"I have been fortunate to have been part of a cutting-edge group in Nutrition and health."

Usune Etxeberria finished his Degree and decided on the Master's Degree E-MENU at the University of Navarra. Finished the postgraduate program, he launched into the adventure of doctorate, and at the end of it he did not hesitate to embark on a new challenge which they have called Idomics Biotech.

As the former student of School Pharmacy and Nutrition recalls, the idea came "as a logical consequence of a clear market demand, which was to provide personalized answers in the field of sports and health". In this field, Usune thought that the omics sciences (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) represented a high potential tool to be able to give more personalized recommendations.

At the moment, her business is at an initial stage, as they are developing pilot projects. "One of them," explains the former student, "is being carried out with the sports medicine unit of one of the leading clinics in the Basque Country. "We are also studying a possible alliance at the European level to develop joint projects," she adds.

result Like all start-ups, Usune knows that starting up a star-up is not easy: "For us, the support and financial aid of Caja Rural and Emprendimiento Universidad de Navarra has been vital, as well as the backing we have had from the beginning from Bic Gipuzkoa (the Business Innovation Center of Gipuzkoa) and the Basque institutions".

In the short-medium deadline, Idomics Biotech expects to be able to validate the starting hypotheses and define a competitive business model , including the digital area , to launch in early 2018.

Nutrition: a megatrend in business

Usune remembers her time at School - and more specifically the completion of Master's Degree E-MENU - as a real introduction to the world of research: "During the year of Master's Degree I acquired the necessary tools to analyze in depth the world of Food and Health, and thus investigate possible areas of improvement and business based on the use of the scientific method". That experience prompted her to do the doctorate at department from Food Science and Physiology: "I was convinced that the knowledge I would acquire would broaden my future career opportunities", and so it did.

"Personally," he stresses, "I think I have been very fortunate to have been part of a group of research at the forefront in the field of nutrition and health. For me, the training received and the work made during these years have led me to be where I want to be".

After starting out in the business world, the doctor in Nutrition believes that the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation should be established from an early age: "Young people, society in general, are faced with an environment of continuous change, which requires anticipating and seeking business opportunities. However, the generation of new ideas is not enough; we must encourage young people to have a proactive attitude. Encourage them to take risks and carry out their ideas or projects".

The University, in this area, has a fundamental role, in his point of view: "Above all for promote the transfer of the research done and the knowledge generated to society. For example, through the creation of new spin-offs or through interaction with the business world".

Regarding the business opportunities at area in Nutrition and Health, Usune believes that this field will represent a real megatrend for companies: "We know that we have to respond to different variables -such as the aging of the population, the increase in obesity and other metabolic diseases-; there is also a growing concern among the population to lead healthier lifestyles. All this has led to the creation of new market niches around personalized attention in general and, in particular, the personalization of nutrition," concludes the former student and entrepreneur.