The Y Corps project won the regional stage of the Nascer Program and will represent the city of Lages in the state finals in Florianópolis. Focusing on producing antibodies using national technology, the initiative seeks to address the challenges of importing faced by Brazilian researchers, such as delays and waste.
The final event, the Super Pitch Day, will award R$ 220,000 to the first-place winner, R$ 150,000 to the second, and R$ 130,000 to the third, providing funding to foster new businesses.
Held across 15 Innovation Centers that form the Santa Catarina Network of Innovation Centers, the Nascer Program set a record for registrations this year, with 1,211 projects submitted, 483 of which were approved. During the local stage, hosted at the Luiz Henrique da Silveira Innovation Center in Lages, 21 projects were evaluated by a panel of specialists, including Gabriel Borba, Claiton Camargo, Mayra Juline, and Vitor Bona, who assessed criteria such as idea maturity and feasibility.
According to the program coordinator in Lages, Salomão Eineck, the agile format adapted to participants’ schedules was key to the success of this edition.
“The methodology, evening meetings, and support for academia allowed shelved projects to be developed and make it to the finals. At least five initiatives that were dormant are now coming to life through the Nascer Program,” he said.
The Y Corps project, led by researchers Sandra Davi Traverso, Cláudia Pies Biffi, and Camila Martins Conti, originated from the difficulty of accessing imported antibodies, which often arrive late or deteriorate during transport, negatively affecting scientific research in Brazil.
The proposal aims to manufacture antibodies within the country, utilizing local pathogens and reducing dependence on imported supplies. “Brazil needs to become independent in producing scientific supplies. Our project addresses this necessity,” the team explained.
Sandra emphasized the transformative impact of the Nascer Program on the participants.
“We are researchers and professors with no commercial experience. The knowledge gained through Nascer was crucial for structuring our business and understanding how to bring it to market,” she said.
Next Steps
The Y Corps project will now compete for the state title and the top prize at the Super Pitch Day, scheduled for next year in Florianópolis. The finals will gather regional winners to present their ideas to a panel of investors and innovation specialists.
Focused on fostering innovative businesses, the Nascer Program continues to transform ideas into tangible solutions, contributing to the advancement of Santa Catarina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.