Post by Noemi Veraldi

Some thoughts on the evolution of our local biotech scene. Yesterday, I was flipping through a copy of Ticino Welcome and came across an interview with Gianvito Grasso, CEO of InVirtuoLabs. I remember when they were the stars of the 2024 Boldbrain Startup Challenge. Seeing where they are now is impressive: not only have they closed funding rounds and started a collaboration with Helsinn Group, but they’ve also just been awarded a €2.3 million Eurostars grant for Neurospark. It’s an interesting journey to watch from the outside: 🔺 One thing is to win an award, but the real test is pivoting from a startup concept to a complex, multi-national R&D project. 🔺There’s a shift happening here, moving from isolated research toward these kinds of 'boundary-crossing partnerships' (an approach that mirrors some of the #NCATS translational principles). 🔺Watching a local team navigate funding, secure major grants, and land industrial collaborations feels like a win for the whole local landscape. It gives me a bit more optimism about the path for those of us navigating our own transition phases. Gianvito’s interview touches on the determination and hard work required to make that jump from an accelerator to real industrial impact- it’s worth a read.. Curious to hear your take- are you seeing this same shift toward more collaborative industrial models in your own circles? #Biotech #Ticino #TranslationalMedicine #Innovation #SwissBiotech #Funding #Growth