Skip to main content

By Biocat

Minoryx Therapeutics has won the EmprenedorXXI awards in Catalonia, promoted by “la Caixa” and co-awarded by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism through the Spanish National Innovation Company (ENISA). This Catalan biotechnology firm received the award at the Bizbarcelona Fair, at the Fira de Barcelona, from Territorial Director of “la Caixa” Jordi Nicolau, Second Deputy Mayor and President of Barcelona Activa (which organizes the initiative in Catalonia) Sònia Recasens, and Financial Director of ENISA Pedro Da Silva.

The award recognizes the innovation-based companies with the highest potential for growth in Spain. It comes with €5,000 in cash, participation in the Ignite Fast Track course at the University of Cambridge, geared towards entrepreneurs in the growth stages, and a full year of support in seeking out new markets from Caixa Capital Risc. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to participate in trade missions to Silicon Valley (United States) and Tel Aviv (Israel) and preferential access to funding for early-stage companies through Caixa Capital Risc and ENISA. Now they have won the EmprenedorXXI competition in Catalonia, Minoryx will participate on the national level to try to win the €20,000 prize.

Minoryx Therapeutics, founded in 2007 by scientists Marc Martinell, Joan Aymamí and Xavier Barril, stands out for its search for drugs to treat minority pediatric diseases like genetic neurometabolic or muscular diseases. They collaborate with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation (FBG) and the TecnoCampus Mataró-Maresme Park, where the company was created, among others.

The biotech firm also won the latest edition of the BioEmprenedorXXI award, promoted by Barcelona Activa, “la Caixa” and Biocat, after being a runner-up in 2011. This year the company received an investment of €1.5 millions from Caixa Capital Risc and Inveready.

The EmprenedorXXI awards are considered the most important initiative to support entrepreneurs in Spain, and have already recognized 150 entrepreneurs over the seven editions held.

Sign up for our newsletters

Stay up-to-date on the latest news, events and trends in the BioRegion.