European success stories

"Basically all of the product candidates that came out of our projects are at some level of commercialization, either already in the market or on the way"

Prof. Dr. Marc Schurr, Managing Director of Novineon, tells us about his experience with EU-funding. Novineon was founded in 2001 in Tübingen, Germany. Today, it employs about 25 people. The company focuses on medical device research and technology.

When your company first started, how many people did you employ and on which ICT field did you focus?

Novineon was founded in 2001 and at that time had 2 employees. Since the very beginning, novineon has focused on biomedical technologies, microsensor technology and smart medical devices for surgery and endoscopy.

And today, how many people do you employ? How has your company grown? Have you expanded your work to new or different areas?

Today novineon has grown to a small group of companies that employ about 25 people. The Group has expanded its activities considerably from its original focus on contract research and consulting. While maintaining our position in this original market, novineon companies are today involved into the entire value chain, from development and manufacturing to commercial selling of medical devices.

What made you apply for EU research funding? Was your first application successful?

We have always seen funding by the EU and collaboration on a European level as a strategic source for product innovation. We have been involved in research funded by the EU since the early years of our company and have taken significant advantage of several of our long-term development programmes. The VECTOR project (Versatile Endoscopic Capsule for gastrointestinal TumOr Recognition and therapy) was the first project that we submitted as main initiator and coordinator. We were very fortunate that this first application was successful.

How has EU-funded research helped your business? What has been the most important or useful?

EU funding has been key for the technological success we have achieved in developing medical technology. A relevant part of our developments would have hardly been possible outside of EU projects. Besides the financial dimension of helping our R&D work, networking with partners has been the greatest benefit. Over the years we have established and maintained a well-assorted network of great institutions we partner with. This is without doubt an important source of competitive advantage in today’s market environment.

Did EU funding enable your company to conduct research or explore new fields that would not have been possible without extra financial support? Have any concrete applications, products or processes come of this?

Clearly yes. Without EU funding we would not be where we are, especially with our research programme on telemetric sensor devices and our smart robotic capsule for endoscopy. Basically all of the product candidates that came out of our projects are now at some level of commercialization, either already in the market or on the way.

What has been the most positive experience from involvement in EU research programmes?

Apart from the stimulating business environment, friendship and the joy of being part of an innovative and dynamic open-minded community that focuses on true advancement of medical technology. This also includes our contacts with the Commission who are very competent, supportive, reliable and think strategically. This is not common working with research funding institutions. In my opinion the European Commission representatives I have met are doing an excellent job.

What is your top tip or word of advice for a young high-tech entrepreneur starting out today?

I can only speak for the biomedical sector. Think about the patient first and about how to create a true and relevant medical benefit. If you let this consideration guide you, you cannot go wrong, also from a market perspective.

And then, of course, occasionally check the opportunities offered by the Commission to help you innovate… Good luck.