News

Seven talents from the Montpellier University Innovation Hub were recognized at the i-Lab competitions, including two grand prizes and one i-PhD 2025 award

[] - Published on in Press Room, University Innovation Hub (PUI)

The University of Montpellier and SATT AxLR, founding members of the University Innovation Hub (PUI), once again distinguished themselves on the national stage this year at the 2025 i-Lab and i-PhD competition ceremony, held in Paris on Tuesday, October 14. Seven winners of the i-Lab competition and one winner of the i-PhD competition, all from the Montpellier PUI, were honored, two of whom received grand prizes. This illustrates the collective momentum driven by the University of Montpellier’s Initium incubator and SATT AxLR. These results attest to the effectiveness of the collaborative support provided within the PUI, which is dedicated to the maturation and commercialization of research and the creation of innovative, high-potential startups, representing a total investment of more than 3.7 million euros.

Seven i-Lab winning projects that drive innovation and make an impact

The i-Lab innovation competition, part of the France 2030 plan and administered by Bpifrance, aims to identify and support the best projects for launching innovative technology companies. Each winner is eligible for support and financial assistance of up to €600,000. This year, the projects from Montpellier’s PUI stand out for the diversity of their fields of application, ranging from healthcare to agriculture, including the ecological transition and artificial intelligence:

i-Lab Grand Prizes:

  • Dolinnov: a biotech company developing innovative solutions to combat chronic neuropathic and inflammatory pain without causing dependence. Research facility: Montpellier Institute of Neuroscience (INM).
  • Terratis: a company that uses the sterile insect technique (SIT) to reduce the population of the tiger mosquito and other insect pests. Laboratory: MIVEGEC.

Winners of the i-Lab competition:

  • Deep Pulse Neuro: a minimally invasive, endovascular deep brain stimulation device for patients with epilepsy. Research facility: Montpellier University Hospital.
  • Nomos: a process for refining organic effluents (digestate, manure, urine) to produce a stable, odorless liquid fertilizer suitable for fertigation and organic farming. Laboratory: European Institute of Membranes (IEM).
  • SPIMA Therapeutics: a company that leverages peptide science to target new therapeutic pathways in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Research laboratories: Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy (IRMB), Max Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules (IBMM).
  • Tellus AI (Celest Science): a predictive artificial intelligence solution for assessing climate risks and conditions conducive to flooding, designed for the finance and insurance sectors. Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences (LSCE)
  • Sitera Pharmaceuticals: Development of an innovative therapeutic strategy targeting Wolfram syndrome and other related conditions. Laboratory: UMR Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Dementias (MMDN).

At the same time, David Sanchez, an IES researcher whose QVD (Quartz for Virus Detection) project aims to create a portable, ultra-sensitive, and multi-selective early-detection device for viruses, also distinguished himself at the i-PhD competition, which is dedicated to entrepreneurship among doctoral students and recent PhD graduates. This initiative, which precedes i-Lab and i-Nov, aims to foster the creation of startups originating from research laboratories and to support the transition from academic research to industrial development.

The Montpellier University Innovation Hub: A Network of Stakeholders United to Turn Research into Innovation

The Montpellier University Innovation Hub (PUI) plays a pivotal role in the region’s innovation ecosystem. It brings together the key players in technology transfer and incubation: Initium, the SATT AxLR, the Montpellier BIC, Agrovallée, the CHU Incubator, Inserm Transfer, and CNRS Innovation. This network-based organization enables consistent and continuous support, from the ideation phase through technological development through to the launch of a business.

For the 2025 edition of the i-Lab and i-PhD competitions, project leaders supported by local incubators received enhanced support:

  • thorough review of the application materials,
  • oral exam prep sessions,
  • Individualized support provided by a specialized firm (10 projects).

These coordinated efforts, funded by the Montpellier PUI, helped refine the projects’ strategies and maximize their impact on the national selection committee. As a result, a tripartite committee (Initium, BIC Montpellier, SATT AxLR) identified about ten promising projects to receive specialized support.

A model of territorial cooperation and a key factor in attracting research to Montpellier

In 2025, the collaborative dynamic among the PUI’s organizations was strengthened with the signing of a tripartite agreement between the University of Montpellier, SATT AxLR, and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.

This agreement aims to streamline the support process for innovative projects through:

  • the pooling of support mechanisms for business creation,
  • the implementation of joint portfolio reviews among incubators,
  • Stronger coordination focused on the needs of project leaders.

The shared goal: to accelerate technology transfer to the market, support the creation of innovative startups, and enhance the appeal of the Montpellier area both nationally and internationally. The success of the 2025 award winners fully illustrates the complementary roles of the PUI’s stakeholders and the effectiveness of its support model, which combines scientific expertise, commercialization support, and entrepreneurial guidance.

Practical Information:

Keywords: ,