From sweat-analyzing sports patches to 3D-printed artificial bone implants, VivaTech showcased a wide range of surprising breakthroughs.
3D-Printed Implants
Berlin-based company Blueprint Biomed has developed an artificial alternative to bone implants used every year in millions of patients to support bone healing.
“With this, we no longer need to use autologous bone grafts (taken from the patient’s own body),” CEO Aaron Herrera told AFP.
He noted that autologous implants can fail, require additional surgery, or cause complications.
Blueprint Biomed’s artificial implants are made from a resorbable biopolymer called polycaprolactone, combined with collagen and produced via 3D printing. These materials are gradually absorbed by the body—collagen within about three months and polycaprolactone within up to two years.
The company aims to raise $2.5 million to prepare human clinical trials, with the goal of implanting its products in patients by 2028.
Drone Motors with a Futuristic Design
Quadcopter drones are widely used for aerial shows and even battlefield applications due to their high maneuverability. But Austrian startup CycloTech believes it can push agility even further with its cylindrical, futuristic-looking propulsion system featuring rotating blades along the sides.
“It can hover like a helicopter, move forward like an airplane, but also brake mid-air or fly backward,” explained Andrea Marchsteiner, the company’s marketing manager.
This increased flexibility could be particularly useful for urban deliveries and passenger transport.
CycloTech, which employs 65 people and has already raised €40 million, is now seeking additional funding and industrial partners to integrate its motors into commercial aircraft.
Deepfake Voice Detector
As AI-generated audio deepfakes become more sophisticated—allowing scammers to mimic loved ones with just seconds of recorded speech—French startup Whispeak claims to have developed a system capable of detecting and filtering fraudulent calls.
“With less than ten seconds of voice recording, you can imitate anyone, often for free,” said CEO Florent Van Calster.
Whispeak says its system is “the best audio deepfake detector in the world,” developed over three years of research.
Still in testing, the company is working with French telecom operator Bouygues Telecom to flag suspicious calls and alert users in real time.
Its reported average error rate is below 1%, though the company acknowledges that the rapid evolution of generative AI makes this an ongoing technological arms race.
High-Tech Sweat Patch
To help elite athletes monitor health indicators, Hong Kong-based startup PointFit has developed an adhesive patch capable of measuring glucose and cortisol levels through sweat.
CEO Kenny Oktavius told AFP he began working on the technology in 2019 while still a student.
The system generates a personalized “sweat index” using AI, adjusting results based on external factors such as temperature.
PointFit already collaborates with brands such as Red Bull and Puma, and now aims to expand into retail distribution, targeting potential partners including Decathlon and EssilorLuxottica.
