CELLINK

CELLINK is a Sweden-based bio-tech company that commercializes bioinks for 3D bioprinting of human organs and tissue. The company stands as the first bioink company in the world. These bioinks could potentially be utilized in a wide ranges of targets in the biotech field, including tissue engineering, cancer research, disease models, [...] testing.

History

CELLINK AB was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden on January 27, 2016. The company originated from a collaboration between a consulting company, Chalmers University of Technology and other industrial partners. The purpose of the collaboration was to find a suitable biomaterial for 3D bioprinting of human cartilage.

Erik Gatenholm, co-founder and CEO of CELLINK, started his first biomedical device company known as BC Genesis at age 18 in Blacksburg, Virginia in 2008 to commercialize a licensed university technology. BC Genesis focused on developing cellulose based medical implants for applications such as meniscus/cartilage repair as well as surgical meshes. In 2014, Erik moved to Sweden to complete his MBA at Gothenburg University, focusing on the commercialization of biotechnology startups. After meeting Hector Martinez at Chalmers University in late 2014, they begun to work to commercialize the biomaterial innovation behind CELLINK. Gatenholm and Martinez realized the potential for the new biomaterial as a printable material and founded the company CELLINK to provide bioinks to the 3D printing field.

On November 3, 2016, CELLINK was listed on Nasdaq First North 10 months after founding. The IPO garnered great interest and was oversubscribed by 1070%, raising 23 million SEK for the company.

CELLINK mission statement on its website is the following

"Our vision is to create the future of medicine by creating the necessary tools for experts the world over to bioprint living human organs and tissue. We strive to make the bioprinting technology as accessible, user friendly and high performing as possible. We also collaborate with different organizations over the globe in pursuit of the same goal."

Products and services

CELLINK offers bioinks, 3D Bioprinters, and other consumables for research applications in the field of 3D bioprinting. The company seeks to provide both versatile, mobile 3D printers along with a portfolio of bioinks for the printing of mammalian tissues.

Currently, CELLINK offers two bioprinters, the INKREDIBLE and INKREDIBLE+, the major difference between The Two being the Clean Chamber Technology and the Heated Cartridge holders in the INKREDIBLE+.

Additionally, CELLINK offers several ready to use bioinks including CELLINK, CELLINK A, and CELLINK Start. Along with ready to use cell-mixer configurations for the printing of cellularized constructs.

Biotech Buzz

On November 23, 2016 CELLINK launched a podcast titled "Biotech Buzz". The podcast seeks to provide weekly InterViews with researchers, top industry executives and entrepreneurs in the biotech field. The short (10-20 minute) long podcasts seek to educate listeners on what is new in the biotech field.

Awards

• Winner "Swedish Exponential Startup of the Year" 2016 - Nordic start-up awards
• "33-List" - NyTeknink, Affärsvärlden
• Winner "Diamond of the Year Award" 2016 – FourierTransform"
• Winner "Innovator of the Year 2016" (Erik Gatenholm) - Universum and Danske Bank
• Winner "Young Entrepreneur of the Year (west Sweden) (Erik Gatenholm)" – Founders Alliance
• Winner "Swedish Innovation Award 2016"-Veckans Affärer
• Startup of the Year 2016 - Almedalen
• Audience Award 2016 - Serendipity Challenge, Almedalen
• Industrial Award of the Year 2016 - Serendipity Challenge, Almedalen
• SharkTank Gothenburg - Chalmers Ventures G-Lab21
• Top 3 Company in Sweden - Business Challenge

See also

• 3D bioprinting
• 3D cell culture
• Tissue engineering