Tecnimede – Sociedade Técnico-Medicinal S.A. (henceforth “Tecnimede”) is the sponsor of the Tecnimede Open Innovation Competition in Pharmaceutical Technology (henceforth Competition) and HiSeedTech – Associação para a Valorização do Conhecimento (henceforth HiSeedTech) manages the competition.

This document establishes the rules for participants in the Competition, which selects the winner of the Jorge Ruas Award.

Tecnimede and HiSeedTech reserve the right to modify the rules of the Competition at any time. Changes will be announced on the Competition website and communicated via email to all registered participants.

The Competition provides research groups, startups, companies and innovators a unique opportunity to propose groundbreaking innovations in the field of Pharmaceutical Technology. The Competition, in general, and the Jorge Ruas Award, specifically, will reward projects in specific categories that, for each year’s call, will be detailed in the annual call for applications and may include fields such as drug repurposing, drug discovery, manufacturing processes, digital health, personalised medicine, AI and machine learning applications, nanotechnology, and other emerging topics.

The Jorge Ruas Award on Pharmaceutical Technology will recognize one of the groundbreaking innovations selected by an international judging panel of distinguished academics and businesspeople from the pharmaceutical technology field.

The Award includes a prize money in the amount of €100.000 in addition to business development services, technology development services, regulatory support, and IP protection support.

Except where prohibited by law, all tax liabilities are the responsibility of the Award winner. Tecnimede will not be responsible for any tax deductions which may be necessary. Participants acknowledge that they will not be entitled to any additional payment by reason of the Award being subject to any tax, levy, or other charge in any jurisdiction.

The projects selected for the Competition final can be invited to, with the support of Tecnimede, to improve the business case that stems from the materials in the application form (see Application Submission section).

Tecnimede will then evaluate the improved development plan and will decide if it will invest in its development against an option to license the IP.

Each Participant must be eligible to participate in the Competition and comply with the Terms, or such Participant or its Participant Team may be disqualified. An individual is permitted to be part of more than one Participant Team and may enter as part of a Participant Team and/or as a solo participant. Each Participant Team must elect one (1) Participant to be considered its “Team Representative” for Entry purposes.

Separately, certain individuals or entities are not eligible to participate in the Competition, including Tecnimede and HiSeedTech employees, interns, contractors, representatives, agents, official officeholders, directors, officers, and the immediate family members (such as parents, siblings, children, spouses, life partners);

If Participant is entering as part of a company or on behalf of an employer, these Terms are binding on Participant as well as the employer. If Participant is acting within the scope of their employment or otherwise as an agent in submitting an Entry—e.g., as an employee, contractor, or agent of another party—Participant represents and warrants that the employer or party they are acting for has full knowledge of Participant’s actions and has consented thereto, including to these Terms and Participant’s potential receipt of the Jorge Ruas Award. Participant represents and warrants that Participant’s actions do not violate the employer or company’s policies and procedures.

By submitting an Entry Participant represents and warrants that their Entry complies with all local legal requirements, rules and regulations, that the Participant are legally eligible to receive a Jorge Ruas Award, if selected as a Jorge Ruas Award Winner, and that the Participant by submitting the Entry do not violate any local legal laws.

Tecnimede and HiSeedTech reserve the right to verify eligibility and to adjudicate on any dispute at any time in their sole discretion.

Participants are required to:

• Register for the Competition by submitting a complete application proposal via the official website (see Application Submission section),
• Each submission must be accurate and contain all required information.
• Submitted projects must (i) be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 3 and 7 and, if applicable, (ii) have secured IP rights and Freedom to Operate, (iii) foster breakthrough innovations with a direct impact on pharmaceutical technology advancements and (iv) embody a product, service, or process that is original and has a potential positive impact on patient care and National Health Systems, comply with regulations, and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

By submitting an Entry, the Participant accepts these Terms.

Applications must be submitted through the Competition website:
https://www.tecnimedeopeninnovation.com

Each applicant may submit more than one project if the projects are distinct in scope. Once submitted, applications cannot be modified. All applications must be written in English.

1. The application includes five parts:
   An online form with project information.
2. A development roadmap in the form of a Gantt chart.
3. A presentation of the project (max. 12 slides).
4. A letter stating the applicants’ motivation and collaboration sought.
5. A video (max. 5 minutes) presenting the applicant(s) and the project.

