Actúa UPM 2012 awarded a 1.000 € prize to a project created by CBGP staff

Paloma Rueda presented the biotech project titled “Enzyme production in genetically modified algae (Enzimas MMG)”.

Actúa UPM, a competitive contest sponsored by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) that has contributed to the creation of more than 100 start-up companies from innovative projects since 2007, has awarded 10 projects as the best business ideas presented in its IXth edition. This year, more than 450 projects had been presented by staff and students from all UPM associated Campuses and Research Centers. The award ceremony celebrated on March 26th served to start the first stage of this annual contest.

During the ceremony, 1.000 € prizes were awarded to the 10 best ideas, amongst them the biotech Project titled “Enzyme production in genetically modified algae (Enzimas MMG)”, presented by Paloma Rueda Romero, who recently obtained the Ph. D. at the CBGP, within the Consolidated Group named “Biotecnología y Genómica de Semillas” coordinated by UPM Professor Pilar Carbonero Zalduegui. The project team also includes Cristina Barrero Sicilia (UPM Ph.D and CBGP staff member), Ignacio Moreno Echanove (UPM Ph.D.) and Javier Hernández-Allica (Ph.D. Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU), with experience in biotech research and venture. The project will evaluate the commercial feasibility of services and products based on genetically modified algae.

The award ceremony at the School of Technical Industrial Engineering (EUITI, UPM) was chaired by Mrs. María Luisa Poncela, Managing Director of the General Directorate for Technology Transfer (Spanish Ministry of Economy), by UPM Vice-Chancellor Mr. Javier Uceda, by Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research Mr. Gonzalo León, and by Mrs. Sara Gómez Martín, Principal of the EUITI.

In the following stage, those awarded (see list) as well as other selected teams, monitored by trainers specialized in marketing, finance or regulatory frameworks, will convert their innovative projects into Business Plans. After the training period, the best Business Plans will be awarded prizes amounting 30.000€ in prizes.