MONDRAGON and i+Med launch NanoSPharm, a biomedical company born from a cooperative partnership

The i+Med headquarters at the Miñao Technology Park in Vitoria-Gasteiz hosted the presentation on Tuesday of an ambitious cooperative project on two levels: cooperation understood as an alliance between different companies, and cooperative in nature, since both MONDRAGON and i+Med are cooperatives. NanoSPharm, the new company created through this alliance, is jointly owned on a 50-50 basis by MONDRAGON and i+Med. It starts with an initial investment of €8.3 million and represents a further step in MONDRAGON’s commitment to promoting future-oriented business activities in high-value-added sectors.

“NanoSPharm reflects the value of cooperation in transforming specialized knowledge into a new business activity. The project brings together biomedical innovation and industrial capabilities in a sector with international reach and the potential to generate economic and social value,” highlighted Pello Rodríguez, President of MONDRAGON.

For his part, i+Med Director Manu Muñoz stressed that “this agreement allows us to take a decisive step toward bringing to market a technology born from a real clinical need. NanoSPharm combines scientific knowledge, regulatory expertise and an industrial focus to improve the safety and performance of prostheses.”

NanoSPharm aims to bring to market a technology developed in the biomedical field that can create a highly biocompatible coating on prostheses, as well as to manufacture devices that enable the coatings to be sprayed onto prostheses. The product targets a high-value-added sector that is expected to grow by 9% annually.

Manu Muñoz stressed that “this agreement allows us to take a decisive step toward bringing to market a technology born from a real clinical need. NanoSPharm combines scientific knowledge, regulatory expertise and an industrial focus to improve the safety and performance of prostheses.”

The product: a world first

The nanogels are based on hyaluronic acid and chitosan. The system is designed to promote osseointegration, act as an antibacterial barrier and provide self-healing properties. Future developments may also incorporate the controlled release of bioactive substances.

Manu Muñoz stated: “The technology is novel, and the patents support this. In terms of coating hydrogels, it is a world first.”

The technology can be applied to dental and orthopedic prostheses, with potential applications also in fields such as traumatology, maxillofacial surgery, cardiology, urology and neurosurgery. The roadmap includes completing its development, clinical validation and certification, followed by industrialization and international commercialization of both the nanogels and the spraying devices, initially scheduled for 2030.

A cooperative venture

Beyond its technological dimension, NanoSPharm represents a new example of cooperation between cooperatives as a means of entrepreneurship and creating new business activities. MONDRAGON contributes its business and industrial experience, while i+Med brings its scientific expertise and specialization in nanohydrogels. Twelve people are currently working on the project.

Beyond its technological dimension, NanoSPharm represents a new example of cooperation between cooperatives as a means of entrepreneurship and creating new business activities.

In this regard, Rodríguez spoke about the enthusiasm the project generates for him: “I’m excited. I feel the same way I did two years ago when I learned about i+Med’s comprehensive project; my feeling was, ‘we have to do something here.’ Erreka, a MONDRAGON cooperative, is already working closely on this project. The ambition is to create opportunities for both cooperatives.”

At the same time, Muñoz highlighted the value of the partnership for i+Med from a strongly cooperative perspective: “Going with MONDRAGON is like going hand in hand with your older brother. Having the backing of a large corporation is a great endorsement.”