ZCube, Research Venture of the pharmaceutical group Zambon, has launched the second edition of Open Accelerator, a fast track acceleration program for life science start-up projects.
Background
In a call for ideas that will be open until July 16th, 2017, up to 30 projects are to be selected take to part in a program that offers training and mentoring by specialized advisors including entrepreneurs, business angels, venture capitalists and experts from other disciplinary areas. So-called “Open Accelerator” is a 12-steps program providing training to international researchers, scientists and aspiring entrepreneurs that, following a selection process, could receive seed investment of up to €100.000 per project.
Although the project is run under the auspices of Italian pharmaceutical group, Zambon, its scope is broad enough to include everything from drug delivery systems through to wearables, digital health and big data as it related to medical treatment.
ZCube has recently signed a partnership with IAB – Italian Angels for Biotech, the first association of business angels exclusively dedicated to Life Sciences – and Innogest, a leading venture capital fund operating in Italy and in Europe. Advisors from IAB and Innogest, along with other international experts, will take part in the acceleration path providing mentoring and advice to guide start uppers through business model creation and go-to-market strategy development.
At the end of the program the most innovative ideas could receive a seed investment of up to € 100.000, which will serve as an important catalyst to enter the market.
Entries can be made here
Comments
“For many years ZCube has been committed to developing partnerships in the field of scientific research through an open approach which aims at establishing relationships with international researchers, centers of excellence and universities around the world” declares Elena Zambon, President of Zambon Spa “Open Accelerator is an evolution of ZCube created to sustain scientific and digital innovation, the latter being a great agent of change of our times especially in the healthcare sector “.
“Open Accelerator is an arena in which researchers and entrepreneurs are helped to build the foundation of their startups and to prepare for the challenge of reaching out to venture capital that will finance the next stages of their projects” concludes Elena Zambon “Our accelerator program will become the heart of Open Zone, the scientific campus located near Milan where science oxygenates business. Open Zone is a community of 600 people where new projects, talent and proven expertise come together to help affirm Italy’s role as an ideal country for business innovation. ”
Source: Zambon
published: June 7, 2017 in: Financial, News, Technology