Biosensor for multiple sclerosis diagnosis and potato peel-based hydrogel biofertilizer win Amyris Innovation Awards
The winning projects of the 2nd edition of the Amyris Innovation in Biotechnology BIG Impact Awards are already known. The Amyris BIG Impact Innovation Award was given to the BrainSense project, which developed a biosensor for multiple sclerosis diagnosis. The Rising Innovation Award was given to the HydroPLUS project, which developed a biofertilizer based on potato peel. The announcement was made at the "Biotechnology Innovation Forum: Think Big in Biotechnology", an event held on 12 November, organised by the Católica Porto Alumni Biotechnology and the Faculty of Biotechnology (ESB) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
"The two projects were distinguished for developing deeptech ideas in the sector of biosensors for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis disease and biofertilizers for the agriculture sector," pointed out Hugo Choupina, from Católica Porto Alumni Biotechnology, member of the organization of FIB 2022. Ana Leite Oliveira, researcher at the Faculty of Biotechnology and member of the event's organization, added "we are in the era of biological innovation that will necessarily have to go through an increasing sensitivity and responsibility in what is economic, technological and mainly societal sustainability".
In the category "BIG Impact Innovation Award", the winning project was BrainSense, coordinated by Inês Mendes Pinto, researcher at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of the University of Porto (i3S). BrainSense intends to develop the multiplexed detection of a panel of molecular biomarkers relevant to the multiple sclerosis disease, from a blood or saliva collection through a finger prick. This subsequent analysis by means of an Artificial Intelligence-driven risk algorithm will enable society and the national health service to reduce the costs of disease detection.
The "Rising Innovation Award" was given to the HydroPLUS project, coordinated by Helena Moreira, researcher at the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The aim is to develop a new superabsorbent biodegradable hydrogel based on potato peel, a relevant residue from the food industry that includes beneficial microorganisms, namely plant growth promoting bacteria and fungi.
Anabela Veiga, from the Católica Porto Biotechnology Alumni, acknowledged that "this edition of the Amyris Big Impact Award 2022, reinforced the importance of accelerating bio-innovation through a disruptive approach in the biotechnology sector", adding "we are already preparing the 2023 edition that will be held on 11 November 2023".
The "Amyris Innovation BIG Impact Award" competition, already in its second edition and promoted by the company Amyris Inc. and the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Universidade Católica, aims to reward the best projects in biotechnology and the promotion of innovation in biotechnology as a key driver of economic development. It also aims to promote new processes, technologies or services that are both marketable and sustainable, with a large positive and measurable impact on society.