2026 Innovation Awards: Ian Soulairol receives the “Coup de Cœur”
Every year, the University of Montpellier organizes the Innovation Awards through its University Innovation Hub (PUI) and in partnership with the Metropole. This competition aims to reward researchers who successfully transform their scientific discoveries into high-impact projects.
To celebrate this edition’s winners, the official award ceremony took place at the Orangerie in the Jardin des Plantes of Montpellier during an “Innovation Afterwork” event. It was during this evening that our co-founder officially received the special “Coup de Cœur” (Special Recognition) award, presented directly by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.
An award rooted in Montpellier’s academic research
It is precisely his dual role as an Associate Professor at the University of Montpellier and a hospital pharmacist at the Nîmes University Hospital (CHU) that is being honored today. This “Coup de Cœur” award, presented directly by the Metropole, highlights years of academic research dedicated to the 3D printing of medicines.
This fieldwork had already gained recognition during the Companies & Campus challenge with the 3Dpedia project, which laid the foundation for pediatric 3D printing in collaboration with the Nîmes University Hospital. Today, at MB Therapeutics, Ian Soulairol co-leads the scientific development of this technology to bring it into the daily routine of hospitals and patients.
Why 3D-printed medicines are gaining momentum
3D printing of medicines meets specific medical needs, particularly in pediatrics, where standard dosage forms are often ill-suited. This approach enables the production of custom-made treatments by precisely tailoring the active ingredient dose to a child’s weight and age. At the same time, it offers unique dosage forms and characteristics specifically designed to make daily administration easier, such as dispersible and orodispersible (fast-dissolving) tablets.
Next step : industrialization
This award validates a clear vision: transforming strong academic research into concrete innovation that directly serves patients. It reinforces MB Therapeutics’ ambition to deploy personalized medicine on a large scale.
