Trophies for the Valorization of Research
The fourth edition of the Trophies for the Valorization of Research organized by Toulouse Tech Transfer (TTT) , took place on Thursday 1 December from the Auditorium Marthe Condat made available by the University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier. This new edition offered in a hybrid format, both face-to-face and live streaming, has enabled a wider audience of researchers, doctoral students and partners to take part in this meeting, which is now firmly on the calendar. of research.
Patrick Cazeneuve, President of Toulouse Tech Transfer and his partners wished, on this occasion, to put at the heart of the debates the key dimension that research plays as a spearhead for sustainable and responsible development within the Company: “Celebrating its 10 years of existence in 2022, Toulouse Tech Transfer is proud of the road traveled marked by constant support from the State, recognition from the Occitanie Region and Toulouse Métropole communities, and growing confidence from all establishments. Toulouse academic privilege. This authorization acquired over time is today reinforced by the recent renewal of the agreements with the establishments which plan this partnership over the next 10 years.
More than 1,000 inventions have been analyzed, more than 300 projects have been funded, leading to more than 150 transfer licenses and the creation of a
List of winners:
Marthe Condat Grand Prize : this prize is awarded to the particularly outstanding researcher identified among the candidates in all categories combined.
2022 winner: Nicolas Mézailles LHFA / CNRS / UT3 / T-Ammo Project
The team, led by Dr Nicolas Mézailles, co-founder of Swan-H, has found and patented a revolutionary way to produce ammonia (NH3). The “Mezailles method” consists of activating the nitrogen present in the air and causing it to react with water. The nitrogen molecule, one of the most stable known, is activated and reactive using only a fraction of the energy required by the current industrial method. Since this initial discovery, the process now works with electricity as the energy source. You should know that ammonia is currently produced in huge factories, requiring natural gas, pressures and very high temperatures. This Haber-Bosch process, over 100 years old, releases large amounts of CO2. The “Mezailles” process, which uses boron radicals to react nitrogen, paves the way for a revolution: reducing the CO2 footprint of ammonia production and enabling new applications of ammonia, in particular storage renewable energies.
Outstanding Partnership Award : this trophy rewards a researcher who has engaged with a company in long-term or disruptive research work.
2022 winner: Alexandre Arnoult, LAAS CNRS / Epicenter Lab Joint Laboratory Project.
The Epicenter Lab joint laboratory. bringing together the French company RIBER, world leader in the manufacture of molecular beam epitaxy systems and the LAAS-CNRS, aims to integrate a series of instruments controlling this process in real time. For RIBER, this partnership allows it to make a substantial, disruptive technological and industrial link, ultimately allowing molecular beam epitaxy to emerge from a strict niche market.
Research Collaboration Trophy in Occitania : this trophy distinguishes a researcher who has collaborated with a regional company to enable him to innovate.
2022 winner: Frédéric Violleau, TOAST / Purpan engineering school / LCA / INRAe / Purpan-ABSOGER project
This project resulted in an innovative partnership with a strong lasting impact between the company ABSOGER based in Tarn-et-Garonne and the platform for the use of Oxidative Technologies for Agriculture and Agrifood in Toulouse (TOAST). It is a question of implementing technologies making it possible to control the conditions of storage and conservation of fruits and vegetables. These technologies, which have very concrete applications – prototypes of new containers and storage chambers – have been tested in Occitanie by public and private players (LGC in Toulouse and CIRAD in Montpellier; Boyer and Blue Whale companies) and have been developed a structuring investment by the Region.
Social/Societal Impact Trophy : this trophy rewards a researcher for setting up a remarkable development operation in social and societal matters.
2022 winners: Nadine Vigouroux, Frédéric Vella and Philippe Truillet, IRIT / CNRS / Toulouse INP / UT3 / UT2 / UT1 / WebSoKeyTo Project
The WebSoKeyTo Project aims to promote the social inclusion of people with multiple disabilities. The Alternative and Augmented Communication (AAC) platform that has been designed is designed to provide therapists with a simple, intuitive and ergonomic tool that takes into account the evolving needs of this type of patient. This work is the result of close collaboration with the OPTEO foundation, which welcomes adults and children with cognitive disorders, motor and/or mental disabilities in its residences. WebSoKeyTo needs today, to spread, to identify the actors of the medico-social and to sensitize the editors of software.
Technology Transfer Trophy : this trophy highlights research results protected and transferred to companies that have enabled the creation of a new product, a new service or a new process.
2022 winner: Dominique Legendre, IMFT / Toulouse INP / CNRS / Canada Drop Project
The new KIOS device, resulting from a technology transfer from the Institute of Fluid Mechanics in Toulouse to the Kepplair Evolution company, makes it possible to transform any jumbo jet into a water bomber by optimizing the release modes (more precise and less dispersive) in order to fight against mega-fires in Europe.
Business Creation Trophy : this trophy rewards the investment of a researcher in a start-up to promote the results of his research.
2022 winner: Manuel Rodriguez, Coordination Chemistry Laboratory / CNRS / Ubipièges Project
Ubip aims to define molecular traps based on the study of protein homeostasis in order to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets which then allow better diagnosis and better treatment. The Ubipièges project gave birth to the Start-up B Molecular.