The 2022 edition featured participation from 29 Higher Education Institutions
The four winning projects of the 2022 BfK Ideas competition, an ANI initiative aimed at fostering knowledge transfer from Higher Education Institutions to businesses, have been announced. This year’s competition represented 29 national institutions.
The final took place at the Alfândega do Porto Congress Center, and the following projects were recognized:
- Orgavalue (University of Porto)
A bioengineering technology designed to rehabilitate human organs, making them fully transplantable. This innovation addresses the quality issues of organs available for transplantation, particularly livers. Every year, 28,000 organs are discarded that could save 50,000 lives.
Orgavalue’s solution involves a cleaning fluid that removes cells, leaving a non-cellular organic matrix suitable for engineering new organs by introducing healthy human cells.
The process is optimized by Orgavalue’s perfusion machine, and once completed, the bioengineered organ can be transplanted using existing techniques and equipment.
The project aims to begin small-scale manufacturing under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and pilot preclinical trials. The first Phase 1 preclinical trial is expected by late 2025, with market entry targeted for 2028.
- PlatGen® (University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro)
A therapeutic product effective in regenerating complex wounds in pets. PlatGen® is antimicrobial, analgesic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and sustainable.
Designed for common skin wounds in dogs and cats, PlatGen® offers an eco-friendly, biological, and cost-effective alternative to address complex and costly issues. It stimulates and accelerates tissue regeneration mechanisms, effectively treating even large infected wounds with minimal scarring.
The product is directly applied to wounds and naturally absorbed over time, reducing dressing changes, waste, and clinical costs.
PlatGen® has a patent pending and initial applications target dogs and cats, with plans to expand to other animal species and eventually humans.
- BOB – Bulding Out of the Box (University of Beira Interior)
Targeting the construction sector, which represents 13% of global GDP but faces environmental and productivity challenges, BOB aims to introduce digitalization and innovative materials for zero waste and resource efficiency.
BOB focuses on: digitalizing the commercial processes of 3D printing companies for concrete and mortars; 3D printing decorative and structural elements for urban renewal and nature-inspired structures like coral; developing printing materials from industrial and mining waste.
Research is underway in the municipality of Fundão, scanning derelict buildings and developing modular components for integration into existing structures.
The project is also working on a CO2-absorbing concrete.
- As Aventuras de Lexi (Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave)
One in five people worldwide suffers from dyslexia, with 50% of affected children dropping out of school due to this learning difficulty. Early intervention can rehabilitate many, but diagnoses are often late and therapies costly.
“As Aventuras de Lexi” is a gamified solution designed to help children with dyslexia overcome learning challenges. It allows children to interact with characters and complete motivational exercises while enabling parents, educators, and therapists to track progress through data collected in mini-games.
With its trademark registered and field testing completed, the project aims to file a patent next year. Target customers include individuals, schools, and municipalities, with plans to expand beyond Portugal to Brazil.
João Mendes Borga, Administrator of ANI, praised the increasingly surprising scientific research from Higher Education Institutions, encouraging winners to seize opportunities to bring their projects to market. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration between institutions and businesses to ensure knowledge transfer contributes to a sustainable and resilient economy.
