Keeping wood destroying fungi at bay

Empa-Spin-off wins financial support

Sep 16, 2016 | MICHAEL HAGMANN
Swisscom Ventures and Reto Vincenz are contributing to a seed-financing round for MycoSolutions AG, an Empa, St. Gallen, spin-off company. This start-up support should allow the new firm to break into the international market and expand production at its St Gallen site. Reto Vincenz will in addition take over the operational management as CEO.
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MycoSolutions develops niche products based on indigenous organisms which are used to combat wood destroying fungi in a biological and environmentally responsible manner. These products are used for applications such as protecting wooden masts, urban tree populations or in ecologically-based agricultural activities. In addition «MycoWood» products include, for example, violins which are made out of biotechnologically refined tonewood whose acoustic qualities are so enhanced that they stand comparison with priceless instruments by Stradivarius.

Francis Schwarze, Empa researcher and founder of MycoSolutions, has over many years conducted numerous studies on the biological control of fungi which attack wood in Europe, Australia and Asia. Amongst other achievements he has developed new screening methods which allow the efficient identification and selection of promising biological agents.

Swisscom has joined Empa and MycoSolutions as the industrial partner over the past two years within the framework of a CTI sponsored project. It is now supporting the young enterprise in the industrial implementation phase of its work, with particular emphasis on the applications of MycoSolutions’ products to Swisscom’s landline infrastructure. «Swisscom’s support, together with the associated financial injection, makes it possible for us to globally market the results of our many years’ of research at Empa in the form of innovative and environmentally friendly products», says Schwarze.

Mit Pilzen Klangholz veredeln

Myco Solutions - ein Start-up der Empa

MycoSolutions entwickeln Nischenprodukte aus einheimischen Nützlingen, die zur biologischen Kontrolle gegen holzzerstörende Pilzen etwa an Holzmasten, Stadtbäumen oder im Biolandbau eingesetzt werden können. Die MycoSolutions-Produkte befinden sich derzeit im Registrierungsprozess. http://www.mycosolutions.swiss (16.09.2016)

Information

Reto Vincenz
MycoSolutions AG, CEO
Phone +41 71 244 62 62

 

Editor / Media contact

Dr. Michael Hagmann
Empa, Communication
Phone +41 58 765 45 92


About MycoSolutions AG
MycoSolutions AG is a spin-off from Empa, St. Gallen’s, Applied Wood Research Laboratory, and leases premises in the Startfeld Innovation Centre. The young enterprise is focusing on the manufacture and marketing of products which find application in integrated pest management schemes. Under the management of CEO Reto Vincenz, MycoSolutions is striving to break into the international market for wood protection and preservation, plant fortifying agents and soil additives. For further information please go to www.mycosolutions.swiss

About Swisscom Ventures
Swisscom Ventures is the risk capital division of the Swisscom group, the leading telecommunications and IT enterprise in Switzerland. Since its establishment in 2007, Swisscom Ventures has taken minority holdings in more than 40 companies, primarily active in the digital media, IT and telecommunication branches.