On May 14, 2026, the Slovakia Innovation and Startup Awards (SISA Awards 2026) ceremony took place at the Kunsthalle in Košice. The awards annually recognize innovative projects, exceptional technological solutions, and successful collaboration between the research and private sectors in the region. The event, organized in cooperation with the Košice Region Innovation Center (ICKK), confirmed the growing importance of Košice as a hub for innovation, research, and modern technologies.
Among the awardees was a team from the Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, UPJŠ in Košice, which received an award for research and development in the field of electrochemical sensors and biomedical technologies. The award was presented by UPJŠ Vice Rector Professor Pavol Jarčuška. The significance of the event was further underscored by the participation of prominent representatives from regional government, the business sector, innovation organizations, and academic institutions from Slovakia and the United States.
The award was accepted by the head of the department, Associate Professor Ivana Šišoláková, who emphasized that it recognizes the long-term scientific and research work of the entire team, which bridges basic research with practical applications in the field of modern diagnostics and healthcare based on knowledge from chemistry, physics, medicine, and IT.
The team’s success also confirms that UPJŠ in Košice is home to young scientific talents capable of conducting cutting-edge research with international reach. The university’s collaboration with technology partners and the innovation ecosystem in Košice creates an environment for the development of solutions with a real impact on society, healthcare, and quality of life.
