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Winners of pitching contest

Six startups and innovation projects took part in the pitch contest held at the Norway Life Science Conference 2026. The health tech company Eupnea, represented by two medical students, took first place.

Picture of winners and the panel after the contest.

The winners of the pitching contest together with the panel. From left: Carl Henrik G?rbitz, Sol Agnete Stene Aglen, Henriette Flesland Simonsen, Esmaeil Dorraji, Anette Weyergang, Maria Holmqvist, Arnt-Ove Hovden, ?ystein Bach and Morten Egeberg. Photo: Jarli&Jordan/University in Oslo.??

The participants had five minutes each to pitch their business idea. Afterwards a jury, which consisted of?Arnt-Ove Hovden,Therapeutical Area Lead Cardio, Renal and Metabolic diseases, AstraZeneca, Maria Holmqvist, Medical Director Scandinavia, AbbVie and ?ystein Bach, ?ystein Bach, Marketing Director, Novartis.

The competition was strong, and presenter Morten Egeberg, leader of UiO:Life Sciences' innovation programme SPARK Norway, said, said he was very impressed with the high standard of this year’s participants. Sol Agnete Stene Aglen and Henriette Flesland Simonsen, both usability engineers at Eupnea, pitched together and took the top spot. In second place was the startup Rab Diagnostics, represented by CEO Anette Weyergang, while third place went to ImmunoQuest Therapeutics, represented by CSO Esmaeil Dorraji.

The prizes were mentoring sessions from the sponsors AstraZeneca, AbbVie and Novartis.

Participants

  • Rab Diagnostics, Anette Weyergang, CEO
  • Eupnea, Sol Agnete Stene Aglen, Usability Engineer og Henriette Flesland Simonsen, Usability Engineer
  • Autologous cell-based therapy for coagulation factor deficiency, Giacomo Roman, Universitetet i Oslo and Oslo universitetetsykehus
  • Possibia, Gaute Naespe, CEO
  • Engineered NK-EVs for Targeted Therapy in Breast Cancer, Marit Inngjerdingen, Universitetet i Oslo
  • ImmunoQuest Therapeutics, Esmaeil Dorraji, CSO

Panel:?

  • Arnt-Ove Hovden, Therapeutical Area Lead Cardio, Renal and Metabolic diseases, AstraZeneca
  • Maria Holmqvist, Medical Director Scandinavia, AbbVie
  • ?ystein Bach, Marketing Director, Novartis

Host:?

  • Morten Egeberg, Leader SPARK Norway and Administrative Leader UiO:Life Science
Published Feb. 12, 2026 2:16 PM - Last modified Feb. 13, 2026 7:50 AM