Innovator of the year 2025: A breath test from Upper Franconia attracts attention

26.11.2025

On November 14, 2025, outstanding innovations from all sectors of the economy were honored at the "Innovator of the Year 2025" ceremony in Berlin. VOC-Advanced Breath Diagnostics GmbH from Erlangen/Forchheim was one of the 15 most innovative projects in Germany honored. The company was honored for a new type of breath test that is designed to help better assess the individual risk of colon cancer.

A prize with a signal effect

Every year, the Innovation Award of the "Die Deutsche Wirtschaft (DDW)" initiative recognizes players from business and society who initiate practical changes with new solutions in various categories. For VOC-Advanced Breath Diagnostics GmbH, the award is another important step. At the award ceremony, founder and CEO Prof. Dr. med. Wieland Voigt emphasized the importance of his team and the study participants, without whose support the development of the breath test would not have been possible.

How a breath can provide clues

The award-winning test measures the concentration of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) in the air we breathe. This gas is produced by bacterial processes in the gut. Studies suggest that elevated H₂S levels may be linked to a higher risk of bowel cancer.

The test works with a simple traffic light system. Green represents an inconspicuous value, yellow a possible abnormality and red a clear indication to look into bowel cancer screening. The idea behind it: To raise people's awareness of the importance of looking after their bowel health and taking advantage of screening services such as colonoscopies or stool tests.

Practical application - even at home

The measurement is carried out using a special breath collection cartridge that keeps the H₂S value stable until it can be analyzed. The test can be carried out in doctors' surgeries, but also at home in the future. This makes the method particularly suitable for everyday use.

VOC-Advanced Breath Diagnostics GmbH is currently working on a large international study to define scientifically reliable limit values. At the same time, collaborations with medical technology companies are underway to drive forward series production of the cartridges. The Upper Franconian start-up is pursuing the goal of making the test available around the globe.

What the award means

The award shows the role that innovative prevention approaches play in modern healthcare. Although a breath test does not replace established bowel cancer screening, it can help to motivate people to look into it at an early stage.

For VOC-Advanced Breath Diagnostics GmbH, the award is an incentive to further develop its technology - and an indication of how research and practice can work together to break new ground in prevention.