Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

BioSurfaces is a developer of medical devices specializing in tissue engineering and personal care products. The company leverages advanced electrospinning technology to produce nanofibrous materials that facilitate controlled drug delivery and enhance healing at the implant site. By utilizing a room-temperature electrospinning process, BioSurfaces enables the integration of drug loading within each fiber, creating a reservoir for sustained drug release. This innovative approach allows for the creation of devices and coatings as thin as 10 micrometers, making it possible to treat diseases directly at the site of implantation. The company aims to provide next-generation solutions for the medical and personal care markets, focusing on improving patient outcomes through effective disease treatment and tissue regeneration.

Chemify specializes in developing a chemical digitization platform designed to facilitate drug and materials discovery as well as chemical synthesis. The company's innovative approach involves using automated synthetic hardware combined with digital XDL code to convert code into molecules on demand. This system is modular, universal, scalable, and teachable, making it highly versatile for various applications in chemical and material research. Chemify's software includes a unique chemical programming language and natural language recognition capabilities that translate synthetic procedures efficiently. Additionally, the platform features a comprehensive ontology that provides detailed insights into reaction conditions and flags potential issues, offering scientists real-time telemetry of reactions.

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is one of Israel’s leading research universities and among the world leaders in many fields. It has around 20,000 students and 4,000 faculty members in the Faculties of Engineering Sciences; Health Sciences; Natural Sciences; the Pinchas Sapir Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management; the Joyce and Irving Goldman School of Medicine; the Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies; and the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies. More than 100,000 alumni play important roles in all areas of research and development, industry, health care, the economy, society, culture and education in Israel. The University has three main campuses: The Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva; the research campus at Sede Boqer and the Eilat Campus, and is home to national and multi-disciplinary research institutes: the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev; the National Institute of Solar Energy; the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology; the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research; the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel & Zionism, and Heksherim - The Research Institute for Jewish and Israeli Literature and Culture.

Scentian Bio is a biotechnology company that develops innovative biosensor devices by integrating insect biology with nanotechnology. These devices leverage insect odorant receptors to create advanced sensing solutions tailored for applications in the medical and food industries. Scentian Bio's technology employs machine learning to detect volatile organic compounds, enabling the identification of off-notes in food and beverages, as well as the detection of fraud and adulteration in raw materials. By providing access to this sophisticated sensor technology, Scentian Bio aims to translate nature's sensory capabilities into practical applications for various commercial uses.

MIP Discovery is a technology leader specializing in the development of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) and nanoMIPs, which are plastic antibodies designed to overcome the limitations of conventional MIP manufacturing. The company focuses on creating polymers and antibodies that feature a single binding site for specific targets, allowing them to be integrated with solid substrates, such as sensor surfaces. This innovation enables MIP Discovery to provide ideal reagents for various applications, including point-of-care diagnostics and field-based testing, making significant contributions to the healthcare and diagnostics sectors.

Evolve Biosystems, Inc. is a life sciences company based in Davis, California, that focuses on developing probiotic-based biotherapeutics aimed at establishing, restoring, and maintaining a healthy human microbiome. Incorporated in 2011, the company utilizes a discovery platform that addresses dysbiosis issues throughout the human life cycle and in production animals. Evolve Biosystems specializes in probiotic bacteria activated with specific prebiotic oligosaccharides and employs various delivery systems to support gut health, particularly in infants during their first six months of life. Their product offerings include consumer-directed solutions for home use as well as specialized products for neonatal intensive care units, addressing unmet clinical needs in both human and animal health.

Ceres Nanosciences, Inc., established in 2008 and based in Manassas, Virginia, specializes in the research, development, and commercialization of innovative sample preparation products and diagnostic tests. The company's core technology, Nanotrap, captures, enriches, and preserves biomarkers from various biofluid matrices, facilitating early detection of diseases such as cancer, cardiac, and infectious diseases. Ceres' lead product is a direct antigen test for Lyme disease diagnosis, slated for commercial release in 2015. The company's product pipeline includes advanced sample collection technologies and diagnostics, funded through federal grants and industry collaborations.

BlueWillow Biologics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializing in the development of intranasal vaccines and anti-infective products utilizing patented nanotechnology. Founded as a spin-off from the University of Michigan in 1999, the company focuses on creating vaccines that provide mucosal immunity against respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases, including pertussis, pandemic influenza, anthrax, HSV2, chlamydia, and HIV. Its innovative NanoStat vaccine technology features an oil-in-water nanoemulsion that effectively incorporates and delivers multiple antigens while enhancing immune responses. In addition to its vaccine portfolio, BlueWillow Biologics offers NanoBio Protect, a nasal antiseptic solution. The company has established partnerships, including a licensing agreement with Merck for its adjuvant technology and a strategic alliance with Public Health England to further its mission in combating infectious diseases.