Objective
80,000 people across Europe contract at least one Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI). 37,000 people in Europe die from so-called super bacterium (USA 99,000 deaths). Annual financial losses are estimated at €7 billion in Europe, including direct costs, reflecting 16 million extra days of hospital stay and $6.5 billion in the USA. This problem can be dealt with using efficient and effective cleaning and disinfection systems. Current cleaning and disinfection methods, however, are neither efficient nor effective. They use on average 30 litres of water, are not consistent, take more than 20 minutes and are physically demanding on workers. They employ toxic chemicals/detergents and most hospitals do not follow recommendations for their appropriate use. These cleaning methods are also energy craving and are not possible for advanced hospital beds and mattresses. WEBER Hospital Systems is developing a solution to these challenges – VDS. It is an automated, precision cleaning system combining environmental sustainability, performance consistency, validated cleaning and disinfection quality using steam. Our value proposition is a system that does not require any chemicals, uses less than 12 litres of water and less than 5kW of power, has a quick cleaning process – 6 minutes, is automated, reduces cost of ownership by 35%, uses robotic precision, is fully auditable and reduces overall carbon footprint by 65%. Target users are the hospitals. The Washer-Disinfectors market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% in ten years and will reach €6.15Bn in 2028. Our initial market is Europe. VDS is currently at prototype stage. The purpose of the Accelerator project is to carry out system optimization, validation and certification, along with pre-commercialisation activities. Our market share is projected at 2-3% of the global market with cumulative revenues of €97.6 million by 2025. It will create employment for 133 people.
Field of science
- /social sciences/economics and business/business and management/commerce
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-3
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
SME-2b - SME Instrument (grant only and blended finance)Coordinator
1689 AP Zwaag
Netherlands