Items 2, 3 and 4 are to be uploaded in the format stated on the website.

By submitting an Entry, Participant represents and warrants that:
i. The Entry is the original work of Participant.
ii. Participant and, if applicable, Participant Team, has consented to the submission and use of the Entry in the Competition.
iii. The Entry does not contain any copyrighted material not owned by Participant or, if applicable, Participant Team and does not infringe the rights of any third party, including but not limited to rights of publicity or privacy, moral rights, intellectual property rights, or any other property rights.
iv. Participant has the right to present the Entry and to participate in the Competition, and there are no claims, judgments or settlements against or owed by Participant (1) relating to the Entry, (2) affecting Participant’s ability to submit the Entry or otherwise participate in the Competition, or (3) affecting any information contained in Participant’s Entry, including the accuracy or completeness thereof; and
v. The Entry only contains names/likeness/identifying elements of persons or other intellectual property which the authorized party(ies) have given Participant prior written consent to use.

In the Entry, Participant must disclose whether Participant:
a. has any currently active formal partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies; or
b. is a Health Care Organization (HCO).

Participant’s submission of the Entry is at Participant’s own responsibility and risk. Tecnimede and HiSeedTech shall not be liable for loss of data or illegal intrusion into any system by third parties.

The competition will accept a maximum of 100 valid applications.

Evaluation occurs in three stages: screening, selection, and competition.

1. Screening: Applications are screened for eligibility.
2. Selection: Eligible applications are evaluated by industry professionals that shortlist the applicants that will be interviewed remotely and select up to 10 finalists for the final event
3. Final event: The finalists present their projects at the final event, where a judging panel made of investors, corporates, academics and other relevant experts in the field will evaluate each project and select the winner.

The evaluation criteria used by both the selection and final event judging panels are presented in Annex A.
Once screening has been completed, participants with submitted applications will be notified by e-mail about the results of the Screening process. Once the selection process has been completed participants will be notified by email if they are shortlisted for the interview or not. After all the interviews have been conducted participants will be notified by email if they were selected (or mot) to pitch at the final event.

• 18th December 2024: applications submissions open at 9:00 GMT Portugal
• 7th March 2025: applications submissions close at 23:59 GMT Portugal (Please note that the submission period may end earlier if the maximum limit of 100 valid applications is reached before this date).
• 14th March 2025: applicants are notified if they are eligible for the next stage of the Competition
• 24th March 2025: eligible applicants are notified of the selection panel decision and shortlisted applicants will receive a link to schedule the interview.
• 1st April 2025 to 4th April 2025: interviews of the shortlisted applicants and selection of the teams for the championship final.
• 7th April 2025: shortlisted applicants are notified of the selection panel decision.
• 13th May 2025: Final Event and Award Ceremony: Lisbon area

By participating in the Competition, participants grant Tecnimede and HiSeedTech the right to reproduce, publish, adapt, use, or re-use their name, image, and/or voice in national or international media, either directly or through third parties. This includes, but is not limited to, publicizing, disseminating, or promoting the video or the aforementioned promoter, specifically on its website, social networks, or in any other media or means of communication. This authorization is granted free of charge, and no payment or consideration is due for the assignment or use of present or future rights to the name, image, and/or voice. The authorization is valid for an unlimited period of time and applies to all uses that may be made of the name, image, and/or voice, or parts thereof, in all countries of the world for the purposes described herein.

By participating in the Competition, applicants acknowledge and agree to the following terms concerning intellectual property:

Ownership of Pre-existing IP
Participants retain full ownership of any intellectual property (IP) rights they hold prior to entering the Competition. This includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets that were developed independently of the Competition.

IP Rights to Submitted Projects
Participants must ensure they have full intellectual property rights over the projects submitted to the Competition. This includes securing any patents, trademarks, copyrights, or licenses that are necessary to avoid third-party infringement claims. Participants are solely responsible for ensuring they have “freedom to operate” concerning their submissions.

Collaborative Development and Results
In cases where Tecnimede collaborates with participants to further develop a project, Tecnimede may retain exclusive rights to exploit the results of these collaborative developments. This includes, but is not limited to, commercial use, licensing, distribution, and further research and development. These rights may be subject to separate negotiation on licensing terms, revenue sharing, or co-ownership agreements, where applicable.

