A glimpse into the future of tech from the winners of the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award

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Towards the end of last year, the winners of the 16th edition of the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Awards (AmSIA) were announced at the NEMO Science Museum.

This competition — hosted by the Innovation Exchange Amsterdam (IXA) — highlights three innovative ideas from the Netherlands each year. These are split into three categories: health, society, and environment & climate.

Beyond simply spotlighting the fascinating minds behind these inventions, the event also helps make them a reality. For winners, this not only means a €10,000 cash prize for funding, but also access to a community of experts who can help their growth.

Here at TNW, we’re always excited about what’s at the forefront of European technology, so we spoke to each of the three winners to find out more about their work.

Health category winner: Dr. Zeliha Guler and the wound-healing implant

Dr. Zeliha Guler, PhD, is a senior researcher and Principal Investigator in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Amsterdam UMC.

She won the health category at AmSIA for her work on a dissolvable implant for the treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP).

“POP is a multifactorial disease characterised by the descent of the pelvic floor due to loss of tissue strength, and compromised quality of the extracellular matrix,” Guler tells me.

The leading cause of pelvic floor disorders is childbirth, and “the risk for POP may increase by up to 60% for women who have given birth and those over 50.”

A portrait photo of Dr. Zeliha Guler in a black jacket and white t-shirt