Winning project was selected at the final event of the Tecnimede Open Innovation Competition, co-organised by HiSeedTech.

Aila Biotech, a deep tech startup based at the i3S – Institute for Research and Innovation in Health at the University of Porto, was awarded the first Jorge Ruas Award for Innovation in Pharmaceutical Technology, receiving a €100,000 prize in recognition of its breakthrough work in gene therapy for neuroinflammatory diseases.

The award was announced at the final event of the Tecnimede Open Innovation Competition, an initiative promoted by the Tecnimede Group in partnership with HiSeedTech, held on 17 September in Lisbon at the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society. The competition was created to identify and support transformative research projects with the potential to reshape the future of pharmaceutical innovation.

The winning project, “AAV-Based Gene Therapy for PPMS”, was presented by neuroscientist Matthew Holt, co-founder of Aila Biotech. The team proposes a new therapeutic approach for Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS), a chronic brain disease for which no effective treatment currently exists. Their solution — the Triple Lock System — uses a modified viral vector to cross the blood–brain barrier and deliver a therapeutic payload. This reprograms brain cells to produce an anti-inflammatory agent, with localised and reversible effects enabled by a drug-activated “safety switch”. The platform also shows promise for other inflammation-related neurological disorders.

Speaking at the ceremony, Holt emphasised the importance of this recognition for the project’s next stage:

This award gives us the momentum to move into preclinical studies in animal models. Our goal is to validate our approach and, within three years, be ready to launch the first clinical trials in humans.”

The final event brought together leaders from the pharmaceutical sector, academia, and public institutions. It featured opening remarks by Francisco Rocha Gonçalves, Secretary of State for Health Management, and closing remarks by Rui Ivo, President of INFARMED. A key moment of the day was the roundtable “Science and Business: Bridges or Invisible Walls?”, moderated by journalist Clara de Sousa, which explored the challenges and opportunities of academic–industry collaboration.

The international jury for the 2025 award was composed of:

• Amílcar Falcão (President of the Jury), Rector of the University of Coimbra;
• António Murta, Co-founder & CEO of Pathena;
• Carlos Robalo Cordeiro, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra;
• Hélder Mota Filipe, President of the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society;
• Isidoro Caraballo, Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Seville;
• José Augusto Guimarães Morais, Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon; and
• Stine Rønholt, Professor at the University of Copenhagen and member of the LEO Foundation Center for Drug Delivery.

HiSeedTech is proud to support initiatives like this one, which accelerate the transfer of scientific knowledge into real-world health solutions. The Tecnimede Open Innovation Competition is a strong example of how strategic partnerships can amplify impact and fuel innovation across deep tech sectors.

Watch the best moments:

The final was officially covered by Expresso, the event’s media partner. Watch the full ceremony here.

To follow upcoming editions and discover more breakthrough projects, we invite you to follow competition on LinkedIn.