Since 1987, Signal Iduna, together with the Hamburg Chamber of Crafts, has been awarding the Signal Iduna Environmental and Health AwardThe award recognizes individuals as well as small companies and institutions nationwide for innovative solutions in environmental, occupational, and health protection. The prize, which has been awarded every two years, carries a cash prize of €5,000.
This year's winners include the Munich-based startup Puray in the "Health" category. Founded in 2018, the medtech company is developing a medical catheter, which is continuously disinfected using UV-C light during treatment. This provides better protection for patients against wound infections. The technology is also effective against multi-resistant germs. The two co-founders of Puray, Martin Duffner and Eduardo Romero Borrero, accepted the award.
Martin Duffner says about the honor:
"This recognition fills us with pride and gratitude, and the moment of the award ceremony will remain a very fond memory for us. We greatly appreciate the tremendous support and are convinced that this award will help us greatly in the future."
Puray “has achieved a groundbreaking development”
Ulrich Leitermann, CEO of the Signal Iduna Group and laudator of the award ceremony, praised the startup:
"You have achieved a groundbreaking development. With a small, innovative device, you offer patients with indwelling catheters protection against infections, without the use of antibiotics. Your catheter represents a revolutionary solution—it not only solves a major problem for the affected patients, but also relieves the burden on the healthcare system by avoiding costs associated with complications."
Other award winners are the company Oldus in the “Environment” category, the Saar-Lor-Lux Environmental Center in the “Company Transformation” category and the Mannheim Climate Protection Agency in the “Consumer Transformation” category.
