Stemmatters wins first place in the Merck EMEA Advance Biotech Grant and strengthens international projection

Stemmatters, a biotechnology company based at AvePark in Guimarães, has been awarded first place in the Merck EMEA Advance Biotech Grant, a recognition that places the University of Minho spin-off on the international radar of the pharmaceutical industry. The award highlights the potential of Stemmatters’ mimsys technology, a platform focused on the development of cellular and genetic therapies, and opens opportunities for collaboration with the German pharmaceutical company Merck, among other industry players. 

According to the company’s CEO, Rui Amandi de Sousa, the distinction underscores the scientific and innovative value of Stemmatters’ proposition, but above all represents a gateway to new synergies and joint projects in advanced biotechnology. The mimsys platform complements the company’s broader strategy, which includes research on innovative raw materials and the development of products for tissue regeneration. 

Founded in 2011, Stemmatters combines scientific research with the development and manufacturing of experimental medicines, operating as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO). The company balances pure research activities with the production of differentiated raw materials, many of them innovative or unique, representing a strategic focus for growth and competitiveness. 

Winning the Merck EMEA Advance Biotech Grant reinforces Stemmatters’ positioning as a reference in national biotechnology, being the only CDMO to reach the final and win the award. The company currently employs around 40 highly qualified professionals and projects revenues exceeding three million euros in 2025, consolidating AvePark as a hub of innovation and scientific excellence.