Instituted in 2007 by WHO Member States, World Malaria Day is celebrated every year on 25 April, highlighting the need for sustained commitment towards malaria prevention and control. Building on the idea that natural mechanisms can be harnessed to address major global health challenges as malaria, the Sweden-based company Molecular Attraction (coordinating the EIC Accelerator Blended Finance project, SemioMVC) is developing innovative vector-control solutions that provide an eco-friendly alternative to insecticides.
On this international day, we are unveiling two of its recent achievements: being included in the Norrsken Impact 100 list of most promising impact startups, as well as the recent naming of its CSO and co-founder, Assoc prof. Noushin Emami, as one of Sweden’s top scientists by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.
The idea: using nature to control nature
In an era dominated by increasingly complex and expensive technologies, the biotechnology company co-founded by Assoc Prof. Emami stemmed from the idea that simple biological solutions can be both more sustainable and more accessible.
Through its patented chemical blends, the Sweden-based company addresses an additional challenge: while traditional tools like insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying have saved countless lives, their effectiveness is waning, in part due to growing insecticide resistance.
Coordinating the SemioMVC project, supported by the EIC Accelerator, provided Molecular Attraction with the opportunity to scale nature-based innovation into impactful, real-world solutions. As Assoc prof. Emami explained,
We are advancing this innovation at a time when public health systems and governmental funding for vector control are under strain, particularly in the Global South. We see the EIC Accelerator as an ideal platform [...] enabling us to deliver effective, low-cost, and environmentally sound tools in global vector control, especially in underserved or resource-limited regions.
Molecular Attraction on the Norrsken Impact 100 list of world’s most promising impact startups
With habitat expansion expected to place almost 1 billion people at risk of mosquito-borne illnesses by 2080, vector-borne diseases – and the necessity to control them – are undoubtedly one of the world’s most enduring and urgent challenges.
The potential impact of Molecular Attraction’s novel solutions upon their entry into the global mosquito vector control market was recognised by the Swedish impact foundation Norrsken. The EIC-backed company made its way into Norrsken’s list of 100 most promising impact startups for 2022, spotlighting startups working on groundbreaking solutions to the greatest challenges.
Asked about the latter milestone, Assoc prof. Emami noted:
Being named in the Norrsken Impact 100 was a true affirmation of our mission at Molecular Attraction: [...] we work with the principle that nature holds the key to its own balance. Our bioproduct is derived from the very vectors and pathogens we seek to control. It’s an old idea made new again: using the enemy’s own signal to outsmart it.
Bridging the lab-to-market gap
While, through the EIC Accelerator’s support, Molecular Attraction came a long way, refining its prototype as well as enhancing its specificity, efficacy, and field applicability, its groundbreaking solutions are anchored in high-end research stemming from strong track record across several leading universities.
It was precisely Assoc prof. Emami’s innovative vector control research which led the co-founder to be named one of Sweden’s top scientists by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in November 2024.
Besides being an important recognition of Assoc prof. Emami’s time as a researcher at Stockholm University, the reward highlights how, through the EIC-backed SemioMVC project, Molecular Attraction managed to bridge the common lab-to-market gap by transforming years of laboratory-based vector biology and molecular research into practical tools that can be deployed in the field.
As Assoc prof. Emami, finally, added:
This recognition also underscores the growing importance of cross-sectoral scientific collaboration bringing together academia, industry, public health, and innovation ecosystems. It's this convergence that allows us to accelerate progress, adapt rapidly to global needs, and ensure that scientific advancements are not only innovative, but also implementable and inclusive.
Additional information
Molecular Attraction is an EIC Accelerator Blended Finance beneficiary building on high-end research stemming from Stockholm University and striving to bring a nature-powered solution to some of the most vulnerable communities facing the burden of mosquito-borne diseases.
Learn more about Molecular Attraction by visiting CORDIS.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.