The high number of projects received (54) and the excellent quality of the proposals have meant that the process of selecting the finalists and winners of the first edition of the Élan Vital Programme has taken longer than initially anticipated. Consequently, the announcement of the jury’s final selection (the five finalist projects and the two winners) has been postponed by one week and will be made on 8 October.
“The number of projects received has far exceeded our expectations; moreover, there are many proposals of a high scientific standard and with significant potential for impact, which have required very careful review and analysis in order to select the best ones,” says Oriol Solà-Morales, president of the HiTT Foundation.
The Élan Vital Programme is an initiative of the HiTT Foundation aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the health and life sciences sectors. The aim is to help start-up projects in the early stages of development and with high potential for impact to advance their business plans and bring their innovations to patients. Both winning proposals will receive an investment valued at 20,000 euros, which includes expert support in strategic areas to boost their growth.