And the winners of the Innovation Awards are...
An unmissable annual event since 2019, the"Afterwork de l'innovation" brought together university researchers and their partners from the socio-economic world on Wednesday, June 28, at the Jardin des Plantes. The program for this summer evening included advice, collective networking, and the eagerly awaited Innovation Awards ceremony. Six researchers received awards at this fourth edition.
Wednesday, June 28, 5 p.m. Small groups hurry through the Jardin des Plantes toward the forecourt of the Institute of Botany. In this tree-lined setting, the University of Montpellier's "Afterwork Innovation" event is taking place, an evening of discussion and networking to which researchers and their partners from the socio-economic world have been invited. For the hundred or so guests, the evening begins with a moment of discussion and networking to discover ways to promote a project, learn about possible avenues for collaboration, or benefit from advice on starting a business. It is a convivial interlude before President Philippe Augé launches the fourth Innovation Awards ceremony. Six trophies are being awarded this year, one for each of the five research clusters corresponding to the major scientific communities at the University of Montpellier, and an interdisciplinary "favorite" prize.
Before revealing the names of the day's winners, Hind Hemad, Vice President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole in charge of economic development, and Philippe Combette, Vice President in charge of partnerships and innovation at the University of Montpellier, took to the stage to highlight the major achievements of UM researchers in the field of innovation. Among them was Terratis, a deep tech company aiming to combat the tiger mosquito, which Celia Oliva, the company's CEO, came to present in order to "inspire others to become entrepreneurs." Another success story highlighted was that of Microphyt, presented by its CEO Vincent Usache, who emphasized that "apartnership between a laboratory and a private company makes it possible to increase competitiveness."
Dolphinfree: protecting dolphins from overfishing
Because it is the added value of research to the entrepreneurial process that connects all of the participants that evening, whether their project is still in their heads or already in the development phase. And to motivate everyone to believe in their projects, the University has once again this year rewarded researchers involved in innovative projects. In the agriculture-environment-biodiversity category, Bastien Mérigot, Professor Marbec, received an award for Dolphinfree. This is a new-generation acoustic beacon system designed to protect dolphins from accidental capture in fishing nets, the leading direct cause of marine mammal mortality, using a bio-inspired ultrasonic sound signal that deters them from approaching. The device is set to be tested nationwide in the near future. Bastien Merigot is already seeking new funding to adapt his beacon system to other endangered species.
CarboZym: A more environmentally friendly industrial chemical process
In the chemistry category, Jullien Drone, Professor the National School of Chemistry (ENSCM) in Montpellier, wins the prize with CarboZym. He plans to take the helm of a startup currently being created in the coming months. This project is the result of work carried out with Nicolas Brun, a researcher at the Charles Gerhardt Montpellier Institute (ICGM). Together, they have developed a unique process for immobilizing enzymes, which involves fixing them to a porous, bio-based support, enabling effective and environmentally friendly biocatalysis. "Two patents were filed in early 2023, we have reached the €1 million funding milestone, and we have just launched a funding round to raise €3 million, which will enable us to bring this innovation to industrial scale," says Jullien Drone.
EPITRANSDIAG: RNA against cancer
Another mature project that has won awards, this time in the bio-health category, is EpiTransDiag. This innovation is the result of a consortium co-led by Alexandre David, a researcher at the Institute of Functional Genomics (IGH), Christophe Hirtz, Professor of the Montpellier clinical proteomics platform, and Eric Rivals, a researcher at the Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics (Lirmm). By studying chemical modifications in RNA through epitranscriptome analysis, the aim is to develop innovative tools in conjunction with machine learning, ultimately opening up new therapeutic prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. With a patent already filed, Alexandre David's goal is to develop cutting-edge "RNA chemistry" in Montpellier. The project has already given rise to France's first clinical mass spectrometry platform for RNA chemical modifications.
- Listen to: Science at UM with Alexandre David and Eric Rivals
Thor eyes: Better understanding the impact of chest implants
Other projects, although promising, still need support in their entrepreneurial approach. This is the case for Thor Eyes, an innovation that won an award in the MIPS (mathematics, computer science, physics, systems) category. The result of a collaboration between Laurence Solovei, a surgeon in the thoracic and vascular surgery department at Montpellier University Hospital, and the biomechanics team at the Mechanics and Civil Engineering Laboratory (LMGC), Thor Eyes is now a technology transfer project led by mechanical engineer Jimmy Teixeira. 360° stereo-correlation video technology makes it possible to measure deformation movements on the surface of living beings, such as chest breathing, in an efficient and non-invasive manner. Further studies are needed to develop the project and explore its fields of application.
JeudeCompta: breaking the stereotypes of accountants
After an initial version in the form of a board game, JeudeCompta is a digital application project currently being developed by Guillaume Dumas, Professor Montpellier Management. Dumas asked himself, "How can we break the stereotype of accountants sitting behind their desks and make students' first contact with the discipline fun?" while also appealing more broadly to those "who want to acquire basic knowledge to communicate with their accountants."
Inseparable: humanizing hospital care
Finally, the evening ended with the "interdisciplinary favorite" award. This prize was awarded to anesthesiologist and intensive care physician Dorian Grégoire for his project "Inséparable" (Inseparable). This app is designed to facilitate communication between the loved ones of patients in intensive care and the nursing staff. For Dorian Grégoire, this project could be a "vehicle for humanizing hospital care"despite the constraints and psychological impact of emergency hospitalization. A clinical study is currently underway at Montpellier University Hospital.
Once again this year, the "Afterwork Innovation" event provided an opportunity for researchers who have not yet taken the plunge to discover the support services offered by the University of Montpellier. As for the Innovation Awards, they prove once again this year that tomorrow's entrepreneurship is above all centered on people. When science carries a societal commitment, everyone wins: the academic world, the socio-economic world, and society.