19-21 May 2026
Bruges (Belgium)
Stay tuned
19-21 May 2026
Bruges (Belgium)

Pitch your innovation

Who can apply?

The Innovation Spotlight includes two pitch sessions featuring emerging technologies and emerging start-ups. New and emerging companies and entrepreneurial scientists with novel technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the animal health industry are encouraged to apply at the link below. 

Abstracts must be written in English and must be submitted as a Word file (xxx.docx) via the online submission form. The online submission form will be available in September.

Download the Abstract Template

The call for abstracts will open in September 2025.

How to apply?
  • All applications must be in English and contain only non-confidential data.
  • A separate application must be submitted for each proposal. The deadline for submission is 31 January 2026.

Disclaimer

  • All approved pitch applicants must be physically present at the DIAH Conference in Bruges, from 19 to 21 May 2026.
  • Attendance is mandatory throughout the event, including the Closing Session on Thursday, where the Innovation Spotlight Awards will be announced.
  • Registration fees are the responsibility of the applicants.
    • However, thanks to the generous support of STAR-IDAZ, the registration fees for two selected pitches will be fully covered.
      If selected, you’ll receive a free registration and the opportunity to present your pitch live at the conference!
Which technologies are expected?

The expected technologies are innovations related to animal health and/or animal welfare (diagnostics, prevention, vaccines, therapeutics, medical devices, e-health, etc.).
You need to indicate in which session you want to present your technology (see below: emerging technologies or emerging start-ups).

Evaluation and valorisation of applications

Projects will be evaluated by experts according to the following main criteria: scientific soundness, maturity, suitability for the veterinary market, technical aspects and innovation.

  • June 2025: Launch of the call for animal health projects / technologies
  • September 2025: Opening of submission of applications
  • End January 2026: Closure of the call for applications
  • February: Evaluation by the experts of the applications received and feedback to the applicants. The selected presenters can give an oral presentation during the "innovation spotlight" session.
Submission Deadline: 31 January 2026
1. Emerging technologies

Presenters: Entrepreneurial scientists who are developing an innovative animal health application based on a new technology.

Content:

  • Focus on new scientific breakthroughs that can lead to innovative applications related to animal health and/or welfare
  • Mode of action/scientific basis/soundness of the technology
  • Possible applications identified
  • Proof of concept at TRL 1-3
  • Intellectual property
  • First thoughts on cost of goods, regulatory aspects and manufacturing
  • Information on business case (market size, competition, …) is optional

Panel of experts who will select the pitches and will be in the panel at the conference:

  • Regulatory experts (regulatory department of animal health companies or EMA/National Agencies)
  • External Innovation department of animal health companies
  • Scientists (academia and/or industry)
2. Emerging start-ups

Presenters: Entrepreneurial scientists who are preparing a start-up that wants to market innovative animal health applications based on a new technology.

Content:

  • Focus on the gaps/needs in the animal health and/or welfare market that can be met with the technology
  • Mode of action/scientific basis/soundness of the technology
  • Applications that will be developed (pipeline)
  • Proof of concept at TRL 3-6
  • Intellectual property
  • Cost of goods, regulatory aspects and chemistry/manufacturing/upscaling
  • Information on business case (market size, competition, …) is required

Panel of experts who will select the pitches and will be in the panel at the conference:

  • Regulatory experts (regulatory department of animal health companies or EMA/National Agencies)
  • External Innovation and/or Business Development department of animal health companies
  • Investors

The call for pitches will open September 2025.

For abstracts on technologies providing solutions in the field of infectious diseases in livestock:

STAR-IDAZ IRC will sponsor (travel, accommodation and full pass up to a total max. of € 3,500 per selected pitch) for two scientists to present their innovation at the DIAH conference. The sponsored innovations should have a demonstrable impact on at least one of the STAR-IDAZ IRC priority topics and will be selected by the Advisory Committee. Early as well as advanced career scientists from outside of Europe are specifically encouraged to apply.

What previous award winners tell about DIAH

I enjoyed being a part of DIAH, it was a great experience. Thanks to DIAH, we met our first potential investor. Since then, we put our products on the market as we got strong pull from the market. Our products are now being sold in 5 EU countries, USA and Singapore.“ - Jelena Suran -

Looking back, winning the Innovation Spotlight Award at the first DIAH conference in February 2024 was a pivotal moment for our lab. The award recognized our presentation on using bacteriophages to prevent Johne’s disease in dairy calves, a novel approach that was shortly after published in PNAS. The award sponsor, SYVA, clearly saw the potential in our work and initiated discussions that have since led to a formal collaborative research agreement with the University of Calgary to develop the phages into a commercial product. Building on this momentum, our lab is now advancing several related projects, including engineering the phages to be strictly lytic and easier to produce, improving our phage-editing toolkit, and exploring unique traits like mucus binding. We’ve grown into a dedicated phage team at UCalgary, focused not only on Johne’s disease but also on extending phage applications to other cattle diseases. - Jeroen De Buck -