and Chair of the Evaluation Committee.
Projects were assessed on the basis of their originality and innovation, its connection with Life Sciences research activities, technological maturity, coherence and expertise of the project team, and attractiveness of the target market.
Throughout the program, researchers from five Italian regions explored the worlds of innovation and entrepreneurship through more than 50 hours of training and over 90 online mentoring sessions, working closely with experienced mentors and industry experts.
The final two-day event took place in Catania, where the 13 finalist teams participated in intensive networking activities, training sessions, a hackathon and final pitch presentations supported by mentors and leading professionals.
The event opened with institutional addresses, followed by a Gym Session designed to strengthen participants’ entrepreneurial skills. Project representatives then took part in a hackathon sponsored by SIFI, a leading company in ophthalmic healthcare, focused on developing innovative digital solutions for glaucoma prevention.
The second day featured the Demo Day, during which the finalist teams, (A)MICO, Biomarker Validation Platform, Fast Beat, GRAFT CARE, Immunocro, miRABreC, MiRLIPSY, NeuroTherapix, PROMOMIR, SostegnoAD, STAMP-Y, and TriBILife Innovations, presented their projects before a panel of experts and industry professionals.
Final Competition: The Four Winning Projects
The event concluded with a round table discussion highlighting successful university spin-offs, followed by the awards ceremony led by the evaluation committee.
The winning projects were selected for their potential to translate scientific research into tangible benefits for patients, clinical professionals, and citizens.
miRABreC, a project focused on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer through the use of miRNA biomarkers, currently undergoing preclinical studies, ranked first.
The second prize was awarded to TriBILife Innovations, an advanced screening platform that uses genetic sequencing to identify highly specific human antibodies for the treatment of cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic melanoma. The technology is currently in the preclinical stage, with potential applications in CAR-T cell therapies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The third prize went to GRAFT CARE and PROMOMIR, as joint winners.
GRAFT CARE is dedicated to improving organ preservation for transplants. The project developed a novel compound capable of modulating a specific protein to prevent acute kidney injury caused by drug toxicity, contrast agents, postoperative complications and other clinical conditions.
PROMOMIR is developing innovative microRNA-based therapeutic approaches, currently in advanced preclinical development, for the treatment of chronic diseases and cancer.
As part of their award, the winning teams will participate free of charge in the Borsa della Ricerca, Italy’s leading business matching forum for research and innovation, taking place in Catania from 1 to 3 October. The event will provide opportunities to meet companies and investors, secure funding and establish strategic partnerships to support the next stage of their startup development.
The PerfeTTO Network looks forward to welcoming researchers, technology transfer professionals and Life Sciences entrepreneurs to the next edition of the StartUp Academy. Details of the next Call for Ideas will be announced through the Network’s official website and social media channels.
About the PerfeTTO NetworkThe PerfeTTO Network is Italy’s first national Technology Transfer Office (TTO) network dedicated to the Life Sciences sector. The initiative is supported by a total investment of €30 million, including €15 million provided by the Italian Ministry of Health through the National Complementary Plan (PNC) to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Innovative Health Ecosystem – E.3. Established as a Temporary Association of Purpose (ATS), the Network brings together 54 centers of excellence, including public and private IRCCS, universities, foundations and university hospitals across Italy. Its mission is to promote a national culture of technology transfer in the Life Sciences, bridge the gap between research and society, foster innovation, and generate sustainable social and economic value.