Licensing and Commercialization
Tecnimede reserves the right to enter into discussions with participants regarding potential licensing agreements or partnerships based on the intellectual property submitted. Participants agree to negotiate in good faith any such proposals and recognize that Tecnimede may require an exclusive license to commercialize the results of collaborative developments.

Non-infringement
Participants warrant that their submissions are original and do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties. In the event of an infringement, participants are responsible for any legal consequences, including the defence and resolution of any claims.

Confidentiality is of paramount importance to all parties involved in the Competition.

All participants, Tecnimede, HiSeedTech, and any other individuals or entities involved in the Competition must treat any non-public information as confidential. This includes, but is not limited to, technical data, business plans, proprietary information, trade secrets, or other sensitive materials.

Confidential information refers to any information provided during the Competition that is explicitly marked as confidential or reasonably understood to be confidential, whether it is disclosed orally or in writing. All parties agree not to disclose, share, or misuse such information.

Participants are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any sensitive information shared with them by Tecnimede, HiSeedTech, or other Competition participants. This includes refraining from disclosing or misusing such information during or after the Competition.

The confidentiality obligations of all parties remain in effect during the Competition and for a period of 5 (five) years] after the conclusion of the Competition, unless otherwise specified by a separate agreement.

Confidential information may only be disclosed to third parties with the prior written consent of the disclosing party, or as required by law or legal process.

Tecnimede reserves the right to revoke any awards, prizes, or recognition granted to participants if they are found to have violated the rules of the Competition, including breaches of intellectual property, confidentiality, or ethical conduct. In such cases, Tecnimede may reclaim any monetary or material prizes and remove public recognition of the participant’s achievements.

Winners must respect the rules for using Tecnimede and HiSeedTech logos and trademarks, which can be revoked at any time.

Tecnimede and HiSeedTech are not responsible for:

• Errors in applicant data preventing identification, selection, or communication.
• Temporary unavailability or continuation of the Competition.
• Fraud by candidates.
• Losses, delays, or other issues caused by third parties affecting the Competition.

In all matters not expressly provided for in these Regulations, the Portuguese legislation in force will apply.

To resolve any disagreements arising from the interpretation and application of these Regulations or applicable legislation, the Judicial Court of the District of Lisbon will have express jurisdiction.

Participant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or related in any way to the Competition, the Jorge Ruas Award or the Competition, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, collective action or mass action. Accordingly, participant hereby waives it right to initiate or participate in any form of class action, collective action or mass action in connection with the Competition, the Jorge Ruas Award or the Competition.

Participant accepts the conditions stated in these Terms, agrees to be bound by all decisions of Tecnimede and HiSeedTech regarding the Competition and the Jorge Ruas Award, and warrants that he/she is eligible to participate in the Competition as specified in these Terms.

Participant indemnifies Tecnimede and HiSeedTech for any damages (including payment of reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with

Participant’s participation in the Competition and Participant’s acceptance and use of the Jorge Ruas Award.

Participant indemnifies Tecnimede and HiSeedTech for any damages (including payment of reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with any claim for misappropriation or infringement resulting from (i) Participant’s infringement of any third party’s intellectual property rights; (ii) Tecnimede and HiSeedTech’s mentoring of Participant; or (iii) Tecnimede and HiSeedTech’s involvement with any idea, invention, information or materials included in the Entry.

Participant acknowledges that Tecnimede and HiSeedTech may presently, at any time during the Competition, and/or at any time in the future, be developing internally, or receiving from other parties, ideas, concepts, solutions and information that are similar to the Entry.

Accordingly, nothing herein shall prohibit Tecnimede and HiSeedTech from independently acquiring, developing, or having developed for it, products, concepts, systems, services, or techniques that are similar to or compete with the products, concepts, systems or techniques contemplated by or embodied in the Entry.

