MIMO Biosciences, a biotech spin-off from Cima Universidad de Navarra, has been named Navarra’s most impactful startup at the 18th annual EmprendeXXI Awards. The recognition—co-organized by CaixaBank through its tech division DayOne, the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism via ENISA, and supported by CEIN (European Business and Innovation Centre of Navarra)—highlights the company’s groundbreaking preclinical research models for blood cancers.
Selected from 14 competing startups in Navarra, MIMO leverages unique animal models that replicate genetic alterations in hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma and lymphomas. These platforms accelerate the testing of novel therapies for pharmaceutical companies, building on 12 years of research at Cima Universidad de Navarra.
The award includes €6,000 in funding and strategic benefits:
- A Moonshot Thinking training program at ESADE business school
- An international immersion trip to Berlin facilitated by ICEX
- Access to Investor Days for networking with venture capital firms
- Membership in the AlumniXXI community of past award winners
Ricardo Pérez Merino, Director of MIMO Biosciences, acknowledged the significance: “This award recognizes our team’s daily efforts and validates our vision to transform cancer research” 3. The company recently secured a funding round with investors Sanitas, Gutinver, and Green Eyes to expand its proprietary models.
The ceremony featured Isabel Moreno (CaixaBank’s Ebro Regional Director) and Mikel Irujo (Navarra’s Minister of Industry and Digital Transition), underscoring institutional support for regional innovation. A jury of industry leaders from Cinfa, Grupo APEX, and Navarra’s top universities selected MIMO for its scientific rigor and market potential.
Founded in late 2023 after a push from pharmaceutical partner Bristol Myers Squibb, MIMO exemplifies Navarra’s thriving biotech ecosystem. The EmprendeXXI Awards—having distributed €9.1M to 525+ startups since 2007—will hold their national finals in Madrid on June 3.
