Editor's note: This article is written by Eveline Lamers and is featured in the High Tech Campus special edition of Frits Magazine. It is published here with permission.
At High Tech Campus Eindhoven, companies are developing technologies that advance sectors like healthcare. One such company, Salvia BioElectronics, is working on a promising method to relieve and prevent migraines. “There are millions of people whose lives have been overtaken by chronic migraines. We want to give them their lives back.”
A paper-thin implant, placed just under the skin at the forehead and back of the head, is the innovative solution from Salvia BioElectronics aimed at alleviating and preventing migraines. “What we do is communicate with the nervous system. Just as a pacemaker restores heart rhythm, this therapy is designed to calm the nerves involved in migraines,” explains Hubert Martens, CEO and one of the three co-founders. “Patients with this paper-thin implant also receive an external headset. With the push of a button, they can start their therapy themselves—an hour in the morning and evening for prevention or as needed when they feel a migraine attack coming on.”
The company, based at High Tech Campus, aims to make a significant difference for a large group of people. Hubert explains, “Chronic migraines affect one to two percent of the global population. Patients are primarily young women, around thirty years old. Many don’t find sufficient relief with current therapies or medication, leaving them unable to work and missing out on large parts of their social lives. Some are even hesitant to start a family because of their condition. With our therapy, we want to give them hope for a brighter future.”
The migraine therapy was first conceived in 2017 on a whiteboard by Hubert and co-founders Daniel Schobben and Wim Pollet. Seven years later, the startup has evolved into a medical company conducting studies in Europe and Australia to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the implant. Early test results are very promising. “We sometimes receive letters from patients expressing what the therapy has meant for them. That’s incredibly special. But more and larger studies are needed to prove its effectiveness.” The ultimate goal: within a few years, migraine patients worldwide should have the option to choose this therapy from their neurologists.
Today, a team of 50 people—43 percent of whom are women, representing 15 nationalities—is working toward this shared mission. The choice to operate from High Tech Campus is deliberate. Hubert says, “It’s a fantastic environment—green, with great facilities, and perfect for our team. Plus, the proximity of technical expertise and infrastructure from other high-tech companies gives us the opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge.”
Hubert is proud of how far Salvia has come but acknowledges the challenges they’ve faced over the years. “As a medical company, you have a significant impact on people’s lives. Our product has to be safe and reliable, which means extensive research and testing. Bringing a safe product to market is a long journey that requires tremendous perseverance.” His advice for other entrepreneurs? “Keep going. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You can’t prepare for every obstacle or waste energy worrying about them. What matters is how you respond and that you push through.”
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