BioVaria 2026 sets new attendance record at Ascenion’s 25th anniversary

The 18th BioVaria brought a record 360 participants from across the international life-science community to Munich. As Europe's leading platform for commercially promising academic innovations, BioVaria connects researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners - accelerating the path from discovery to application. 

Ascenion, which founded BioVaria and has since organized the event together with leading European technology transfer offices, celebrated its 25th anniversary alongside the programme.

BioVaria 2026 featured 62 patented technologies spanning therapeutics, diagnostics, platform technologies, medical devices, and digital health. Ten start-ups competed in the Startup Pitch & Partner programme, and ten projects from the ForTra and GO-Bio initial funding programmes presented their work to an international audience of investors and industry partners in the category ‘Early-Stage Innovations’, many of them for the very first time.

The 2026 Winners of the Startup Pitch & Partner Awards are:

  • SynuCa Therapeutics in the category ‘Emerging’
    The Danish biotech company is developing a first-in-class, disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson's disease, targeting the root neurological cause rather than symptoms alone. 'We wish to thank the external jury for nominating us “Selected Startup”, and subsequently declaring us winner of the best pitch in the category Emerging Startup.This recognition is a testimony to the actuality of the science, and quality of the leadership and research team in SynuCa Tx. We strive on an everyday-basis to turn this into a transformative treatment option for patients living with Parkinson’s Disease, and related disorders.’ Lasse Reimer, CEO, SynuCa Therapeutics
  • Panosome in the category ‘Rising’
    Panosome's proprietary VAST antibody platform generates high-quality antibodies against targets that have long defeated conventional methods, including small molecules, sugars, and lipids. ‘BioVaria was an exceptional experience for Panosome: from pitching on stage, to engaging discussions at our booth, to intense (and fun!) investor speed dating — and even some relaxed networking at the Augustiner Keller — this event truly had it all.’ Katharina Urban, Team Lead & Strategic Relations Manager, Panosome


Among the early-stage innovations, CollimateHealth (ForTra) and VIVA-VEK 2 (GO-Bio initial) were recognized for the outstanding pitch and innovativeness of their respective approaches. Collimate is pioneering ultra-precise, hair-thin beam radiotherapy for previously incurable tumours, whereas VIVA-VEK 2 is advancing a vaccine platform designed to offer lifelong protection without boosters.

On the first evening, the BioVaria community joined Ascenion in marking 25 years since the company's founding. Colleagues, partners, and long-time companions shared memories of a journey that has helped bring countless research results into real-world application, today benefiting millions of people worldwide. Joachim Rothe, longstanding member of Ascenion’s advisory board, captured the mood: ‘Successful transfer is built on trust. Ascenion's team has earned that trust – and kept it.’

Mark your calendar for BioVaria 2027: 3-4 May 2027

Summaries of all presented technologies and start-ups are available at www.biovaria.org.

 

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Patron:
Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy

Sponsors:
BioM, ForTra gGmbH für Forschungstransfer der Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, HERTIN & Partner, Kador & Partner, Nuvisan, Siemen Conrady, VOSSIUS

Startup Sponsors:
BlueDil International, CARMA Fund, Kroher Strobel, LabCorp, Life Science Factory, YPOG

Technology Transfer Partners:
Ascenion, BayPAT, Cancer Research Horizons, EMBLEM Technology Transfer, H3 Health Hub, Innovectis, IOCB Tech, Kitchen Aarhus University, Lead Discovery Center, Max Planck Innovation, PROvendis

Collaboration and Network Partners:
ASTP, bio:cap, bioRN, Charité BIH Innovation, DxPx Europe, LISA, Prague.bio, Saxocell, TransferAllianz

Media Partners:
Plattform Life Sciences, transkript, VentureCapital Magazin

 

About BioVaria

BioVaria brings together leading tech transfer professionals, innovators from academia and startups with investors and representatives of the global biotech and pharma industry.

