A 3D-printed stent developed by the Eurecat technology centre has received the award at the 9th National Congress of Entrepreneurial Scientists. The device, which is used to keep blood vessels open in cardiovascular procedures, has been recognized as an example of entrepreneurial science that is transforming Spain.
The researcher responsible for Eurecat’s Biomedical Manufacturing Technologies line, Antonio Guerra, has led the ST3DT project, which is based on tubular 3D stereolithography and has been described as “the first hybrid bio-inert 3D-printed stent”.
“Our idea is to change the way vascular stents are manufactured so that they are more anatomical and functional,” explained Antonio Guerra at the meeting of researchers, startups, investors and ecosystem stakeholders, held at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), co-organiser of the event together with the Damián Rodríguez Olivares Foundation (DRO Foundation) and the Botín Foundation, on 2 and 3 October.
“This stent is innovative because we manufacture it using our own additive technology, which allows us to personalize it to favour its integration and to combine materials for different pathologies. In principle, it is a material that does not react adversely when interacting with the body, so the support of drugs would not be necessary,” added the Eurecat researcher.
The idea, which originated at the University of Girona and has been incubated at the Eurecat technology centre, will begin its first in vivo trials in January 2026, after successfully completing the laboratory validation stage with positive results.
