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 is a developer of a chemical digitization platform that integrates automated synthetic hardware with a unique chemical programming language. This platform allows for the on-demand conversion of digital code into molecules, facilitating drug and materials discovery as well as chemical synthesis. Chemify's system is designed to be modular, universal, scalable, and teachable, making it suitable for various applications in chemical and material research. The software incorporates natural language processing to translate synthetic procedures and features a comprehensive ontology, which aids users in creating chemical processes while providing insights into reaction conditions and identifying potential issues. This capability enables scientists to access detailed real-time telemetry of chemical reactions, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in their work.

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.

Sail Biomedicines is a biotechnology company developing innovative medicines using circular RNA technology and programmable nanoparticles. Its platform, Endless RNA (eRNA), combined with unique, naturally-derived nanoparticles, enables the comprehensive programming of drugs, enhancing their potency and targeting capabilities. The company aims to transform patient care by leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced delivery systems to create first-in-class therapeutics.

Scentian Bio is a developer of innovative biosensor devices that integrate insect biology with nanotechnology to revolutionize sensing applications. The company's technology leverages insect odorant receptors to create biosensors for commercial use in the medical and food industries. By employing machine learning, these devices can detect volatile organic compounds, such as off-notes in food and beverages, as well as identify fraud and adulterants in raw materials. Scentian Bio aims to provide users with advanced sensing solutions that harness the power of nature, making it easier to understand and respond to complex chemical signals.

MIP Discovery is a technology leader specializing in the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and nanoMIPs, which are plastic antibodies designed to address the limitations of traditional MIP manufacturing methods. The company's innovations feature polymers and antibodies that incorporate a single binding site for specific targets, allowing them to be effectively fused to solid substrates, such as sensor surfaces. This capability provides hospitals with highly effective reagents suitable for a variety of applications, including point-of-care diagnostics and field-based testing, thereby enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of medical testing.

Evolve Biosystems, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Davis, California, focused on developing and marketing probiotic-based biotherapeutics aimed at establishing, restoring, and maintaining a healthy human microbiome. The company specializes in addressing gut dysbiosis across the human life cycle, particularly in newborns during their first six months of life. Evolve Biosystems utilizes a platform that combines specific probiotic bacteria with prebiotic oligosaccharides to create effective delivery systems. Their products include consumer-directed solutions for home use as well as specialized formulations for neonatal intensive care units. In addition to human health, the company also applies its discovery platform to address similar microbiome issues in production animals. Evolve Biosystems was incorporated in 2011.

Novavax Inc., established in 1987 and headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a late-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases worldwide. Its primary focus lies in advancing vaccine candidates through clinical trials, with notable projects including ResVax for RSV in infants via maternal immunization (Phase III), NanoFlu for seasonal influenza in older adults (Phase III), and NVX-CoV2373 for COVID-19 (preclinical). Novavax's proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant enhances immune response and enables lower antigen doses. The company collaborates globally to address urgent health needs, with Europe being its primary revenue source.

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, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializes in the development of intranasal vaccines and anti-infective products utilizing its patented nanotechnology platform. The company's innovative NanoStat vaccine technology incorporates a unique oil-in-water nanoemulsion, allowing for the effective delivery and adjuvant of various antigens. BlueWillow focuses on vaccines for respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases, including pertussis, pandemic influenza, anthrax, and HIV, as well as providing NanoBio Protect, a nasal antiseptic solution. The company also has a licensing agreement with Merck for the use of its adjuvant in intranasal vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and seasonal influenza. Founded in 1999 as a spin-off from the University of Michigan, BlueWillow Biologics aims to enhance mucosal immunity through its advanced vaccine technology.