The following three companies were selected by Tremplin Entreprises to participate in a unique event based on the outstanding achievements they presented to the screening committee. Selection criteria included innovation, business potential, leading team and quality of presentation. Here is a glimpse into the activity and technologies of the winners who gained this special opportunity.

 

Target-In is a pharmaceuticals start-up founded in 2002. Its product is in the pre-clinical development stage, after achieving proof-of-concept. With its innovative technology, the company was the first to create a pipeline of fully human fusion proteins or apofusions, and it aspires to become the world leader in this developmental field. These "apofusions," which are pro-apoptosis protein fused on the DNA level to a unique targeting protein, selectively target and eliminate specific diseased cell populations. The use of human apoptosis-inducing proteins as effectors prevents side effects or immune responses when target cells are eliminated,  a fact which supports broad therapeutic potential.

 

Based on its proprietary “apoptoting” technology, the company has developed four products, all demonstrating specific cell elimination with no apparent toxicity, in the treatment of solid tumors, autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions, and other conditions. Clear beneficial effect of four different products was demonstrated in animal models.

The leading platform patent was recently issued in US, including 4 composition of matter patents, 3 divisional patents and 1 diagnostic use patent. The company’s pipeline contains numerous chimeric proteins awaiting proper resources for development to human use.

 

Target-In’s target market includes biotech and pharm companies.

 

Founded in 2004 with a focus on information security, DBsafe has developed the DBgate. DBgate protects databases from internal and external attacks and prevents data leaks. Protection is supplied by pre & post database security processors posed between application and data servers. These processors monitor all traffic in both directions, and prevent damage, unauthorized and improper use and data leaks by manipulating the data frames. DBsafe’s unique application provides the required protection for both new and legacy systems with no need to modify the application or the database.

DBsafe targets organizations that require data level protection. Its market is segmented by system or by application types as follows:

Systems: 

·           Legacy systems requiring adjustments in database and application security to conform with new laws. 

·           New systems seeking to enforce properly secured database use.

·           BI/OLAP systems that seek to restrict information accessibility and prevent data leaks.

Vertical Applications:

Organizations in the following industries must protect their databases and conform to new laws:

·         Financial - Banking, Insurance, commerce, etc.

·         Health – Hospitals, Clinics, HMOs, and other healthcare providers and facilities

·         Government – Army, Police, Social Security and other governmental agencies

·         Infrastructures – Telecom, power stations, and other utilities.

 

Chipless RFID company, CrossID, was established in 2004, and is currently focused on technological R&D. CrossID is developing an identification technology that is similar to RFID codes, yet potentially delivers superior benefits. CrossID operates within the emerging and fast growing field of chipless radio frequency identification (RFID). Similar to bar code technology, the company is developing a printable automatic identification technology using radio frequency and resonances signals, instead of optical signals.

 

CrossID is currently targetting the document management market by aiming to provide a secure ‘firewall’ within an organization for confidential documents. The company's short-term goal is to capture the lead in this market niche by combining the main advantages of barcode technology (low cost, operational in all environments) with the main benefits of emerging radio frequency identification technologies (no line of sight requirements, interface with enterprise systems).

 

Electronic tagging is one of the world’s fastest growing market sectors. Awareness is growing internationally of the efficiencies and cost savings that can be achieved by adopting new tag technologies. The Company’s long-term goal is to become the de facto standard for the identification industry via providing printable (liquid) and chipless identification tags to documents.

 

Global shipments of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are projected to increase from US$890 million in 2004 to US$2.5 billion in 2005. This annual 24% growth is, in part, being driven by the introduction of new legislation. MOD and Wal-Mart have already informed their suppliers of a future mandatory requirement to use smart tags. In the EU and some Australian states, new laws are expected to require tagging of livestock for health traceability, to control the spread of diseases such as hoof and mouth disease. Market growth is also being assisted by innovations in tagging technologies and by the smart materials packaging of the tags themselves