Key features of BioVaria:

  • Unique gathering of Europe's top scientists, entrepreneurs, technology transfer professionals, investors and industry representatives
  • Presentation of more than 70 licensable technologies and startups originating from public research institutions and universities across Europe
  • Focus on patent-protected, commercially attractive opportunities covering therapeutics, diagnostics and research tools in the fields of cancer, infectious diseases, metabolism, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders, and in other disease areas
  • Startup Pitch & Partner program with a competition for the BioVaria Startup Award, one-on-one mentoring and startup-investor speed dating
  • Presentation of promising early-stage projects, including projects funded by 'GO-Bio initial'
  • Ample space to discuss scientific details face-to-face with the inventors and entrepreneurs
  • Jointly organized by Ascenion and a selected group of leading European technology transfer organizations


Further information and technologies: www.biovaria.org

 

About Ascenion

Ascenion is an independent technology transfer company focussing on the life sciences. It is partner to over 30 research organizations, universities and university hospitals in Germany and Europe, including life-science institutes of the Helmholtz and Leibniz Associations, the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Hannover Medical School, the Medical University of Innsbruck and the University Medical Center Göttingen. Ascenion’s multidisciplinary, industry-experienced team works closely with its partners to tap the potential of their research by identifying promising results, obtaining patent protection, and turning pure science into applied technology. Particular strengths are spin-off support and project development, where early-stage projects are transformed into assets that attract potential investors and licensees. This has led to the founding of numerous new companies and the transfer of innovative medical approaches into approved drugs, changing the lives of thousands of patients. In 2022 Ascenion initiated the CARMA FUND which invests in early-stage projects and start-ups in the life-science and healthcare sector. Profits from Ascenion’s operative business and exit proceeds flow via its parent company, the LifeScience Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research, to fund further translational research at its partner institutes.


Further information at: www.ascenion.de

 

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Contact

Stanislava Zollner, Corporate Communication, Ascenion GmbH
zollner(at)ascenion(dot)de   +49 89 3188140

 

BioVaria 2026 sets new attendance record at Ascenion’s 25th anniversary

The 18th BioVaria brought a record 360 participants from across the international life-science community to Munich. As Europe's leading platform for commercially promising academic innovations, BioVaria connects researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners - accelerating the path from discovery to application. 

Ascenion, which founded BioVaria and has since organized the event together with leading European technology transfer offices, celebrated its 25th anniversary alongside the programme.

BioVaria 2026 featured 62 patented technologies spanning therapeutics, diagnostics, platform technologies, medical devices, and digital health. Ten start-ups competed in the Startup Pitch & Partner programme, and ten projects from the ForTra and GO-Bio initial funding programmes presented their work to an international audience of investors and industry partners in the category ‘Early-Stage Innovations’, many of them for the very first time.

The 2026 Winners of the Startup Pitch & Partner Awards are:

  • SynuCa Therapeutics in the category ‘Emerging’
    The Danish biotech company is developing a first-in-class, disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson's disease, targeting the root neurological cause rather than symptoms alone. 'We wish to thank the external jury for nominating us “Selected Startup”, and subsequently declaring us winner of the best pitch in the category Emerging Startup.This recognition is a testimony to the actuality of the science, and quality of the leadership and research team in SynuCa Tx. We strive on an everyday-basis to turn this into a transformative treatment option for patients living with Parkinson’s Disease, and related disorders.’ Lasse Reimer, CEO, SynuCa Therapeutics
  • Panosome in the category ‘Rising’
    Panosome's proprietary VAST antibody platform generates high-quality antibodies against targets that have long defeated conventional methods, including small molecules, sugars, and lipids. ‘BioVaria was an exceptional experience for Panosome: from pitching on stage, to engaging discussions at our booth, to intense (and fun!) investor speed dating — and even some relaxed networking at the Augustiner Keller — this event truly had it all.’ Katharina Urban, Team Lead & Strategic Relations Manager, Panosome


Among the early-stage innovations, CollimateHealth (ForTra) and VIVA-VEK 2 (GO-Bio initial) were recognized for the outstanding pitch and innovativeness of their respective approaches. Collimate is pioneering ultra-precise, hair-thin beam radiotherapy for previously incurable tumours, whereas VIVA-VEK 2 is advancing a vaccine platform designed to offer lifelong protection without boosters.

