The "HAPPY" project team has won the special award sponsored by CSL Behring in the "Health" category. The project name is an acronym for "High-throughput APPlication for age determination in Yeast ."The winners, Dr. Nicole Paczia and Dr. David Adam received the award for their patented microfluidic technology that determines the lifespan of budding yeast, thereby increasing the efficiency of drug and food production. Second place went to the founding team of KardioIQ, and third place to TecLex.
Dr. Lars Groenke, Managing Director of CSL Behring Innovation, presented the special award and recognized the team's innovative achievement: "This approach and the research that preceded it is not only a great accomplishment in itself but also points to the future. HAPPY gives a strong impulse to other project teams and founders - and this at the very beginning of their journey".
The prize was awarded on 2 February at the grand finale of the Marburg Ideas Competition, which was the crowning finale of the theme days on health tech, social entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence, as well as a two-week start-up camp organized by the Marburg Institute for Innovation Research and Start-up Promotion (MAFEX) with interesting workshops. The aspiring entrepreneurs were given exciting insights into different areas of entrepreneurship and were able to work on their ideas.
Marburg Ideas Competition promotes the start-up scene in Central Hesse
The competition aims to promote innovative projects and start-up plans in the region of Central Hesse. The participating start-up teams had the opportunity to present their business ideas to a jury. With the help of interested members of the public, the jury selected the best ideas and awarded a total of 22,500 euros in prize money. CSL Behring Innovation sponsored the special prize in the "Health" category worth €4,000.
Prof. Dr. Michael Stephan, Managing Director of MAFEX, was highly satisfied with the event: "The idea competition was a real lighthouse event. The ideas were all characterized by impressive innovative power. The entire event format, i.e., the start-up camps and the ideas competition, has great potential to act as an incubator for sustainable ideas not only in Central Hesse but also far beyond the region".
" HAPPY gives a strong impulse to other project teams and founders - and this at the very beginning of their journey. "
Dr. Lars Groenke, Managing Director CSL Behring Innovation
