Umeå secures 1.8 million (22 SEK million) in EU funding for life science projects to boost innovation and industry growth. The project "Life Science City" is run by Umeå Biotech Incubator and seeks to expand the sector and strengthen collaborations. The SOLH project is a joint effort between Västerbotten and Norrbotten aiming to streamline and unify the innovation system.
MetaCurUm Biotech AB plans to raise 100 million SEK following founder Maréne Landström being named Sweden's Cancer Researcher of the Year. Their groundbreaking cancer treatment, still in the preclinical phase, aims to halt the TGFβ pathway cancer cells utilize. The Umeå based company is collaborating with international researchers and exploring biomarkers for patient stratification.
Mucocort AB has received approval to start a clinical trial for an intraoral patch (M045A) to treat aphthous stomatitis, a condition causing mouth ulcers. The patch aims for immediate pain relief and healing promotion. The trial will be conducted in collaboration with Oral Care AB and produced by Aurena Laboratories AB in Sweden.
The Umeå company SpinChem has joined the Enzyme Technology Alliance, a group of six European companies collaborating to bring competitive solutions to the biotech industry. CEO Emil Byström states the alliance can offer solutions unimaginable before, aiming to replace harmful processes with environmentally friendly alternatives and contribute to a more sustainable industry.
The Umeå Lab Fair, organized by Umeå Biotech Incubator, will take place on April 25th with 18 participating companies showcasing the latest developments in the life science industry. The new fair targets regional laboratory personnel and fills a gap in Umeå's event calendar. A Life Science Pub at Cinco will follow the fair, providing a networking opportunity for exhibitors and attendees.
The Vinnova project BRIDGE Sweden is receiving a 7.7 million SEK investment to streamline the transition from research to commercialization of biological pharmaceuticals and precision medicine. The initiative aims to integrate research infrastructure with innovation systems, develop new cell lines on SciLifeLab's DDD platform, and enhance Sweden's global position in drug development.
Diamyd Medical is expanding its workforce in Umeå, hiring individuals with key competencies for the production of technical batches of recombinant GAD65 protein. The company's biomanufacturing facility in Umeå is established for the production of Diamyd, currently being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial for preserving insulin production.
Umeå Municipality is targeting 500 new Life science jobs, aiming to attract major companies to the region. With a focus on expanding the industry, utilizing the academic resources of Umeå University, and promoting diversity, the municipality is working towards a thriving Life science sector by 2030.
Umeå Biotech Incubator has been named one of "Europe's leading Start-Up Hubs" by Financial Times, Statista, and Sifted. "This is an acknowledgment that our efforts are competitive, even globally," says Peter Jacobsson, UBI's operation coordinator.
Fredrik Almqvist and Marta Bally have been appointed as the new Directors of UCMR, the hub for microbial infection research at Umeå University. Their forward agenda includes enhancing collaboration with clinical research and establishing Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) labs for both in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) is inviting academic researchers and life science companies to meet and collaborate at its new ‘Open up for Innovation’ event on the 27th of February.
“We have world-class research being conducted at Umeå University and internationally successful companies based in town. Now we’re gathering 100 bright minds under one roof to stimulate innovation”, says Andreas
The Umeå based biotech company SweTree Technologies is expanding and is currently seeking two new employees to complete a world-unique pilot for the industrial production of spruce seedlings using Somatic Embryogenesis (SE) technology. ”By 2025, the plan is to start building a factory capable of producing 20 million seedlings per year,” says CEO Christofer Rhén.