More than 400 students from 100 universities of the Russian Federation participate in the sixth season of the Sechenov Tech accelerator

Sechenov University has launched a new season of Sechenov Tech, Russia's only federal-scale accelerator program for biomedical startups. It helps startups take the shortest path from the idea of a project to its commercialization and implementation in practical healthcare. The sixth season of the accelerator brought together a record number of participating universities - about a hundred of them. During the three months of the program, students, postgraduates, residents and young scientists from medical and technical universities in Russia will develop their projects together with experienced biomedtech entrepreneurs, industry representatives and investors. The winners of Sechenov Tech will be determined at the final demo day, which will be held at Sechenov University at the end of May.

The geography of the sixth season of the accelerator is very wide. It will feature teams from 54 Russian cities. And the total number of participating universities is almost twice as high as in previous seasons. More than 400 students and young scientists will present their projects in four thematic tracks: "Pharma", "Medical devices", EdTech and "IT solutions in the healthcare market".

"This season of the accelerator, we have a record high number of participants from other universities," said Alla Panchenko, Academic Director of the accelerator, Deputy Director of the Center for Industrial Technologies and Entrepreneurship at the First Moscow State Medical University. – Today we can proudly say that Sechenov Tech has become a platform for the development of network technology entrepreneurship in Russian universities in the health industry. At the same time, new teams come to us on the principle of "word of mouth" - on the recommendation of participants from previous seasons, which we are also very happy about. We see great value in working with early-stage projects and young innovative scientists, whom we help build a strategy for development, commercialization and attracting investments in startups."

Most of the announced projects of the new season are aimed at developing IT products for practical healthcare. There are also solutions for the creation of new materials, medical devices, diagnostic test systems, medicines and mental health products. The total number of projects is 227, of which 36 are from Sechenov University.

The three-month educational program includes lectures that help teams develop entrepreneurial thinking, expert sessions, and webinars. Meetings with experienced biomedical entrepreneurs and investors are also planned for the participants, who will share the best management and entrepreneurial practices. Sechenov University clinicians will also work closely with students and young scientists to work out the clinical and social significance of the projects. The accelerator will end with the final demo day at Sechenov University. The authors of the best projects will have the opportunity to attract an investor and win training at the Skolkovo Foundation under the Fast Track program or at the Startup Academy of the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo.

More than 2,000 students and young scientists took part in the five previous accelerator seasons held at the First Moscow State Medical University. Since 2022, the accelerator's graduate projects have attracted more than 255 million in grant funds and investor money.

The Sechenov Tech acceleration program is supported by major institutional industry players: the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, the Skolkovo Foundation, the Helsnet Research Center, the Moscow Innovation Cluster, the Moscow International Medical Cluster, and the Moscow Center for Innovative Technologies in Healthcare. The cycle of acceleration programs and post-acceleration events is included in the list of events of the Decade of Science and Technology.