On the eve of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), two events were held in Nice, highlighting the growing role of health in innovation dynamics, international cooperation, and economic attractiveness.
Representing Team Nice Côte d’Azur, Sana Bouyahia took part in both of these structuring events, rooted in the local academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Nucleate France UniCA: biotech innovation as a driver of transformation
On June 4, the Demo Day of the Activator program by Nucleate France UniCA took place at the Palais de la Méditerranée. Concluding a high-impact 2025 edition, the event showcased startup projects in life sciences, medtech, and ecotechnologies, supported through this Harvard-inspired acceleration program.
Led by Université Côte d’Azur, with Sophie Demolombe (CNRS), Program Director, and Gaelle Youssef, Program Coordinator, Nucleate France UniCA focuses on developing academic founders by connecting them with an international network of mentors, investors, and industry players.
Sana Bouyahia participated in the panel discussion “Bridging Borders: Financing Biotech Startups Across Continents”, alongside Ronan Bouër (Syneos Health), Emilien Dugrand (Synapto Ventures), Jérémy Borie (Université Côte d’Azur), Soufiane Aboulhouda (Nucleate), and moderator Juan Garcia, to debate transcontinental financing levers for startups in life sciences.
A highlight moment to acknowledge the work of the teams and congratulate the winning startup born from scientific research:
🏆 Winner: Next Gen Sperm
🎯 Field: Bio – Diagnostics
👩🔬 Project lead: Therese Freire
🔬 Focus: Optimising sperm epigenetic profiles using selection methods to improve the health of future generations.
This participation underlines Team Nice Côte d’Azur’s commitment to supporting scientific talent in their transition to entrepreneurship, while strengthening links with international ecosystems.
One Health: building a sustainable and healthy Mediterranean
On June 5, IMREDD – Université Côte d’Azur hosted the international forum One Health – Well-Being and Sustainability in the Blue Economy, bringing together researchers, businesses, and public stakeholders from France, Italy, and Monaco. This cross-border event was part of the lead-up to UNOC-3.
Sana Bouyahia took part in the pitching session, highlighting the importance of such platforms for fostering cooperation between coastal regions around shared issues: human health, environmental resilience, and economic sustainability.
Organised by IMREDD and San Raffaele Hospital (Milan), with the support of Ocean Rise, the Consulate General of Italy, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, the Department, and the City of Nice, this initiative demonstrated how health can structure transversal approaches in the blue economy. It offers an operational framework for developing integrated projects at the interface of science, public policy, and territorial innovation.
