Ten finalists selected for the first edition of InnoStars Connect!

From cutting-edge diagnostic tools to innovative digital healthcare systems, the InnoStars Connect 2024 finalists showcase a broad range of disruptive healthcare solutions. Start-ups from across Europe, including Italy with the highest number of projects, are set to embark on a transformative journey. Over the next four months, these innovators will participate in bootcamps to accelerate their impact through collaboration with pharma industry leaders Chiesi Pharmaceuticals and SYNLAB Italy. The top three teams will compete for a financial prize at the EIT Health InnoStars Grand Final to be held on 27 November in Budapest. 

Launched in June, in partnership with two of Europe’s prominent pharmaceutical companies, Chiesi Pharmaceuticals and SYNLAB Italy, the InnoStars Connect programme aims to drive the development of life-changing healthcare solutions. Out of 110 initial applications, 41 advanced through a rigorous review process. The selected ten start-ups will access Europe’s largest health innovation network, secure smart funding, and receive expert guidance to pilot projects that address critical health challenges.

“We are thrilled to announce the top ten finalists,” said Sarah Haddadin, RIS Innovation Lead at EIT Health InnoStars and programme manager. “These start-ups embody the forward-thinking innovation our programme supports. We anticipate their solutions will have a significant impact on the healthcare sector.”

In the coming months, the finalists will engage in structured bootcamps, including  offline meetings at the challenge owners’ premises, to refine their innovations and prepare for industry engagement. These sessions will involve pitching to challenge owners, receiving targeted feedback, and showcasing how their solutions meet specific needs. Throughout the programme, mentorship from industry leaders will be instrumental in overcoming challenges and optimising their projects for real-world application.

Selected Challenges and Finalists

Challenge #1 Chiesi Group – Innovative Digital Health Solutions

• Mama Health (Italy, TRL 7) – Mama Health integrates AI-driven patient data collection with Process Mining to create a centralised real-world data (RW) platform. Features include AI anamnestic conversations for detailed patient data, process mining to model patient journeys and identify intervention points, and a data aggregation platform for life science companies and healthcare professionals.

• RespiBit (Greece, TRL 5) – AsthmaFit is a digital health solution to predict and prevent asthma attacks. It includes a wearable device to measure exposure to pollutants and allergens, an app to track symptoms, and cloud software for risk assessment and activity modulation.

• Virtuleap (Portugal, TRL 6) – Enhance VR is a cognitive training and assessment system featuring 15 gamified cognitive exercises inspired by validated neuropsychological tests. It offers a structured environment for training across seven cognitive categories.

• PONS Teknoloji (Türkiye, TRL 6) – PONS is an AI system for mobile ultrasound that integrates AI-driven navigation and enhancement, allowing users without ultrasound training to capture robust data on disease progression.

Challenge #1 Chiesi Group -Innovative Therapeutic Approaches/Solutions

• Aqabela.EU SIA (Latvia, TRL 5) – Aqabela’s therapeutic solution targets the gut microbiome’s role in regulating the gut-lung axis. The potential COPD therapeutic product aims to buffer the immune response in the lungs, reduce inflammation, and preserve lung function, exploring the interplay between the gut microbiome and respiratory health.

• Bialoom Ltd (Cyprus, TRL 5) – The solution includes a disposable diagnostic cartridge and an analyzing instrument. The cartridge features a silicon photonic chip capable of conducting multiple label-free immunoassays to detect and quantify numerous biological targets simultaneously.

Challenge #2 SYNLAB Italy – Advanced Diagnostic Biomarkers and Technologies

• IQ Biozoom (Poland, TRL 5) – IQ Biozoom introduces an innovative saliva-based diagnostic tool using advanced thin-film transistor (TFT) biosensor technology. This non-invasive solution offers real-time monitoring of critical biomarkers, providing a user-friendly alternative to traditional blood tests.

• AIGEA MEDICAL (Italy, TRL 5) – DeepMammo is a technology that utilizes eXplainable and Generative AI to assist radiologists in the early detection of breast cancer.

• Auxiliis Pharma (Hungary, TRL 6) – The MMP3 biomarker, based on accepted professional recommendations, correlates with the degree of inflammation, disease activity, and radiological progression in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It is designed for disease follow-up and to support diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.

• NIB Biotec (Italy, TRL 6) – NIB Biotec has identified a panel of molecules differently expressed in the urine of healthy subjects and prostate cancer patients. This evaluation allows for more efficient discrimination between healthy men and patients compared to standard procedures.