Microcaps wins ZKB Pioneer Award Technopark
Zurich Microcaps AG is the winner of this year's ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark. The prize, worth CHF 100,000, is awarded by Zürcher Kantonalbank and the Technopark Zurich Foundation to innovative young companies.
The spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) convinced the jury with its new process for the production of microcapsules. In microencapsulation, small portions of substances are surrounded by a shell. The resulting microcapsules can then transport medicines, flavors or fragrances to the target site in a targeted manner.
The problem up to now was that no precise control of the capsule size was possible during the production of the capsules. Microcaps was able to solve this with its new process. If capsules of identical size can be produced, this means, for example, that drugs have a more controlled effect and side effects are reduced. In addition, the start-up's manufacturing method is 1000 times faster than previous production processes.
The other finalists
In addition to Microcaps, the two finalists Eldico Scientific from Villigen AG and PharmaBiome from Zurich won prize money. They will each receive just under CHF 10,000.
The award ceremony was cancelled this year due to the Corona virus. However, according to Jörg Müller-Ganz, Chairman of the Bank Council of Zürcher Kantonalbank, it is important not to postpone the award ceremony. This should also be an appeal to invest in young Swiss companies, which are suffering particularly as a result of the pandemic.
