NATO Innovation Fund Invests $35M In Portal Biotech To Boost Biosecurity

NATO

The NATO Innovation Fund announced on Monday that it has made its first-ever investment — backing a biotechnology company as part of efforts to strengthen protection against biological threats.

The fund is helping lead a $35 million funding round for Portal Biotech, a UK-based company that uses advanced protein sequencing technology to detect and defend against engineered biological threats.

Ana Bernardo-Gancedo, a senior associate at the NATO Innovation Fund, emphasized the importance of this technology: “We believe it’s critical to be able to detect, monitor, and respond to biological risks.”

Launched in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the NATO Innovation Fund plans to invest over $1 billion in new technologies aimed at improving the alliance’s defence systems.

Portal Biotech’s approach combines artificial intelligence with biological sensors that operate at the single-molecule level. These tools can deliver results in just a few hours, right on-site, without the need for large laboratories.

“This isn’t just for disease detection — it can help prevent future pandemics,” said Portal Biotech CEO Andy Heron. “Instead of waiting days for lab results, we can take this technology into the field.”

Heron explained that their tools can identify any kind of pathogen and can be used to monitor environments like farmland or water supplies. “It doesn’t just find known threats; it also picks up unknown ones,” he added.

Besides improving biosecurity, the company sees potential for its portable devices to be used in drug development and personalized medicine.

Other major investors in Portal Biotech include Earlybird Venture Capital, Science Creates VC, Pillar VC, 8VC, We VC, and the British Business Bank.

Highlights:

NATO Innovation Fund announces first investment in UK-based biotech startup Portal Biotech.
$35 million raised to strengthen biosecurity and defence against biological warfare.
Portal Biotech uses AI-powered protein sequencing and sensors to detect pathogens on-site within hours.
Technology can monitor unknown and known threats in real-time, aiding pandemic prevention.
Potential applications include drug discovery and precision medicine.
Backed by investors including Earlybird VC, British Business Bank, and others.

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