Viralert initiative: nanotechnology and rapid tests should help curb coronavirus

In the fight against the coronavirus, companies are joining forces to develop and produce new testing methods and possible vaccines. This is also happening with the Viralert initiative: companies active in nanotechnology, among other things, have been working since the end of March on methods to test smarter in order to mitigate and contain the virus.

By: Dimitri Reijerman

We spoke to one of the initiators. Ronny van 't Oever, chairman of MinacNed and CEO of lab-on-a-chip company Micronit, started Viralert together with Per Slycke (XSens). He explains the goal of the platform: “It is an initiative of a number of entrepreneurs and experts who put their heads together in response to a call from the government to think about how we can get out of this crisis. We want to gather entrepreneurial spirits in the field of high-tech and innovative areas. We are working on nano solutions to test for the coronavirus, but also on options to develop and administer medicines faster.”

Crucial to prevent further spread of the Covid-19 virus is the development of rapid tests, says Van 't Oever. There are different ways to do this. “We believe very much in rapid tests. So not the sample to the lab, but on-site results so that you can also act immediately. This gives you more time for contact tracing and less chance that people unknowingly spread the virus further.”

He continues: “You need good quality tests for that, so tests that are just as sensitive and accurate as lab tests. I think we have the knowledge for that in the Netherlands. With Viralert we are also trying to build a value chain with mainly Dutch companies. That way we become less dependent on foreign countries.”

Viralert says it focuses primarily on bringing together entrepreneurial spirit and brainpower. Van 't Oever explains: “The knowledge is there, as is the infrastructure for production. It is now mainly about stringing all those facets together. So we want to organize the value chain from existing elements in order to have to redevelop as little as possible. There is now a large group ready to help and that has been offered to the government.”

Despite the current discussion about the feasibility of a mobile app to combat corona infections, Van 't Oever believes that such a method of contact tracing is necessary: “Being able to quickly find the people who have been in contact with you if you have been diagnosed with the virus is crucial. The faster you can do that, the sooner you can trace and quarantine everyone who is potentially infected.”

The parties behind Viralert have contacted the Ministry of Economic Affairs several times in recent weeks and have filed various ideas there. The ministry has connections with the government's Outbreak Management Team. "We are now waiting to hear what they really want," says Van 't Oever. "We think we really have something to offer, but these kinds of major decisions must be supported by the government."

Would you like more information? Visit the Viralert website.