Watch the Final Pitches from the 10 projects that competed for the 2026 Jorge Ruas Award.
From new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer to solutions addressing antimicrobial resistance, diabetes and chronic wounds, the 2026 finalists showcased a diverse range of technologies with the potential to address unmet healthcare needs.
Selected by an international jury of experts, the ten finalist projects brought together different scientific disciplines and technological approaches, sharing a common ambition: to translate research into solutions with the potential to reach patients and the market.
The Final Pitches provide an opportunity to hear directly from the researchers and entrepreneurs behind each technology and discover the approaches they are developing to address major healthcare challenges.
Watch the pitches and discover the ten technologies presented at the Tecnimede Open Innovation Competition 2026 Final.
Winner of the 2026 Jorge Ruas Award, SafeAlleleSCA is advancing a precision gene therapy approach for Machado-Joseph disease. Developed by a team from the Centre of Excellence in Gene Therapy (GeneT) at the University of Coimbra, the technology aims to selectively silence the mutated gene responsible for the disease while preserving its normal function.
→ Read more about SafeAlleleSCA winning the 2026 Jorge Ruas Award.
Developed by a team from NOVA FCT, Biodiffuse is advancing a bio-based light-scattering technology designed to replace titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in pharmaceutical formulations, providing the required opacity while reducing dye usage and offering a scalable, more sustainable alternative to mining-based materials.
Developed by a team from CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, CELLIMMUNE transforms mesenchymal stromal cells into stable microparticles for localised and programmable immunomodulation, combining their functional complexity with an off-the-shelf format designed for pharmaceutical stability, reproducibility and scalability.
Exobiosphere leverages microgravity in orbit to accelerate cellular ageing and uncover mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases that conventional preclinical models may fail to reproduce. Applied to patient-derived Parkinson’s disease models, the platform aims to create new opportunities for drug repurposing and therapeutic discovery.
Developed by a team from CiBB at the University of Coimbra, GILDED uses lipid nanoparticles engineered to deliver miRNAs specifically to pancreatic β-cells, combining targeted delivery with a companion diagnostic for patient stratification to address β-cell dysfunction in diabetes.
Developed by a team from i3S, NanoPyl is advancing an antibiotic-free approach to Helicobacter pylori based on nanostructured lipid carriers that physically disrupt bacterial membranes. Supported by promising preclinical results and protected by a granted European patent, the technology aims to address limitations associated with conventional antibiotic therapies.
Developed by Lifesome Therapeutics, ohmPro is advancing Ohmline, a lipid nanoparticle with intrinsic antitumoral activity designed to enhance the efficacy of docetaxel in castration-resistant prostate cancer, with preclinical studies demonstrating tumour growth inhibition and improved tolerability.
Developed by a team from the Polytechnic of Porto, LAQV/REQUIMTE, the University of Porto and U.Porto Inovação, PEPILSKIN is advancing a hydrogel for chronic wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers, combining skin regeneration through collagen induction and angiogenesis with broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection.
Developed by a team from CiBB at the University of Coimbra, SilenSCAs is advancing a CRISPR-based therapeutic strategy for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3), aiming to permanently inactivate the ATXN3 gene and prevent production of the toxic protein responsible for disease progression.
Developed by Living Networks, VTμA Accelerate is an automated, plate-compatible tissue-on-chip platform designed to produce reproducible human microvasculature arrays at industrial throughput, supporting more efficient preclinical drug testing and helping reduce reliance on animal models.
Together, the ten Final Pitches illustrate the diversity of approaches being explored across pharmaceutical and healthcare innovation and a shared challenge: translating promising scientific research into technologies capable of progressing towards patients and the market.
This is at the core of the Tecnimede Open Innovation Competition, promoted by Tecnimede Group in partnership with HiSeedTech. By bringing researchers and entrepreneurs closer to pharmaceutical industry expertise and the wider innovation ecosystem, the initiative supports the progression of promising technologies beyond the laboratory.
The 2026 Final took place on 27 May at the Pavilhão do Conhecimento in Lisbon, culminating in the attribution of the €100,000 Jorge Ruas Award to SafeAlleleSCA.
Want to watch all ten pitches? Explore the complete Tecnimede Open Innovation Competition 2026 Final Pitch playlist on YouTube.
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