On the first evening, the BioVaria community joined Ascenion in marking 25 years since the company's founding. Colleagues, partners, and long-time companions shared memories of a journey that has helped bring countless research results into real-world application, today benefiting millions of people worldwide. Joachim Rothe, longstanding member of Ascenion’s advisory board, captured the mood: ‘Successful transfer is built on trust. Ascenion's team has earned that trust – and kept it.’

Mark your calendar for BioVaria 2027: 3-4 May 2027

Summaries of all presented technologies and start-ups are available at www.biovaria.org.

 

###

 

Patron:
Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy

Sponsors:
BioM, ForTra gGmbH für Forschungstransfer der Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, HERTIN & Partner, Kador & Partner, Nuvisan, Siemen Conrady, VOSSIUS

Startup Sponsors:
BlueDil International, CARMA Fund, Kroher Strobel, LabCorp, Life Science Factory, YPOG

Technology Transfer Partners:
Ascenion, BayPAT, Cancer Research Horizons, EMBLEM Technology Transfer, H3 Health Hub, Innovectis, IOCB Tech, Kitchen Aarhus University, Lead Discovery Center, Max Planck Innovation, PROvendis

Collaboration and Network Partners:
ASTP, bio:cap, bioRN, Charité BIH Innovation, DxPx Europe, LISA, Prague.bio, Saxocell, TransferAllianz

Media Partners:
Plattform Life Sciences, transkript, VentureCapital Magazin

 

About BioVaria

BioVaria brings together leading tech transfer professionals, innovators from academia and startups with investors and representatives of the global biotech and pharma industry.

Key features of BioVaria:

  • Unique gathering of Europe's top scientists, entrepreneurs, technology transfer professionals, investors and industry representatives
  • Presentation of more than 70 licensable technologies and startups originating from public research institutions and universities across Europe
  • Focus on patent-protected, commercially attractive opportunities covering therapeutics, diagnostics and research tools in the fields of cancer, infectious diseases, metabolism, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders, and in other disease areas
  • Startup Pitch & Partner program with a competition for the BioVaria Startup Award, one-on-one mentoring and startup-investor speed dating
  • Presentation of promising early-stage projects, including projects funded by 'GO-Bio initial'
  • Ample space to discuss scientific details face-to-face with the inventors and entrepreneurs
  • Jointly organized by Ascenion and a selected group of leading European technology transfer organizations


Further information and technologies: www.biovaria.org

 

About Ascenion

Ascenion is an independent technology transfer company focussing on the life sciences. It is partner to over 30 research organizations, universities and university hospitals in Germany and Europe, including life-science institutes of the Helmholtz and Leibniz Associations, the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Hannover Medical School, the Medical University of Innsbruck and the University Medical Center Göttingen. Ascenion’s multidisciplinary, industry-experienced team works closely with its partners to tap the potential of their research by identifying promising results, obtaining patent protection, and turning pure science into applied technology. Particular strengths are spin-off support and project development, where early-stage projects are transformed into assets that attract potential investors and licensees. This has led to the founding of numerous new companies and the transfer of innovative medical approaches into approved drugs, changing the lives of thousands of patients. In 2022 Ascenion initiated the CARMA FUND which invests in early-stage projects and start-ups in the life-science and healthcare sector. Profits from Ascenion’s operative business and exit proceeds flow via its parent company, the LifeScience Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research, to fund further translational research at its partner institutes.


Further information at: www.ascenion.de

 

###
 

Contact

Stanislava Zollner, Corporate Communication, Ascenion GmbH
zollner(at)ascenion(dot)de   +49 89 3188140