i-NanoT was officially launched yesterday at Polytech Dijon (University of Burgundy Europe). This event marks the beginning of a large-scale project on nanomedicine technologies, bringing together researchers, institutional and industrial stakeholders, European funders, and the 13 partners of the consortium.
A unifying project supported by a large consortium
The morning began with a series of institutional presentations outlining the scientific, economic, and societal foundations of i-NanoT.
Alexandre Bouhelier, the project coordinator, opened the session by reiterating the initiative’s ambitious goals: to accelerate innovation in theranostic nanovectorization, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and support the region’s competitiveness in a rapidly evolving field.
Appearing via videoconference from Brussels, Carsten Rasmussen, Head of Unit for Belgium, France, and Luxembourg at DG REGIO of the European Commission, emphasized the strategic importance of i-NanoT within the framework of European funding dedicated to regional innovation. He reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to supporting long-term, structuring projects.
The academic dimension of the program was then highlighted by Céline Demougeot, Vice-President for Research at Marie and Louis Pasteur University, and Vincent Thomas, President of Burgundy Europe University. Both emphasized the complementarity between the partner laboratories and the training and attractiveness potential that i-NanoT represents for students and young researchers.
From the industry perspective, Jérémy Paris, CEO and founder of SON, reiterated the need for ongoing dialogue between public research and businesses to accelerate technology transfer, particularly in nanomedicine where clinical and industrial applications are evolving very rapidly.
Finally, Jérôme Durain, President of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region, reaffirmed regional support for this type of strategic initiative, emphasizing that i-NanoT is fully aligned with the region’s commitment to investing in health technologies and innovation.
A high-level keynote address on the future of nanomedicines
The scientific highlight of the morning was the plenary lecture by Professor Patrick Couvreur (Paris-Saclay University), a world-renowned pioneer in nanomedicine.
Entitled “Nanomedicines for the Treatment of Serious Diseases: Where Do We Come From and Where Are We Going?”, this keynote address offered an overview of the field’s evolution, from early approaches to drug delivery to current innovations in targeted treatments and personalized therapies.
A rich round table discussion on theranostics
After a pleasant coffee break, the morning continued with a roundtable discussion moderated by journalist Patrice Bouillot, bringing together Patrick Couvreur, Stéphane Roux, Bertrand Collin, Jérémy Paris, and Anne Rigoulot.
The topic, “Theranostic Vectorization: Current State and Perspectives,” addressed the major challenges of theranostics, a discipline that combines diagnosis and treatment within a single nanotechnology vector.
The discussions highlighted the regulatory, technical, and clinical challenges, as well as the tremendous opportunities for future innovation.
A promising launch
The morning concluded with a networking lunch, providing an opportunity for informal discussions and closer connections between partners.
With this successful launch day, i-NanoT has established itself as a major project for the region and a catalyst for innovation in nanomedicine, supported by a strong network of academic, institutional, industrial, and European partners.
