This month, we are excited to introduce the MINTT course. With the 2024 cohort, the TTO office marks 20 years of teaching innovation and entrepreneurship to the EPFL community.
The TTO Team
Management of Innovation and Technology Transfer (MINTT) Course 20th anniversary
Technology transfer in action
MINTT Turns 20: Not Just a Course – An In-Deep look at What Makes It Special, Through Alumni Perspectives
EPFL-TTO Introduces Innovative Public Domain Agreements
The EPFL Technology Transfer Office (TTO), in collaboration with EPFL’s legal team, has developed the Public Domain Agreement (PDA) to streamline partnerships with companies by focusing on public dissemination of research results. Designed for projects where intellectual property rights are not a priority, the PDA promotes open knowledge sharing and innovation. It ensures that all outcomes are publicly available without patent filings and supports open-source licensing. This new framework simplifies collaboration and accelerates the diffusion of technology.
Switzerland again second most competitive country in the world
Switzerland is now second in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, with Singapore in first. The ranking looks at 67 economies on things like economic performance, government and business efficiency, and infrastructure. Switzerland did well in economic performance and business efficiency, with export growth being a standout.
EPFL spinoff Oryl Photonics is part of the FASS project, developing a new way to measure drug solubility. €2.5 million in funding from the EIC Transition grant will be used to improve testing efficiency and sustainability in pharmaceutical R&D over 30 months.
DemoSquare finalises pre-seed round
EPFL spinoff DemoSquare has raised 1.2 million CHF to expand its AI-powered platform for tracking political and regulatory changes. Dr. Victor Kristof and Dr. Jérémie Rappaz founded the platform, which helps companies monitor legislative risks and predict new laws. The funding will help it expand in Europe, starting with EU institutions.
SamanTree Medical makes strategic changes after $14M round
SamanTree Medical raised $14M to expand its Histolog Scanner. This device offers real-time, high-resolution images during surgery. It aims to improve cancer surgery results. The funding will support growth in Europe, US market entry in 2024. SamanTree will relocate its HQ to Belgium, while continuing R&D in Switzerland.
Switzerland remains leading innovation country in Europe
Switzerland tops the 2024 European Innovation Scoreboard, with strong performance in research, led by ETH Zurich as the top European university. Despite leading in innovation, Switzerland lags in government R&D support and environmental technologies. The top five innovative countries in Europe are Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands, with major economies like the UK, Germany, and France also ranking well.
Latest licensing opportunities
Micelles for delivery of nitric oxide
NO-releasing micelles use nitric oxide complexed with a diblock copolymer to deliver drugs effectively, with potential applications in wound healing, preventing surgical adhesions, and improving cardiovascular procedures.
Polypeptide ligands for targeting cartilage
Polypeptide ligands designed to target cartilage injury can deliver therapeutic agents via nanoparticles (10-200 nm) for targeted treatment, enhancing retention times in joints and improving therapeutic efficacy.
Ligands for Metal-Organic Frameworks
EPFL's method for designing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) uses cost-effective ligands, allowing precise control over pore size and functionality. This approach can be used with different porous materials and aids in gas storage, carbon capture, and water purification.
Parameter-free image resolution estimation
This technology quantifies resolution in super-resolution microscopy from single images without user input, enabling real-time and post-processing optimization. It applies to various imaging techniques.
A Method for Operating and Protecting a Converters
This method protects resonant DC-DC converters by monitoring antiparallel diodes to prevent short circuits, ensuring safe operation before activating the power switch. It can be integrated into the gate driver or a dedicated circuit, enhancing reliability in high-power applications.
Ultra-sensitive water permeation sensor
An ultra-sensitive sensor uses magnesium thin films to monitor moisture permeation through ultrathin barrier coatings, suitable for miniaturized and soft electronic devices. It integrates well with semiconductor processes and is ideal for medical devices, packaging, and humidity sensors.
iSort:Automated droplet manipulation in microfluidic systems
An automated microfluidic droplet system uses impedance analysis and real-time feedback to monitor and control droplet sorting, offering high throughput, reproducibility, and ease of use for non-specialists. Applications include drug discovery, single-cell analysis, and point-of-care diagnostics.
