As the highly anticipated launch date of the second cohort of the S3E Start program approaches on February 6th, we're thrilled to share that 69 researchers, alongside 11 Technology Transfer Officers (6 within a team, 5 individually), are going to embark on this transformative journey.

S3E Start is tailored for research teams and technology transfer officers engaged in deep tech projects, rooted in scientific discoveries and meaningful engineering innovations, seeking to navigate the journey from the lab to the market.

For the next 18 weeks, participants will be immersed in a hands-on experience featuring online tutorials, webinars, mentoring, advising, pitch presentations, networking, and more.

Meet the selected teams:

1. AzOmics

• Research Team: Duarte Toubarro, Jorge Frias, Miguel Pombo, and Rita Vilas-Boas
  
• Institutions: Azores Life Science and Azores University
  
• Country: Portugal
  
• Technology: Platform to uncover novel applications for enzymes, exopolysaccharides, secondary metabolites, proteins, and other molecules found in extremophyles.

2. Blood2Power

• Research Team: Andreia Trindade Pereira, Daniela Sousa, Herbert Middleton, and Salomé Luís
  
• TTO: Juliana Alves
  
• Institution: i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health
  
• Country:Portugal
  
• Technology: Power-generating system that produces electricity from the flow of blood or other bodily fluids.
  

3. BreastScreening-AI

• Research Team: André Fadiga, Francisco Maria Calisto, and Carlos Santiago
  
• Institutions: Technical University - University of Lisbon, Coimbra University and University of Maia
  
• Country: Portugal
  
• Technology: AI-driven system that supports medical doctors in accurately screening for breast cancer, by reviewing medical images.
  

4. Building a miR-129-1 Target Therapy in ALS and Beyond

• Research Team: Federica Rizzo, Francesca Rizzi, Linda Ottoboni, Mafalda Rizzuti and Stefania Corti
  
• TTO: Margherita Chierici
• Institutions: Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Policlinico Maggiore Hospital and University of Milan
  
• Country: Italy
  
• Technology: Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological diseases that modulates RNA translation.
  

5. C-Anal View

• Research Team: Ilaria Toniolo and Lino Polese
  
• TTO: Francesca Rizzi
  
• Institution: University of Padova
  
• Country: Italy
  
• Technology: Innovative solution that enables clear visualisation of the anal canal during a colonoscopy, aiding in the diagnosis of various conditions.
  

6. Comprehensive Pathogen Surveillance Ecosystem

• Research Team: Ege Dedeoğlu, Gültekin Ünal, Hamit Kaan Müştak
  
• Institution: Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  
• Country: Turkey
  
• Technology: A holistic pathogen surveillance system combining user-friendly wide spectrum testing kits and real-time monitoring capabilities.
  

7. DOPANTS: Development of Polymeric Nanocomposites for Surgical and Medical Tools and Consumables Reinforcement

• Research Team: Anna Mastrogiorgi, Eleftheria Perivola, Marios Fragkioglou, Minas M. Stylianakis, and Vasileios Tzatzadakis
  
• Institution: Hellenic Mediterranean University
  
• Country: Greece
  
• Technology: Novel use of plastic incorporating nanomaterials that can yield useful properties for medical tools.

8. ECOPLAN: AI-POWERED PLATFORM FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

• Research Team: Aurelijus Rinkevičius, Marius Kriukovas, Greta Čerškutė, Saulė Mačiukaitė-Žvienienė, and Vytenis Mockus
  
• Institution: Vilnius University
  
• Country: Lithuania
  
• Technology: Machine learning algorithms for sustainable construction material assessment.
  

9. Exploring Plant-Derived Compounds for the Control of the Root-Lesion Nematode Pratylenchus penetrans

• Research Team: Cláudia Letras, Margarida Espada, Madalena Mendonça, and Pedro Barbosa
  
• Institution: Évora University
  
• Country: Portugal
  
• Technology: Plant-derived nematicidal compounds for root lesion nematodes.
  

10. GENESIS

• Research Team: Alexandra Pinto, Diogo Silva, Helder Nunes, and Lucas Marcon
  
• Institution: Faculty of Engineering - University of Porto, Universal H2, and INEGI driving science & innovation
  
• Country: Portugal
  
• Technology: A system for hydrogen production that can enable off-grid electricity generation.
  

11. KORI

• Research Team: Chrysoula Strifti, Dimitra Pantelaki, Marilena Kadveri, and Theodora Gazea
  
• Institution: KORI
  
• Country: Greece
  
• Technology: Novel remote VR system to enhance the accuracy of pediatric ophthalmology diagnostics.

12. OncoMagnetoSweep

• Research Team: Diana Fonseca, Luísa Fialho, and Marta Laranjeira
  
• TTO: Natacha Rosa
  
• Institution: i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health
  
• Country: Portugal
  
• Technology: In vivo magnetic tube system that removes circulating tumor cells from the bloodstream.
  

13. OncoMets: An In Vitro Diagnostic Tool to Predict Breast Cancer Metastatic Risk

• Research Team: Ana Sofia Ribeiro, Bruno Freitas, Inês Conde, Joana Paredes, and Rita Carvalho
  
• TTO: Bárbara Macedo
  
• Institutions: LEPABE-FEUP, i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health
  
• Country:Portugal
  
• Technology: Non-invasive diagnostic solution using simple blood drop, making it possible for patients and oncologists to track disease progression over time.
  

14. THYMI: A Novel Manufacturable Thymus-Mimetic Platform

• Research Team: Rute Pinto and Pedro Ferreirinha
  
• Institution: i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health
  
• Country: Portugal
  
• Technology: Innovative platform for T-Cell/TEC development and generation.
  

15. UPWIND

• Research Team: Luís Tiago Paiva, Fernando Fontes, Gabriel Fernandes, Manuel Fernandes, Rui da Costa, and Sérgio Vinha
  
• Institutions: Porto University and Institute for Systems and Robotics
  
• Country: Portugal
  
• Technology: Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) to harvest high altitude wind power.

16. Water Micropollutants Removal

• Research team: Anda Maria Baroi, Irina Fierascu, Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Roxana Ioana Matei and Toma Fistos
  
• TTO: Mihaela Frincu
• Institution: National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry ICECHIM
  
• Country: Romania
  
• Tecnology: New apatite-based process and absorbent material for absorption of organic pollutants from aqueous solutions.

Meet the TTOs who will be participating individually:

• Danae Pantelide
  
• Hening Kinga
  
• Yasin Sahin
  
• Alessandro Cervi
  
• Maie Peetri
  

Stay tuned as these innovators embark on an 20-week journey to reshape the future and revolutionize the Southern European Deep Tech ecosystem!