Vaccines and biologics shouldn’t have to rely on refrigeration to stay effective but most still do. That’s exactly what South West-based EnsiliTech is working to change, with a technology that could transform how medicine is stored and delivered around the world.
EnsiliTech, crowned South West Regional Winner, Medtech & Healthcare StartUp of the Year, and Innovative StartUp of the Year at the 2025 StartUp Awards, is on a mission to make biological medicines more accessible, more sustainable, and far less dependent on refrigeration.
At the heart of their solution is a proprietary technology called ensilication, a patent-protected method that encases sensitive biomolecules in a protective silica shell, allowing them to survive extreme temperatures without degrading.
In simple terms: EnsiliTech enables vaccines and therapeutics to remain stable from; 80°C to +50°C, eliminating the need for constant refrigeration or freezing during transport and storage.
It’s a breakthrough with enormous implications, not just for healthcare systems, but for patients around the world.
Asel Sartbaeva, CEO of EnsiliTech has explained in past interviews, “removing the fridge dependence will have a truly game-changing impact on our ability to distribute vaccines all around the globe, and can help save millions of people.”
Each year, an estimated 1.5 million children die from vaccine-preventable diseases, often due to vaccine spoilage or delivery failures in areas lacking reliable refrigeration. The pharmaceutical industry, meanwhile, loses over $35 billion annually to cold chain-related spoilage. And the environmental toll is staggering: cold chain logistics account for up to 90% of emissions in vaccine distribution, contributing more than 1.5 billion tonnes of CO₂ in 2021 alone.
EnsiliTech’s innovation cuts to the core of these issues, stabilising antibodies, vaccines, and biologics without relying on energy-hungry refrigeration. Unlike other stabilisation techniques such as freeze-drying (lyophilisation), ensilication requires no harsh processing. It can be applied to existing formulations and opens up entirely new pathways for oral and mucosal vaccine delivery, both for humans and animals.
This flexible, future-facing technology isn’t just relevant for low-resource settings. It’s vital for a world grappling with climate impact, disrupted supply chains, and rising healthcare demand.
The judging panel at the South West StartUp Awards were clearly impressed. Recognising EnsiliTech’s scientific credibility, market potential and global impact, the panel awarded them not only the Innovative StartUp of the Year title but also, Medtech & Healthcare StartUp of the Year and South West StartUp regional winner, sending them through to the highly anticipated national finals this September.
Backed by a growing portfolio of research and IP, EnsiliTech is now seeking collaborators and partners, from pharmaceutical companies to researchers, who share their vision of a cold chain-free future. Whether the goal is to extend shelf life, expand access to remote regions, or reduce emissions, the team is keen to show how ensilication can be part of the solution.
As they prepare to take the national stage at Ideas Fest this September alongside the UK’s most inspiring founders and startups, the spotlight is only getting brighter for them.
We can’t wait to meet EnsiliTech at the UK StartUp Awards finals this September at Ideas Fest. If you’re passionate about innovation with real-world impact, grab your tickets, join the celebration, and see what the future of medicine looks like.
Click here: https://ideasfest.uk/ideas-fest-2025-tickets/