Press Release.
Mechelen, Belgium. 1st September, 2011 – Biocartis today announces that it has been selected as a Technology Pioneer 2012 by the World Economic Forum. Technology Pioneers comprise 25 of the most innovative young companies from around the world, companies poised to have a critical impact on how business and society work.
The Technology Pioneers 2012 will be recognized for their work at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, from 14 to 16 September 2011.
“The Technology Pioneers program recognizes companies whose cutting-edge technologies are transforming business and society and we are very proud to have been selected by the judging panel. At Biocartis our vision is for people to have quick access to personalized medicine anywhere and anytime. We want to enhance the quality of life through better diagnosis and better treatments with modern diagnostics available in the widest possible variety of healthcare settings,”
said Rudi Pauwels, Biocartis’ CEO.
Olivier Schwab, Director, Head of Technology Pioneers, World Economic Forum, said,
“One particular aspect to highlight this year is the large number of companies that are focusing on having a social impact, such as providing health or financial services to underserved populations, while revolutionizing the business paradigms in their industries. This year’s companies showcase the diversity in which innovative technology can be deployed.”
The identification of the Technology Pioneer companies is the result of a rigorous selection process, for which the Forum received hundreds of applications from around the world, and that were evaluated by over 50 global technology experts. The selection committee includes leading academics, journalists, technologists and venture capitalists.
About Biocartis
Biocartis is a company that focuses on the development and commercialization of versatile and compact molecular diagnostic solutions that will make molecular diagnostic testing easier to perform in a wider range of healthcare settings. The Company was founded in 2007 by Dr. Rudi Pauwels (Co-founder of Tibotec, Virco and Galapagos Genomics), Prof. Philippe Renaud (Prof. at EPFL), and Nader Donzel (Co-founder of Scitec laboratory Automation).
At this moment the Company is developing two innovative systems that share a common user interface and design philosophy:
- A system for molecular diagnostics of nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) that is composed of an instrument, communication console and single use, disposable cartridges. This system can detect and quantify multiple DNA- or RNA-based biomarkers in a wide variety of patient sample types with truly minimal user intervention.
- A system built around disposable, microfluidic cartridges with digitally encoded micro carriers for the rapid and sensitive detection of a broad range and number of biomarkers. The first product from this technology will focus on protein-based biomarkers.
The ultimate goal is to carry out diagnostic tests rapidly and cost-effectively when and where key clinical decisions need to be made.
Biocartis SA is based at the EPFL’s Innovation Square in Lausanne, Switzerland; its Belgian fully owned subsidiary in Mechelen and the Dutch subsidiary at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven.
About the Technology Pioneers Program
Since 2000, the World Economic Forum has recognized the work of young companies who hold the promise of significantly transforming the way business and society operate. More than 400 innovative companies from five continents have been selected as Technology Pioneers. Among them, approximately 60% are still independent and 20% have been acquired by industry leaders. Previous Technology Pioneers include Monitise (2006), Mozilla Corporation (2007), Nanosolar (2007), Gridpoint (2008), Mint.com (2009), BloomEnergy (2010), Takadu (2011) and NetQin (2011).
Technology Pioneers are selected on a yearly basis. Candidate companies are nominated by Members, constituents and collaborators of the World Economic Forum, as well as by the larger public. A selection committee, comprised of top technology and innovation experts from around the world, reviews all candidate companies and makes a recommendation to the World Economic Forum, which then takes the final decision.
About the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests (www.weforum.org).
Rudi Pauwels, CEO
Tel: +41 21 694 04 30
pr@biocartis.com
www.biocartis.com
