Interview of Rafi Mardachti, Universal Biotech’s CEO
Discover the interview of Rafi Mardachti, Universal Biotech’s CEO about the 7th edition of Universal Biotech’s Innovation Prize.
Read the original article here (French)
The French company specializing in biotechnology consulting Universal Biotech launched the Innovation Prize in 2009. Globally recognized for the quality of the received and selected applications, this Prize is currently in the pre-selection phase for it’s 7th edition. Interview with Rafi Mardachti, President of Universal Biotech.
WHAT WERE YOUR REASONS AND OBJECTIVES FOR LAUNCHING THIS PRIZE?
Universal Biotech is a 100% French company which accompanies start-ups specialized in the field of biotechnology during all stages of their development.
For 7 years, we have been organizing a prize built around innovative projects to regroup all actors in this business: The Universal Biotech Innovation Prize.
This prize aims to detect the most innovative projects in the early phases of development in the areas of Pharma, Biotech, Medtech and E-health.
With 214 projects submitted, from over 30 different countries (Europe, Asia, USA, MENA) the figures of the 2014 edition attest to the international reputation of this prize. More precisely, our success is unique: more than 60% of finalists have concluded major financial and/or industrial partnerships. For example the company Itéos, among the finalists of the 2014 prize edition, managed to close a partnership with Pfizer for the amount of € 24M.
WHAT SELECTION CRITERIA ARE USED AND WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE JURY?
The Universal Biotech Innovation Prize is for young start-ups (<8 years old) and projects from academic laboratories.
The jury made up of academics, pharmaceutical executives, investors, and experts in intellectual property. Their analysis is based on of scientific excellence, the degree of innovation, intellectual property strategy, human resources, technical feasibility and market access potential.
The Jury for Universal Biotech Innovation Prize is chaired by Jean Derégnaucourt, Associate Director of the Pasteur Institute
HOW DOES UNIVERSAL BIOTECH INNOVATION PRIZE UNFOLD?
The call for proposals phase extends from mid-February to late April. In May, twenty eligible applications are selected from the 250 submitted files. These files are often the subject of a request for additional information.
The analysis is refined to select 5 finalists. These finalists are interviewed by the members of the jury early September. The Universal Biotech Innovation Prize is awarded to the finalist during the Innovation Days, to be held on the 5th and 6th of October 2015, at the Cité Universitaire of Paris (cf. lifescience-outlook.com/innovationdays). This major event, devoted to the innovation management in life sciences, gathers more than 500 people every year and offers international visibility to these finalists. The winner of the Universal Biotech Innovation Prize is granted € 50,000 split between a cash payment and a year of consulting ad hoc by Universal Biotech.
WHAT TRENDS DO YOU PICK UP FROM THE SUBMITTED PROJECTS?
Several trends are visible but we see a predominance of Medtech and E-health projects.
INNOVATION DAYS 2015: THE HEART OF SECTOR CHANGES!
As the pharmaceutical industry is going through organizational shifts – as did the automobile industry – in 2015, the industry’s strategic alliances are honored. The Innovation Days Conferences will address the topics of return on investment partnering and Open Innovation. Innovation Days is a Universal Biotech event.
For more information:
Visit the official Website www.lifescience-outlook.com/innovationdays
Contact & Information: www.universal-biotech.com/prix-innovation