Bio innovator named Europe’s top tech startup
Parx Plastics, a Dutch-Italian bio innovator in antibacterial plastic technology, is announced by the European Commission as one of the top 3 tech startups in Europe in the prestigious Tech All Stars competition 2014.
The European Commission’s vice-president Neelie Kroes introduced the Tech All Stars competition by urging the backing of Europe’s young startups “Europe has the talent. It needs founders like you to believe it. It’s you who can come up with the good ideas and shake it all up. Start forging tomorrow’s economy. Create the jobs. Change the world. Because that’s what startups and entrepreneurs do.”
Parx Plastics works with innovative biocompatible technology to make antibacterial plastics. The company HQ is in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with its research facilities in Bologna, Italy. By applying biomimetics and Nano-technology, a method was developed to make an intrinsic change to plastic resulting in a mechanical/physical property that acts against bacteria and microorganisms. The Parx patented technology does not use chemicals, biocides, heavy metals or nano-particles. It makes use of one of the bodies most abundant trace elements: Zinc.
“The technology is fully biocompatible, it is not toxic and it does not leach out of the materials and yet it kills 99% of the bacteria and micro organisms that are on the surface of a product within 24 hours” according to Parx Plastics’ CTO Michele Fiori. “The technology is really what the market is desperately looking for since todays available solutions are being more and more restricted and proof to have harmful effects on humans and the environment.” Fiori refers to recent scientific publications linking substance used today to causing infertility and cancer. The 100% safe and biocompatible technology developed by Parx Plastics to incorporate an antibacterial property into any kind of plastic is named to be a game-changer and leading EU’s startup scene.
Michael van der Jagt, CEO Parx Plastic presenting during The Founders Forum.
The Tech All Stars competition made it possible for Parx to present their technology during The Founders Forum in London alongside European Commission’s vice-president Neelie Kroes in front of tech and web visionaries including Richard Branson (virgin), Chad Hurley (Youtube) and Reid Hoffman (Linked-in). In addition to priceless exposure, and networking opportunities, each three finalists received 20 000€ worth of credits on Google Platform services.