ENEA Tech and Biomedical Foundation has invested 4 million euros in Nextsense S.r.l., an innovative SME based in Salerno that develops advanced solutions for environmental sanitation through LED technology completely free of UV rays. The operation is part of a €5 million Series A funding round, completed with the participation of Angelini Investments (€1 million), already a shareholder of the company.
Founded in 2015 and part of the P&P Patents and Technologies group, Nextsense has developed Biovitae, the only patented technology in the world capable of continuously and safely sanitizing air, surfaces, and water through a specific combination of LED frequencies within the visible spectrum (400-420 nm, Soret band). This lighting system works through a photodynamic mechanism that inactivates viruses, bacteria, spores, fungi, and other pathogenic microorganisms – including the SARS-CoV-2 virus – in a passive and uninterrupted way, simply by keeping the light on. Completely harmless to humans and animals, it can be installed anywhere: hospitals, schools, homes, means of transport, industrial, and public environments.
The Foundation’s investment aims to support the opening of an industrial research center dedicated to studying the applications of visible light in the biomedical field, the development of medical devices based on Biovitae® technology, new patent projects, and the strengthening of market entry activities in the healthcare, public, and private sectors at both national and international levels.
Nextsense participates in major international initiatives, including the Joint Research Platform for Healthcare Infrastructures of the Politecnico di Milano and the Private Organisations for Patients Safety – Injection Safety group promoted by the World Health Organization. The Biovitae technology has received independent scientific validation from institutions such as the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology (Germany), the Swedish Defence Research Agency, and the Celio Military Hospital. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology demonstrated Biovitae’s ability to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load by up to 99.8%, confirming the effectiveness of visible light as a safe alternative to UV sanitation.
Recent industrial partnerships also confirm Biovitae’s potential for integration into everyday technologies: by 2025, Biovitae will be incorporated into the world’s first actively sanitizing dishwasher (Haier I-Pro Shine). Moreover, Biovitae systems are already operational at Rome Fiumicino Airport, the U.C. Sampdoria sports center, and the Venice Architecture Biennale, in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano.
This intervention by the Foundation is part of its broader investment strategy in technologies that are strategic for the country’s development, with particular focus on innovative medicine, infection prevention, and the promotion of more sustainable healthcare models.
