Chaired by Yves Perriard, the Prize jury designated the three finalists for the 15th edition of the BCN Innovation Prize at the end of June: 4K-MEMS, Actival and Cassio-P.
To try to win the 15th BCN Innovation Prize, there were initially 13 projects to submit their applications. Proof, once again, that the canton of Neuchâtel is a breeding ground for innovation. Chaired by Yves Perriard, the Prize jury designated the three finalists for the 15th edition of the BCN Innovation Prize at the end of June: 4K-MEMS, Actival and Cassio-P.
For the 15th edition of the BCN Innovation Prize, 13 applications were submitted at the start of the year. Since its creation, the Prize has aimed to promote the realization of innovative projects in the canton of Neuchâtel in the economic and scientific fields. Its objective is to bring added value and support job creation in the canton. Its prize money of CHF 150,000 makes this competition a benchmark at the Swiss level.
Since the beginning of the year, the jury has analyzed the applications in depth and at the end of the final deliberations, three projects were selected for the final stage of the competition.
Here are the candidates still in the running, in alphabetical order:
4K-MEMS
The start-up has developed infrared emitters making it possible to create miniature spectroscopic devices which can be used in particular to ensure the quality of food products, analyze soil for agriculture or even carry out medical diagnostics.
Actival
Actival’s ambition is to offer a multifunctional dental aligner, in the form of gutters integrating microfluidic channels filled with an antibacterial, fluoridated and flavored liquid. This allows to eliminate bacteria, strengthen the enamel and improve oral hygiene.
Cassio-P
The company manufactures miniature optical devices, using an innovative technique that combines micro-optics with 3D laser-machined glass plates. They are designed to be integrated into systems intended for industrial production, biomedical imaging, telecommunications or even scientific instrumentation.
The three finalists will have one hour to convince the members of the jury during the final stage of the competition and the verdict will fall at the end of the Prize award ceremony, which will take place on September 24.
The composition of the jury for this new edition is identical to the year 2023. Head of the Integrated Actuators Laboratory at EPFL, Yves Perriard remains president of the jury and can also count on the innovation experience of Bastien Droz , Andrea Dunbar, representative of the Board of Directors of the BCN, Laure-Emmanuelle Perret-Aebi, Stéphane Poggi and Nathalie Tissot to find the project that will have a significant impact for the canton of Neuchâtel.
