Austrian start-up's 'rappid' tool slashes food bacteria detection to hours

An Austrian start-up has won a national award for its innovative diagnostic tool. imd Biotech received the Phoenix Award in the Prototype category for its 'rappid' platform. The device promises faster detection of harmful bacteria in food. The Austrian Phoenix Start-up Award celebrates creative and sustainable projects. This year, 129 spin-offs and start-ups from across the country applied. The award recognises achievements in four areas: Start-up, Spin-off, Prototype, and Female Entrepreneurs.

imd Biotech, a spin-off from the University of Vienna, developed the 'rappid' diagnostic platform. The team behind it includes Thomas Werzer, Christian Zafiu, Kerrin Steensen, Martin Hammerschmid, and Peter Werzer. Their invention combines incubation with real-time detection, allowing for immediate analysis.

Unlike traditional lab-based methods, 'rappid' works independently and on-site. It can identify bacterial contamination in food within hours, not days. In real-world testing, it successfully detected the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The 'rappid' platform cuts testing time from two days to a few hours. This could change how food safety is monitored. The win highlights the potential of university spin-offs in addressing practical challenges.