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Seven projects 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, with two receiving grand prizes. This highlights the collective momentum driven by the University of Montpellier’s Initium incubator and SATT AxLR. These results demonstrate 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 companies, representing a total investment of over 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. The projects emerging from the Montpellier PUI stand out this year 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 treat 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 populations 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 designed for patients with epilepsy. Research institution: 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 Membrane Institute (IEM).
  • SPIMA Therapeutics: a company leveraging peptide science to target new therapeutic pathways in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Laboratories: Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy (IRMB), Max Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules (IBMM).
  • Tellus AI (Celest Science): a predictive artificial intelligence solution designed to assess climate risks and conditions conducive to flooding, intended for the finance and insurance sectors. Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences (LSCE)
  • Sitera Pharmaceuticals: developing an innovative therapeutic strategy targeting Wolfram syndrome and other related conditions. Laboratory: UMR Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Dementias (MMDN).

Meanwhile, David Sanchez, an IES researcher, also distinguished himself at the i-PhD competition—dedicated to entrepreneurship among doctoral students and recent PhD graduates—with his QVD (Quartz for Virus Detection) project, which aims to create a portable, ultra-sensitive, and multi-selective early-detection device for viruses. 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 working together 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 AxLR Technology Transfer Agency, the Montpellier Business Incubator, Agrovallée, the University Hospital Incubator, Inserm Transfer, and CNRS Innovation. This networked organization enables consistent and continuous support, from ideation through from technological development to business creation.

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

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

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

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

In 2025, the collaborative relationship among the PUI’s constituent entities 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 by:

  • the pooling of resources to support business creation,
  • the implementation of joint portfolio reviews among incubators,
  • greater 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 region 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.

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