--- title: "About Us & Our Story | Plasmatico" description: "From 30,000 pandemic masks to CE-certified cold plasma sterilization. Plasmatico is built in Prague by COVMASK with leading Czech research institutes." canonical: "https://plasmatico.eu/about-us" markdown: "https://plasmatico.eu/about-us.md" lang: en --- # Pioneering Plasma-Based Sterilization How an urgent humanitarian response during the 2020 pandemic evolved into a breakthrough in sustainable physical decontamination. At Plasmatico, we are revolutionizing decontamination through state-of-the-art non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology—delivering safe, efficient, and 100% chemical-free sterilization solutions for biochemical laboratories, hospitals, veterinary clinics, and high-tech industries. ## Our Origins: Protecting Frontline Workers (2020) In the spring of 2020, during the initial wave of the COVID-19 global health crisis, our journey began as an urgent humanitarian initiative. Facing catastrophic shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for emergency medical responders and hospital staff, our founding team mobilized to design and manufacture high-efficiency reusable protective masks—**Covmask**. To bring this mission to life, we launched what became the second-largest crowdfunding campaign in the country, raising vital capital from thousands of supporters. In close technical partnership with the **Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU / ČVUT)** and the **Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC)**, we engineered, certified, and distributed more than **30,000 advanced masks** to hospitals, emergency rescue services, and vulnerable senior care facilities. ## From Emergency Response to Long-Term Innovation (2021) While the Covmask initiative provided essential protection, it highlighted a profound industry bottleneck: high-grade particle filters were exceptionally effective but expensive. For hospitals, treating filters and complex protective gear as single-use disposable items created enormous financial strain and hundreds of tons of biomedical waste. Traditional decontamination methods either destroyed the electrostatic filtration media (chemical washes, alcohol) or melted the plastic housings (heat autoclaves). Recognizing that this dilemma extended far beyond pandemic masks to high-precision laboratory tools, optics, and medical electronics, we made a strategic decision: to develop a dedicated, non-thermal physical decontamination device capable of sterilizing heat-sensitive and delicate equipment safely and affordably. In 2021, we formed an enduring scientific research partnership with the **University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague (VŠCHT)** and established collaborative testing protocols with leading academic institutions, including the **Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB / ÚOCHB) of the Czech Academy of Sciences**. ## Scientific Validation & Peer-Reviewed Breakthroughs (2022–2024) Over three years of rigorous empirical research, our team optimized plasma discharge geometries, atmospheric chamber airflow, and pathogen destruction mechanisms. Key milestones achieved: * **Broad-Spectrum Efficacy:** Validated complete inactivation of resistant hospital pathogens including Methicillin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA), *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, and *Escherichia coli*. * **Virucidal Verification:** Proved 99.97% to 100.00% reduction against critical viral threats, including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A (H1N1), Adenovirus, Rhinovirus, and Monkeypox virus (Mpox). * **Prestigious Publications:** Our laboratory findings and decontamination methodologies were published in the peer-reviewed international scientific journal ***Scientific Reports* (Nature Portfolio)** in 2023 and 2025. * **Consumable Waste Elimination:** Proved that plastic pipette tips with aerosol barrier filters can be safely decontaminated and reused in molecular biology and PCR workflows without nucleic acid cross-contamination. ## Market Readiness & Global Standards (2025–Present) In 2025, Plasmatico successfully obtained **CE certification for laboratory use**, officially validating its electrical safety, mechanical reliability, and operational readiness for deployment in clinical and research facilities across Europe. The certification pathway under the European **Medical Device Regulation (MDR)** is actively progressing. Supported by the **Technology Incubation Programme (CzechInvest)**, the European Union (**NextGenerationEU**), and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (**MPO**), Plasmatico is now scaling production to empower institutions worldwide with clean, safe, and cost-effective sterilization. ## Institutional Membership & Heritage * **Developer & Manufacturer:** COVMASK s.r.o. (Prague, Czech Republic) * **Industry Association:** Proud member of the **Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Medical Devices (AVDZP)** * **Academic Partners:** VŠCHT Praha, ČVUT / CIIRC, IOCB Prague (ÚOCHB AV ČR) ## Milestones - 2020: Covmask emergency response. More than 30,000 certified protective masks with ČVUT and CIIRC, funded by the second-largest crowdfunding campaign in Czech history. - 2021: Partnership with VŠCHT Prague on non-thermal plasma decontamination, after disposable filters proved costly and wasteful. - 2022–2023: Pathogen testing against MRSA, Pseudomonas, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza. Results published in Nature Scientific Reports. - 2024: IOCB Prague testing confirms 99.97% to 100% inactivation of Mpox virus. - 2025–2026: CE certification for laboratory use. European MDR pathway in progress. Supported by CzechInvest Technology Incubation. ## Partners - VŠCHT Praha — plasma research - ČVUT and CIIRC — Czech Technical University and the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics - IOCB Prague (ÚOCHB) — Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences - AVDZP — Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Medical Devices - CzechInvest Technology Incubation Programme (NextGenerationEU / MPO)