Restoring natural ecosystems in mining disturbed landscapes is a crucial yet complex process. A groundbreaking Swedish initiative, which employs moss to accelerate this restoration, is now being heralded as a potential game changer for the global mining industry. The mining companies Boliden, Copperstone Resources, LKAB, and Talga are all participating in the ‘re:moss’ project
The Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) is set to significantly expand its operations in Umeå this spring after announcing plans to hire around 20 new employees to the CBRN Defence and Security department. Global developments mean Sweden needs to strengthen its national defence capability – with long-term research provided by FOI playing an important role.
The Umeå based company SpinChem AB is set to play a crucial role in the "Beat-PFAS project", funded by Formas, a Swedish government research council dedicated to sustainable development, with a grant of SEK 19.9 million. The project, led by Professor Jurate Kumpiene, aims to develop an effective solution for removing and destroying PFAS from contaminated soil and water.
The response was overwhelming when Umeå Biotech Incubator launched the Quality Assurance network in Umeå this spring. The QA network brings together around 20 representatives from Life Science Umeå to exchange experiences and tackle the industry's increasingly complex quality requirements.
The in vitro diagnostics company UmanDiagnostics has gone from being a micro business to a small business. The company specializes in nerve injury markers and the Neurofilament light protein (NFL), which makes it easier to find and diagnose neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and Alzheimer's disease.
Swedish biotech company HiloProbe has reached a significant milestone after the results of a prospective multicenter study conducted in collaboration with Umeå University and eight Swedish hospitals were published in the International Journal of Cancer. The study results show that HiloProbe's ColoNode kit improves colon cancer diagnostics and can help more patients survive.
Swedish MedTech company Mucocort plans to launch a mucosal self-absorbing patch for pain relief in people suffering from aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers). The interest in Mucocort patch technology has increased after the approval of a European patent. Further, the Mucocort AB minority stakeholder Aurena Laboratories steps up with additional capital and increases its ownership.
Umeå-based Medicvent has been awarded a new prestigious assignment to deliver central systems for waste gas/diathermy and its unique double mask system used in anesthesia to Högsbo Regional Hospital, which will be inaugurated in Gothenburg in 2024. "Things are going well both in Sweden and abroad. We also have a couple of new markets that we are hoping to supply", says CEO Erik Lindström.
In June, Lipigon Pharmaceuticals signed a development and licensing agreement worth nearly SEK 1 billion. Today, the Umeå-based company has relocated to a newly renovated 250 square meter facility tailored to their needs. Lipigon's CEO, Stefan K. Nilsson, views these achievements as "pivotal strides in the company's ongoing journey of growth and innovation."
Technology consulting company Prevas is looking to hire a Business Unit Manager for its new offices in the city. "We know that there is huge potential in Umeå, both within MedTech and life science in general", says Robert Tönhard, Life Science Director at Prevas.
The AstraZeneca Exchange Nordic mentorship program provides expert advice to Nordic life science startups and entrepreneurs. For Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) the program has proven to be an invaluable tool for the startups it coaches - offering a range of advice from market and needs analysis to more specific technical questions.
Thomas Busch has extensive experience in the life science industry. Now he's appointed new Chairman of the Board at HiloProbe.