CellX Biosolutions CEO awarded prestigious W.A. de Vigier Prize

This year’s W.A. de Vigier Awards rewarded six exceptional CEOs and their startups with prizes of 120 kCHF each. CellX Biosolutions CEO Estelle Clerc was recognised for an innovation which finds and uses selected bacteria to break down pollutants. NCCR Microbiomes is proud to have had the opportunity to support this project and congratulates all the winners!

Information below from the W.A. de Vigier Press Release

Estelle Clerc | CEO CellX Biosolutions AG

USING BACTERIA AS MASTER RECYCLERS

Chemical waste is mostly treated by burning or filtering, which is expensive, inefficient, and releases harmful CO₂. This startup offers a natural alternative by using special bacteria that break down toxic chemicals like PFAS, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. Developed at ETH Zurich, their technology finds and captures the best bacteria for the job, turning them into eco-friendly products that safely remove pollution. Starting in 2025, they will launch pilot projects with industry partners to make chemical waste treatment more sustainable and affordable.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

The W.A. de Vigier Award is the oldest award for young entrepreneurs in Switzerland and also one of the most highly endowed Swiss startup prizes. Over the past 36 years, the foundation has distributed almost CHF 15 million of seed money. The results are over 100 flourishing startups, successful IPOs, multiple company exits and above all, many newly created jobs.

The following aspects are relevant for the evaluation of the projects: The entrepreneurial personality, the degree of innovation, the value for society as a whole, the technical and financial viability, market prospects and the potential for job creation.

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