UV-C disinfection technology that reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections

UVC Solutions d.o.o. is a Slovenia-based enterprise that developed SteriPro, a smart UV-C disinfection technology solution, which is clinically proven to dramatically help reduce hospital-acquired infections leaving hospital room surfaces adequately cleaned as it renders the vast majority of microbes harmless and sterile. The development of the UV-C module, which is the result of work of Slovenian experts and scientists, was supported by the European Regional Development Fund under the call for proposals for co-financing innovative enterprises.

Why UV-C?

Hospital-acquired infections impact around 3.2 million people in Europe and cost between EUR 5.5 and EUR 7 million per year. Moreover, hospital-associated infections contribute to additional 16 million days of hospital stays and cause 37,000 deaths per year in the EU alone. Research has shown that manual cleaning and chemical disinfection leave less than 50% of hospital room surfaces adequately cleaned (source: beneficiary).

How does UV-C disinfection work?

Ultraviolet light in the germicidal wavelength, at around 254 nm, renders the organisms, i.e. bacteria, viruses, microbes sterile. Wavelengths in the UV-C range are particularly damaging to cells because they are absorbed by proteins, RNA, and DNA. SteriPro‘s sensors automatically determine the room size and suggest the necessary duration of the disinfection cycle. For a standard hospital room just 10 minutes cycle, and for the operating theatre around 20 minutes cycle is enough to ensure a healthier environment for the patients and the personnel. SteriPro can be positioned in a single position to reach and disinfect the entire room. Its expandable system enables better angle of radiation and can reach all high-touch surfaces in a single disinfection cycle. SteriPro can be used to disinfect every room and even ambulance vehicles.

Additional funding

The enterprise UVC Solutions d.o.o. received EU support under the public call for proposals to co-finance participation of enterprises in international trade shows and under the voucher for market research of foreign markets. The findings of the research helped them identify appropriate sales channels and market opportunities in international markets and monitor their competition.

The EU support that the enterprise received for the development of the SteriPro technological solution totalled EUR 69,000.

"EU funding is often the decisive driving force behind the innovators' decision to turn their idea into a reality. Financial support is key in terms of helping start-ups stand on their own feet. At the end of the day, globally speaking, it is the start-ups that are the top generators of innovative solutions", says Matej Rajek.