A brief dive into the world of tech to explore biotech and fintech, two sectors in full revolution! 🔬💰
The rapid development of new technologies and their integration into society and daily life has profoundly impacted and transformed various industries. As a result, the tech world is becoming increasingly specialized by aligning itself with traditional markets, as demonstrated by the rise—and sometimes success—of specialized startups in recent years. This trend has led to the proliferation of business-driven neologisms such as greentech, medtech, wealthtech, legaltech, femtech, and foodtech.
Today, we focus on two particularly promising sectors: biotech (neologism of biology and technology) and fintech (neologism of finance and technology). These fields stand out for their ability to reinvent traditional models while addressing major global challenges.
Biotech : Scientific Revolution and the Challenges of Tomorrow
Biotech: A Sector at Service of the Future
Biotechnology refers to the application of science and technology to living organisms to create innovative products and services across various domains, including medicine, agriculture, and industry.
Initially confined to research laboratories, biotechnology has seen remarkable growth in the business world in recent years. The term "biotech" has therefore emerged to encompass this dynamic entrepreneurial and scientific ecosystem.
Due to the vast range of biotechnological applications, a color-coding system has been developed to categorize companies within this field:
Red: Medical activities (drug production, vaccines, gene therapies)
Green: Agricultural and ecological activities (genetically modified plants)
White: Industrial applications (biofuel production)
Blue: Marine biodiversity research
Yellow: Environmental protection (pollution treatment or elimination)
This sector holds immense potential for the future, with the OECD stating that “industrial biotechnologies are among the key technologies for tomorrow’s economic development.”
June Hart Almeida: A Dedicated Scientist
Many women have contributed—and continue to contribute—to scientific advancements in biotechnology and the sector’s economic growth.
Reflecting on significant scientific milestones, we can highlight the remarkable journey of June Almeida (née Hart), the virologist responsible for identifying the first coronavirus. Her research helped shape the biotech sector.
Born in Scotland in 1930 to a bus driver father and a shop assistant mother, June Hart grew up in poverty but excelled academically. In 1947, she won a science prize at her school, fueling her desire to pursue university studies. However, her family's financial difficulties forced her to find a job to help support them. At 16, she began working as a laboratory technician in histopathology (a field focused on diagnosing diseases through microscopic tissue analysis).
Her marriage to Venezuelan artist Enriques Rosalia Almeida led her to Toronto, Canada, where she found many opportunities despite lacking a formal degree. Her work at the Ontario Cancer Institute, where she specialized in imaging cancer cells, helped her build a reputation as an expert. She developed groundbreaking techniques that revolutionized virus identification, such as the "negative staining" method—at a time when detecting viruses was an extremely challenging and time-consuming task.
Throughout her career, which later took her to London, she co-authored numerous scientific papers, advanced research on HIV and hepatitis B by helping identify their structures, pioneered immunoelectron microscopy techniques, and made history by identifying the first coronavirus using the methods she developed. All this while raising a child as a single mother for part of her career!
Although her discoveries were initially undervalued, June Almeida was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1971 in recognition of her contributions to virology. Many scientific publications in the field still feature virus images she produced herself.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought renewed attention to the extraordinary work and journey of this determined woman, whose influence is deeply felt in the biotech and virology sectors.
Fintech: When Technology Disrupts Finance
Fintech: A New Era for Financial Services
Fintech refers to the application of new technologies to the financial sector. It encompasses applications, software, and digital tools that enable individuals and businesses to manage their finances and conduct transactions online. By extension, the term also describes startups operating in this rapidly growing field.
According to Big Media, the 2008 financial crisis marked a turning point for many players in the banking and financial sectors. Entrepreneurs began seeking ways to rethink finance, making it more accessible and innovative.
Thanks to fintech, we have witnessed the emergence of groundbreaking ideas, activities, and technologies in recent years, such as cryptocurrencies, crowdfunding, and online banking—some of the most notable innovations.
Gerry Poirier: An Entrepreneur Using Fintech to Empower Women
Fintech remains a male-dominated field with significant gender disparities. However, an increasing number of women are making their mark and driving its development.
Gerry Poirier, a finance professional, noticed these inequalities firsthand, realizing that she had to work harder than her male counterparts for less recognition.
Determined to help unlock the potential of women worldwide—who often face barriers in financing, education, and salary equity—she founded Angelink, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to funding women-led projects.
Beyond launching the platform, Poirier is committed to addressing gender disparities in fintech. She emphasizes the need to reshape narratives and support women and minorities in entrepreneurship to foster a more diverse and inclusive fintech landscape.
Women in Innovation, a Key for the Future
Biotech and fintech are prime examples of how technological innovation is reshaping key industries. While biotechnology continues to push the boundaries of science and medicine, fintech revolutionizes access to financial services, making them more inclusive and flexible. Behind these advancements, figures like June Almeida and Gerry Poirier highlight the crucial role of women in fields still affected by gender disparities. Moving forward, these sectors will undoubtedly continue to shape our daily lives and open new economic and societal horizons.
Written by Nastia and edited by Intan
Sources :
BBVA. (n.d.). Fintech, proptech, femtech, edtech and other related neologisms. Retrieved from https://www.bbva.com/en/innovation/fintech-proptech-femtech-edtech-and-other-related-neologisms/
Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE). (2005). Définition statistique de la biotechnologie (mise à jour en 2005). Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/fr/sti/biotech/definitionstatistiquedelabiotechnologiemiseajouren2005.htm
Plaid. (n.d.). What is fintech?. Retrieved from https://plaid.com/resources/fintech/what-is-fintech/
IBM. (n.d.). Fintech. Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/fr-fr/topics/fintech
What is Biotechnology. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved from https://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/home
What is Biotechnology. (n.d.). Almeida. Retrieved from https://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/people/summary/Almeida
National Women’s History Museum. (n.d.). Biography of June Almeida. Retrieved from https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/june-almeida
Forbes Tech Council. (2024, November 18). Women in fintech: Empowering change through a female-forward mission. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/11/18/women-in-fintech-empowering-change-through-a-female-forward-mission/
AngeLink. (n.d.). Founder’s story. Retrieved from https://angelink.com/blog/founders-story/
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