ByAxon, an EU FETOPEN funded project including SISSA Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab as one of key partners, is now on the platform of EU Innovation Radar, a European Commission initiative aiming to identify High potential innovators and innovations in EU-funded research projects. A new generation interface device for the local bypass in spinal cord injuries on which the project is focused was recognized by Innovation Radar initiative as a high potential and a women-led innovation for the significant role of women leadership in developing this innovation. The developed technology was also assessed at the “Noteworthy” level by the JRC’s Market Creation Potential indicator framework.
“ByAxon pursued an ambitious goal: the neuronal reconnection through an active bypass using nanotechnology to develop neuronal sensing and stimulating components” Laura Ballerini, Professor of SISSA Neurobiology group, says. “I’m very proud of this prestigious recognition that shows the high impact of the School’s Neuroscience Area research and I’m glad that the strong commitment of the project consortium to gender equality was rewarded: 5 out of 6 of the partners’ experts in charge of the project were female researchers and about 50% of the overall key people involved were women.”
Due to the analysis carried on by Innovation Radar, SISSA and two other partners of the project, Fundancion IMDEA Nanociencia and CNRS Centre National de la recherche scientifique, were identified as Key innovator institutions.
This recognition also remarks the contribution of the School for the advancement of scientific knowledge: among ByAxon innovations spotted by the EU Innovation Radar, two innovations are protected by patents involving SISSA as one of the owners.
Photo credit: ZEISS Microscope on VisualHunt.com
