Six Antwerp companies develop innovative and sustainable technologies with financial support from the city

In November 2024, the city once again called out to submit innovative projects in the digital, circular or health economy. 13 projects were selected to explain their project and answer the jury's questions. The jury consolidated the results and six projects with a strong business case will receive financial support from the city of Antwerp to accelerate their innovation. This support strengthens the growth of these six companies and confirms Antwerp as an attractive entrepreneurial city.

Of the 66 projects submitted, 13 were shortlisted to present their ideas. After a round of questions, an independent jury selected six projects: three sustainable projects and three innovations in the health sector, with or without digital innovation.

The selected innovations will now be launched and further developed. Within 9 months - by November 2025 - the projects should be operational. A total budget of 438.000 Euros has been allocated to the operational costs of these projects. Together, the entrepreneurs who develop these projects will contribute to Antwerp's ecosystems in the digital, circular and health economy.

Bloom Biotech | Sustainable yarns made with microalgae

Bloom Biotech, a start-up based in BlueChem, uses biotechnology to develop sustainable & carbon-negative textile materials. Bloom Biotech aims to create sustainable, high-quality materials made from microalgae. With the financial support, they want to improve and scale up their process to create hybrid yarns - a mix of microalgae and natural fibers (cotton, wool). There will also be a focus on commercializing these yarns within the textile & fashion industry.

Pedro Vicente  | www.bloom-biotech.com | +32 492 241 617 | pedro@bloom-biotech.com

Creaflow | Development of a reactor for gas-liquid systems

Creaflow, a start-up company based in BlueChem, is developing innovative and scalable flow reactors. These reactors are designed to produce molecules more efficiently and sustainably, using alternative energy sources such as light and electricity. With the funding, Creaflow will develop the reactor so that gases can also be used as raw materials.

Rik Van Meirhaeghe | www.creaflow.be | +32 486 647 114  | rik@creaflow.be

Mindoo AI | Automating a patient’s medical history with AI

Mindoo is a startup developing AI assistants for healthcare. Using artificial intelligence, Mindoo automates various tasks, from collecting and analysing medical history before a consultation to taking notes during a consultation, managing administration and overcoming language barriers. As a result, healthcare providers save valuable time and can focus on what matters: the patient. Thanks to the financial support of the city of Antwerp, Mindoo can continue to develop and refine its platform, enabling healthcare institutions to work more efficiently and provide better patient care.

Gauthier Willemse | www.mindoo.ai | +32 472 617 851 | gauthier@mindoo.ai - Ben De Smet | ben@mindoo.ai

Sightera Biosciences | Faster drug development with AI

Sightera Biosciences is a health tech spin-off from the University of Antwerp and the University Hospital Antwerp. This start-up accelerates and improves traditional drug development by combining complex preclinical data from patient models with artificial intelligence to develop unique new drug potential. With the city's financial support, Sightera will further develop and commercialise the AI-driven drug discovery platform, and the startup will market its innovative products within oncology and regenerative medicine.

Hendrik Vercammen | www.sightera-biosciences.com | +32 479 936 148 | info@sightera-biosciences.com

Voxdale | Development of a blood collection device for home and remote testing

Voxdale, a company specialising in the development of innovative products, will work with the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp to develop an innovative blood collection device. This device will enable blood samples to be collected in a standardised and safe manner, contributing to home and remote testing. The funding will contribute to Voxdale's growth through international marketing of the device.

Tim Dieryckx | www.voxdale.eu |+32 487 326 726  | tim.dieryckx@voxdale.be

WeWantMore | Make sustainable choices with an intuitive material selector

WeWantMore is an Antwerp-based design studio committed to sustainable interior design with the Monark project. With the financial support, Monark will be further developed as an intuitive material selector that helps users make sustainable choices for their interior design, even without extensive knowledge of sustainability. WeWantMore is now working with several major international hotel groups to develop this sustainable material selector.

Ruud Belmans | www.wewantmore.studio | +32 329 06 273 | ruud@wewantmore.studio

On a total of 12 calls to innovate, the city of Antwerp has invited entrepreneurs to submit innovative projects in the digital, circular and health economy or in fashion and design. In addition, the city has supporting innovative projects in the diamond sector for four years now.

To date, 666 companies have submitted a project. 79 entrepreneurs have been selected and received financial support to accelerate their innovation.

The total budget for all this support is 5 million euros.