Gentag and Mayo Clinic are already partners, but that’s not enough. These two are teaming-up with NovioSense and Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS) to form a joint venture to fight the epidemic of type 2 diabetes that is overwhelming people and health care systems across the planet.

The team has 75 patents under its belt and is ready to further develop the tech on both sides of the Atlantic.Using their patented combined assets, the four parties will develop a mobile-based platform to bring low-cost, on-demand pain-free diabetes monitoring to people worldwide. The technology will rely on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology that is included in most modern smartphones, to replace traditional glucometers.

Overall, the team has 75 patents under its belt and is ready to further develop the tech on both sides of the Atlantic by NovioSense BV and Gentag, together with the diabetes teams from Mayo Clinic, and the sensor and NFC teams of Fraunhofer IMS.

“By pooling our resources together, we are in a position now to dramatically advance diabetes monitoring,” said Dr. John Peeters, CEO of Gentag.

The combined technology can be implemented for any diabetes application.NovioSense CEO Dr. Christopher Wilson added that the goal is to make pain free glucose monitoring available to everyone “independent of their socioeconomic status.” He added: “It is only by increasing awareness and by making monitoring simple and affordable that we can hope to push back the tidal wave.”

The combined technology can be implemented for any diabetes application, including long-term implantable sensors, diabetes skin patches or eye (tear drop) sensors, or wireless insulin delivery systems controlled by mobile devices.

The group of Gentag, NovioSense, Mayo and Fraunhofer IMS technology and patents will be licensed, sold or co-developed with a large global partner interested in leading the next generation of diabetes monitoring. The deal will be negotiated by Dennis Kozlowski, former CEO of Tyco International, who has been working with Gentag and Mayo Clinic Ventures team on this project since inception and will negotiate terms along with Bruce Kline, of Mayo Clinic Ventures.