INTA Systems, the first spin-off of the NEST Laboratory of “Scuola Normale Superiore” and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-NANO) closes its first seed investment with Eureka! and A11 Venture. With 350k€, INTA will bring a novel device for molecular diagnostics on the market.
Pisa (Italy), 15 April-2021.
INTA Systems, the first spin-off of the NEST Laboratory of “Scuola Normale Superiore” Unversity of Pisa and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-NANO), in less than one year from its birth, closes its first 350,000€ seed-investment with “Eureka! Fund I – Technology Transfer” and A11 Venture.
INTA, exploiting a unique synergy between nanotechnologies and artificial intelligence, has developed a novel lab-on-a-chip called BRAIKER. This portable device will detect biomarkers of traumatic brain injuries with rapid blood analysis. Given the high versatility of this technology, several other applications will be developed as the on-chip rapid detection of viruses and bacteria.
The spin-off was founded on April 2020 by a team of excellence composed by Matteo Agostini, PhD in Molecular biophysics researcher at “Scuola Normale Superiore”, Marco Cecchini, PhD in Condensed Matter Physics researcher at CNR-NANO, and Marco Calderisi, PhD in Metabolomics. The vision of the company is to bring to the market a breakthrough in the field of high-end portable diagnostics.
“The partnership with Eureka and A11 will accelerate the INTA’s path to reach the commercialization of our technology. This investment will be crucial for the technology transfer from University to Industry, and for creating new horizons for the commercial and professional growth” says Matteo Agostini, co-founder, and CEO of INTA.
Anna Amati, Partner of EUREKA! Venture SGR: “We are pleased to have met Matteo and the INTA's team. These days we could appreciate the commitment, competence, and passion of the team to bring their research results on the market. We strongly believe that this technology will have a deep and durable impact worldwide”.
Giovanni Polidori of the Investment Committee of A11 Venture: "A crystal-clear need, relevant feedbacks from opinion-leaders of the clinical environments and also from the market. Besides, a wide gamut of potential applications of the technology with tailored artificial intelligence solutions for clinics, commitment, and competence of the team, excellence of the academic environment, these are just a few of the reasons behind our investment”.
Fabio Beltram, Director of the NEST Laboratory: “A textbook example, rarely seen in Italy: from a research project for quantum-cryptography founded by the EU, novel biomedical technology has been developed. Thanks to the multidisciplinary environment which permeates the NEST Laboratory, excellent researchers from “Scuola Normale Superiore” and CNR-NANO could give birth to this technology working side-by-side. This novel architecture for biomedical diagnostics has massive potential. We strongly believe that this will be just the beginning of a success story!"
Cristina Battaglia head of the Technology Transfer Office of CNR: “The commitment of CNR is clear to bring value and new professional horizons for CNR technologies and researchers. This has been made possible thanks to key collaborations with important institutions as the "Scuola Normale Superiore. The investment of Eureka! Venture and A11 Venture is the first fundamental result that stems from the determination and quality of the INTA’s team. It will create value and new perspectives for this amazing technology”.
EUREKA! Venture SGR and A11 Venture also thanks “hi.lex” legal attorneys Francesco Torelli and the junior associate Diana Passoni. *
INTA Systems is the first spin-off of the NEST Laboratory of “Scuola Normale Superiore” Unversity of Pisa and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-NANO). INTA develops and produces lab-on-a-chips for the analysis of biological and non-biological fluids. The applications are biomedicine, security, industry 4.0, food analysis. To this aim, INTA integrates knowledge and expertise in physics, nanotechnology, novel strategies for the use of materials and biomolecules, artificial-intelligence-based data analysis. For further information www.intasystems.net.
EUREKA! Venture SGR is a venture capital dedicated to deep-tech investments. The company administrates the “Eureka! Fund I – Technology Transfer” for university spin-off seeking proof-of-concept, seed, and early-stage investments in Italy. The projects in which Eureka! Has invested have a clear competitive advantage stemming from proprietary technologies and innovations in the advanced materials fields, with a unique strategy for intellectual property. For further information: https://www.eurekaventure.it
A11 Venture is a holding that invests in innovative startups. It focuses on robotics, automation, mechatronics, artificial intelligence, industry 4.0, cybersecurity, web/IT. A11 accelerates the companies in its portfolio by supporting them with investment managers and associates. The startups validate their business model, deepen the market fit, expand the team building, becoming ready for further investments as scale-ups. A11 comprises entrepreneurs and industries from the manufacturing field, together with the “Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca” Foundation. A11 Venture invests in collaboration with the major seed-operator and venture capitals in Italy. For further information: www.a11venture.it
Laboratorio Nest, the National Enterprise for nanoScience and nanoTechnology, is an interdisciplinary research and training center where physicists, chemists, and biologists investigate scientific issues at the nanoscale. This knowledge is exploited to develop innovative nanobiotechnological tools, nanoelectronic and photonic devices, and architectures. The NEST initiative comprises four distinct institutions: Scuola Normale Superiore, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna. For further information: http://www.laboratorionest.it/
CNR The Nanoscience Institute of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-NANO) is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to nanosciences and nanotechnologies. The study of nanostructures and nanodevices, state-of-the-art of industrial and academic research, is applied in mechanics, biomedicine, ICT, energy. CNRNANO has two sites in Italy: Pisa and Modena. For further information: http://www.nano.cnr.it/
