Startups
Since its creation, the Charles Gerhardt Montpellier Institute has supported young innovative companies in the fields of Energy, Health and the Environment. In recent years, the ICGM has developed an industrial and scientific partnership with several companies, which now operate in its fold.
CarboZym is a CNRS spin-off project from the Charles Gerhardt Montpellier Institute. Carbozym develops innovative, bio-based and highly porous materials for cell-free synthetic biology. The materials at the heart of this enzyme immobilization technology will enable the implementation of new, more environmentally friendly processes for the preparation and manufacture of value-added molecules for the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, flavor and fragrance industries.
CarboZym is led by Jullien Drone (MCF ENSCM) and Nicolas Brun (CR CNRS) in the Hybrid Porous Materials Department (MPH). This project is financially supported by the Occitanie Region, SATT AxLR and Lab’MUSE Chimie. Carbozym is supported by the CNRS Innovation and Deeptech Founders RISE programs.
Orpia Innovation is a young innovative company resolutely focused on the research and valorization of co-products from the cashew industry.
The Orpia technology offers new functional molecules, additives, surfactants, monomers and bio-based polymers, particularly from CNSL, for high value-added applications in the sectors of detergents, construction, cosmetics, composite, paints and coatings. CNSL – Cashew Nut Shell Liquid – is an aromatic oil extracted from the shell of cashew nuts whose production is around 1Mt/year and which has many interests in terms of chemical innovation.
With its technology, Orpia Innovation offers ecological, innovative and non-toxic alternatives to certain petrochemical applications.
Created in 2009, Bulane was born from a partnership with the ICGM that resulted in a co-ownership patent intended to miniaturize the clean flame production system and make it easily transportable.
Bulane technology makes it possible to produce clean and efficient fuel from oxygen and hydrogen naturally present in water everywhere. The fuel thus generated relieves itself of the difficulties associated with the extraction, distribution and storage of hazardous gases. It uses an abundant resource, easy to extract and transport, with low environmental impact: water.
The combustion of the oxy-hydrogen gas developed by Bulane can reach very high temperatures, does not emit ultraviolet light and releases a tiny amount of CO2 into the atmosphere. The flame generated is particularly suitable for the assembly of metals: brazing in the climatic, electrical and jewellery sectors.
With its technology, Bulane participates in the energy transition and builds the “post-oil” world, based on Hydrogen, an environmentally friendly energy alternative.
Phost’In was born from the meeting of researchers – biologists and chemists – with clinicians who are experts worldwide in the management of gliomas. This triple vision structured the project around a specific clinical need: the development of a family of innovative anticancer molecules to fight against the risk of recurrence and metastasis in the treatment of aggressive cancers.
An anti-tumor and anti-migration treatment to contain the tumor to strengthen operability and significantly improve survival, whose first human trials are scheduled for 2017.
Phost’in continues to work closely with several ICGM members.
NanoMedSyn is a young biotechnology startup created in 2012 and resulting from a collaboration between the former Molecular Chemistry and Solid State Organization (CMOS) and Molecular Engineering and Nano-Objects (IMNO) teams of the ICGM and the Glyco and Nano Vectors for Therapeutic Targeting team of the IBMM. It is now composed of a dozen researchers with complementary specialties.
Specialized in the development of innovative molecules for therapeutic targeting, NanoMedSyn has developed a molecule to meet the medical needs of lysosomal storage diseases.
It is developing a new therapeutic approach for certain orphan diseases and cancers through the development of molecules promoting cell targeting and penetration. The technological platform developed by NanoMedSyn consists of coupling substitute enzymes with a patented compound to increase the efficacy and tolerance of these enzymes.
Specific Polymers is a startup created in 2003 and stemming from the former Macromolecular Engineering and Architecture (IAM) research team of the ICGM.
It specializes in the development and production of fluorinated, phosphorus and silicate polymer additives and has the skills and equipment necessary for the pre-industrial extrapolation of these additives.
Specific Polymers currently operates in three main business areas:
- Polymer engineering, for which it develops and files patents on chemical compounds in the field of specialty polymer additives (cosmetic, nuclear, technical paint, technical textiles, food packaging, nonstick coatings)
- R&D collaboration by carrying out development studies on polymers and macromolecular materials for high-tech industrial companies
- The production of innovative compounds from Specific Polymers, ensuring scale-up and industrial development.
SiKÉMIA is a young company specialized in the field of surface functionalization of materials: glass, metals, alloys, metal oxides.
Resulting from a scientific partnership between several members of the former Molecular Chemistry and Organization of the Solid State (CMOS) team of the ICGM, its products and services make it possible to meet the R&D outsourcing needs of large industrial groups and to serve as an R&D center for SMEs / SMIs.
SiKÉMIA offers a suitable method that combines the development of innovative coupling agents with the functionalization of surfaces by chemical means. This approach offers a broad spectrum of surface and substrate functionality than any other existing technique.
SiKÉMIA’s offer is a three-level offer:
- Products : a catalogue of 200 innovative organosilylated and organophosphorus compounds produced from gram to tonne.
- Services : A research contract
- Custom synthesis (Synthesis of an original compound with a silylated, phosphorus or sulfur group)
- Development of functionalized surfaces (Study of functionalization and grafting)
- Bibliographic study and expertise for the synthesis and / or grafting of coupling agents
- Analyses
- Licensing
Athéor is a young company specializing in authentication and traceability solutions with an innovative glass marking technique.
Its originality is based on a process that uses the ways of soft chemistry, without energy and at room temperature. The product is based on a patented technology resulting from an industrial and scientific partnership with the former Molecular Architectures and Nanostructured Materials (AM²N) research team of the ICGM.
Athéor’s objective is to meet the traceability applications of legal obligations (marking, batch number, validity date).
The marking of the product must meet:
- To the regulation of the Visible, Legible and Indelible
- Production traceability : anti-mixing, cross-contamination
- Secure traceability : a means of combating counterfeiting and parallel markets)
- Quality traceability : cold chain and storage control, time / temperature indicator
The main markets targeted by Athéor :
- Pharmaceutical : syringes, vials, ampoules
- Cosmetics : bottles, jars
- Agri-food : bottles
- Tableware : glasses, crystal