Trialoog Editor
Olesja Bondarenko, co-founder and CEO of the Estonian startup Nanordica Medical and a TalTech alumna, won second place in the European Union Women Innovators Competition in the Women Leaders category, organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). She was awarded for her special therapeutic wound dressing.
Olesja Bondarenko, co-founder of the health technology startup Nanordica Medical, established in 2019 alongside Anna-Liisa Kubo and Grigory Vasiliev, has been awarded second place in the European Union Women Innovators Competition in the Women Leaders category, organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). She received the award for her special therapeutic wound dressing.
Nanordica Medical develops wound care products that not only prevent infections but also help wounds heal more quickly. The wound dressing uses a unique blend of silver and copper instead of traditional silver.
The company led by Bondarenko grew out of the Laboratory of Chemical and Biological Physics at the Institute of Physics. Research conducted at the laboratory revealed that combining silver and copper made the antibacterial effect in wound care up to six times stronger. This scientific discovery led to the idea of creating a wound dressing that would be significantly more effective than existing solutions.
The award came as a pleasant surprise to Bondarenko. “This will definitely open new doors. On the same day, I received multiple contacts from investors and potential partners,” she said.
“This will definitely open new doors. On the same day, I received multiple contacts from investors and potential partners.”
Currently, clinical trials of the product are taking place in leading hospitals in Spain, and they will soon expand to Estonia. “In April, we are expecting patients with diabetic foot ulcers to participate in the trials in Estonia.”
Progress has been hindered by the complex regulatory environment and the need to convince investors in the early stages of the company. “Each use case still requires separate approval from the Health Board and the Ethics Committee. We are working full speed to obtain the full marketing authorisation.”
To test the technology on the market, the company launched a veterinary wound dressing based on the same technology last year. The product is now available in several European countries and has received positive feedback from pet clinics.
When asked what advice she would give to a young woman considering combining science and entrepreneurship, Bondarenko simply and warmly responded: “Do it! Women tend to be modest and often think, ‘Why me?’ I thought the same. But if you are a woman and you are waiting for a sign from the universe to start a business, well, here it is,” Bondarenko said, offering encouragement.
“If you want to move fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Our team is amazing – we are driven by the desire to help millions of chronic wound patients.”
In conclusion, she emphasised that this recognition is a result of the whole team. “If you want to move fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Our team is amazing – we are driven by the desire to help millions of chronic wound patients.”
EIT Women Leaders category winners:
1st place: Débora Andreia Campelo Campos (AgroGrin Tech, Portugal) – food ingredients from fruit waste.
2nd place: Olesja Bondarenko (Nanordica Medical, Estonia).
3rd place: Elizabeth McGloughlin (Tympany Medical, Ireland) – next-generation endoscopes.
