European Research and Innovation Days: SCALPEL, Collaboration and Impact

The European Research and Innovation Days on 16-17 September 2025 is the European Commission’s annual flagship event, bringing together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders and the wider innovation community to shape the future of science and innovation. The event highlights how research and innovation fuel Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability and societal impact.

SCALPEL, a European Innovation Council funded project, is a powerful example of how EU-funded research is pioneering new ways to tackle some of society’s most pressing health challenges. SCALPEL is developing a next-generation cancer therapy that merges the precision of photomedicine with the lasting protection of immunotherapy. The project’s light-activated approach aims to eliminate solid tumours while stimulating the immune system to prevent recurrence — a potential paradigm shift in cancer treatment.

A key strength of SCALPEL lies in its cross-disciplinary structure, bringing together photobiologists, immunologists, chemists and industry experts. Among them is PorphyChem, a French chemical company specialising in photoactive molecules. Within SCALPEL, PorphyChem develops and characterizes innovative photosensitizers, such as amphiphilic porphyrins and chlorins, that are central to the light-triggered treatment strategy. Their involvement demonstrates how research and industry collaboration is essential for translating scientific discovery into scalable, real-world innovation.

“As a company, we are committed to advancing the potential of photosensitization across health and industrial applications,” said Dr Benoit Habermeyer, Senior Researcher at PorphyChem. “By working side by side with academic and clinical partners in SCALPEL, we contribute to developing a therapy that could one day transform cancer treatment in Europe and beyond.”

By bridging academic excellence with industrial expertise, SCALPEL embodies the spirit of the European Research and Innovation Days: collaborative, ambitious and impact-driven. The project not only pushes the boundaries of biomedical research but also strengthens Europe’s position as a global leader in innovation that serves society.