Participant will not in any manner undermine the integrity of the Competition. Participant will not use any device, software or routine to interfere with the proper working of the Competition Website or with the intention to damage, interfere with or surreptitiously intercept or expropriate any system, data or personal information.

i. No offer or payment for products or services.
This Competition and provision of any Jorge Ruas Award are not intended to be, and shall not be construed as, an offer or payment made, whether directly or indirectly, to purchase, lease or order of any item or service of Tecnimede and HiSeedTech. Participant represents, warrants, and agrees that the Competition and any Jorge Ruas Award granted impose no past, current or future obligation, express or implied, on Participant or any individual working for Participant, its volunteers or members, including affiliated member groups, to purchase, prescribe, recommend or arrange for the purchase of any Tecnimede and HiSeedTech project, including recommending or arranging for favourable formulary status of any Tecnimede and HiSeedTech product.

ii. Compliance with requirements.
Determination of compliance with entry, technical, and other requirements and these Terms will be in the sole discretion of Tecnimede and HiSeedTech. Tecnimede and HiSeedTech reserve the right to disqualify any Participant or reject and Entry that risks causing controversy or negative publicity for the Competition, Tecnimede, HiSeedTech or any third parties. Participant shall not use the Tecnimede and HiSeedTech names, logos, corporate identities or images without Tecnimede and HiSeedTech’s prior written consent.

iii. No liability.
Tecnimede and HiSeedTech assume no responsibility for the following: any problems, technical malfunctions or delays in electronic operations or transmissions; Entries that are lost, stolen, incomplete, damaged, garbled, destroyed, misdirected or not received for any reason; destruction of or unauthorized access to, or alteration of Entries or related material, failed or unavailable hardware, network, software or telephone transmissions, damage to Participant’s or any person’s computer and/or its contents related to or resulting from participation in the Competition; or any errors in these Terms or in any advertisements or correspondence in connection with the Competition.

iv. Tecnimede and HiSeedTech decisions.
Tecnimede and HiSeedTech’s decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to the Competition, the Jorge Ruas Award, and the Competition.

v. Precedence.
In the event of any inconsistency between these Terms and any other provisions published or otherwise communicated in relation to the Competition, the Jorge Ruas Award, or the Competition, these Terms shall prevail and govern.

vi. Competition cancelation or suspension.
Tecnimede and HiSeedTech reserve the right to cancel or suspend the competition at any time at their sole discretion.

The organizers of the competition, Tecnimede and HiSeedTech, are committed to safeguarding the privacy of all participants and ensuring that the processing of personal data is carried out in strict compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Types of Personal Data Collected
Tecnimede and HiSeedTech will collect and process the following personal data of participants and team members, as provided during the registration and participation process:

• Name, title, email address, mailing address, phone number, age, and other relevant contact information.
• Names and details of team members provided by the Team Representative.
• The Team Representative is responsible for ensuring that they have obtained the necessary consent from all team members to submit their personal data as part of the competition.

Purposes of Data Collection and Processing
The personal data collected will be used solely for the following purposes:

• Verifying the identity of participants and teams for competition administration.
• Communicating with participants throughout the competition.
• Publicizing the results and success stories of participants (with their explicit consent).
• Statistical analysis and research in anonymized, pseudonymized, or aggregated formats for the purpose of improving the competition and enhancing scientific education.

Data Usage for Publicity and Media
By submitting an entry, participants grant Tecnimede and HiSeedTech explicit permission to use their name, photograph, entrepreneurial story, and competition-related results on various media platforms, including but not limited to the official website, social media channels, press releases, and printed promotional materials.
This consent is given freely and can be withdrawn at any time by contacting the organizers via the provided contact details.

Participants’ Rights under the GDPR
Participants have the following rights concerning their personal data:

• Right to Access: Participants may request access to the personal data held about them, and Tecnimede and HiSeedTech will provide a copy of this data.
• Right to Rectification: Participants may request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Participants can request the deletion of their personal data if it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or if they withdraw their consent.
• Right to Restrict Processing: Participants can request restrictions on the processing of their personal data in certain circumstances, such as when the accuracy of the data is contested.
• Right to Object: Participants may object to the processing of their personal data, particularly when the processing is based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes.
• Right to Data Portability: Participants have the right to receive their personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit it to another controller.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Participants may withdraw their consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

Data Retention and Security
Personal data will only be retained for as long as necessary to achieve the purposes outlined above, after which it will be securely deleted or anonymized. Tecnimede and HiSeedTech employ appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure that personal data is protected against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

Contact for Data Protection Inquiries
For any questions, concerns, or requests regarding the processing of personal data or to exercise any of the rights under GDPR, participants may contact the Data Protection Officer at:
dpo@tecnimede.com
By submitting an entry and participating in the competition, participants acknowledge that they have read and understood this Data Protection and GDPR Compliance clause and consent to the collection and use of their personal data in accordance with these terms.