Barcelona Global

The ingredients for Barcelona to be a leading ‘hub’ in technological innovation and research

Barcelona Global

How many times have we read good news about research agreements in Barcelona and its surroundings: there is no lack of initiative. But how many are sustainable in the long term? How many are truly independent and self-financed? And in how many of them does the University play a fundamental role, not only as a teaching center, but as a talent incubator and solid work platform for new professionals?

In any field of science and new technologies, ideas, talent or separate funding will never guarantee success. The formula of the magic potion needs all the ingredients in a perfect combination. Together and with the hand of an expert in Druids “there are no Romans to stop him”.

How many times have we read good news about research agreements in Barcelona and its surroundings: there is no lack of initiative. But how many are sustainable in the long term? How many are truly independent and self-financed? And in how many of them does the University play a fundamental role, not only as a teaching center, but as a talent incubator and solid work platform for new professionals?

I have been able to know the reality of doctoral students at the University of Linköping or the University of Zurich and see the almost natural interrelation between university, business and society in these countries and I am convinced that we still lack something. We lack “the druid” and we also lack the “ladle”.

A year ago, I wrote some lines in this forum about what it meant for my family to move to live in Basel. It was shortly before when our eldest son, Alex, the only one who had not accompanied us in the Swiss adventure for career reasons, decided to join the University of Linköping (Sweden) to start his PhD in Analytical Sociology.

Alex has been working and living in Norköping for more than a year. The department where Alex is trained and works is rooted in a strategic line of sound and innovative public research that seeks social impact, not only in the short term but also in the long term. An environment where opportunities and resources are available and in favor of ideas, equipment and talent. A university and work environment, yes, work, in constant renovation that allows young researchers to grow intellectually but also professionally and socially.

In my imaginary, the ‘druid’ represents the long-term strategic vision committed to imagine, define and create for the genuine benefit of people. And, the ‘ladle’ is the individual and collective culture that is the determining factor to gather the perfect combination of ingredients that will give us that essential potion so that education, training, innovation and growth align and provide feedback in a endless sustainable cycle.

There is no ‘potion’ without ‘ladle’. Since there is no society without culture, Barcelona is a leading center for technological innovation and research in many areas. In addition, the ambition of these groups is to stay to stay. My question is, do we have ‘druid’? and more importantly, do we have ‘ladle’? Guille and Aitana, Alex’s brothers, are already there trampling. I do not resign myself to keep looking for the druid and his ladle. It goes for all of them and for all of them.

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European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Barcelona

The Director General of EMBL announced the agreement on the tenth anniversary of the PRBB

Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona (PRBB)

 

Barcelona will host the new headquarters of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL, for its acronym in English) next year. Iain W. Mattaj, managing director of the research center, announced the agreement in the event the tenth anniversary of Parc de Recerca Biomèdica (PRBB).

The Ministry of Research, Development and Research has confirmed by telephone that the project is only pending approval by the Council of Ministers, which could occur with the caretaker government. Meanwhile EMBL gave the green light to the project in 2014.

Speaking to BIG VANG, Mattaj has revealed that the new headquarters of EMBL will have between 3 and 4 million euros a year over the next five years. It has also specified that will be eight research groups work on organ and tissue biology and disease modeling.

EMBL soon will hire a director for the new center, based in the Catalan capital. “We will announce the international position”, advances Mattaj the end of the anniversary event.

It is not the first time EMBL collaborates with the PRBB. The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), one of the seven centers of PRBB has a research unit shared with EMBL on systems biology, which was established in 2006.

EMBL research institution employs 1,600 people spread over 5 European cities. The seat is in Heidelberg (Germany), and has other facilities in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Monterotondo (Italy). ”

“We hope to further promote collaboration with research centers of the PRBB” he added Mattaj in his presentation. According to the CEO of EMBL, the future of biomedical research in Europe it is consortia of scientific institutions, multidisciplinary research and accelerate the translation of scientific work to medicine.

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Catalan biotechnology

The Catalan Aelix achieved 11.5 million euros to create a vaccine against AIDS

Aelix Therapeutics

Aelix Therapeutics, the company created the first development consortium Hivacat HIV treatments, has secured funding of 11.5 million euros earmarked for their research to create a therapeutic vaccine immunogen -from HTI-, “the first one you can cure infection in a patient. ” In investing, led by Ysios Capital (venture capital specialized in life sciences based in Barcelona), participated the equity manager of La Caixa, Caixa Capital Risc, and the US fund Innovation Johnson & Johnson. Aelix Therapeutics is led by renowned scientists: its founders are Dr. Bonaventura Clotet, Josep Maria Gatell, Christian Brander and biotechnology entrepreneur Jordi Naval.

Besides the medical challenge of this operation (more than 36.9 million people have HIV in the world), its characters include a major landmark in science model of excellence in Catalonia: first, a project It involves cutting edge science (Can Ruti and hospital Clinic), local industry (Esteve), public capital (research budgets Generalitat, Government and European Union), philanthropic (Obra Social La Caixa) and private (Ysios, Caixa Capital Risc) has He has been able to attract international capital (Johnson & Johnson). “It is an example of the contribution of all actors in the Catalan scientific industry. This is already happening in Tel Aviv or Boston, and now in Barcelona, ​​”says Josep Lluís Sanfeliu, Ysios Capital partner.

Aelix working on a therapeutic vaccine. That is, “retrains the patient’s immune system. There are a dozen companies in the world with different approaches to it, all in early stages, “says Jordi Naval. “It’s a hot topic, working from different angles, and the data is good.” Aelix vision anticipates fewer side effects in patients and significantly reduced the cost of treatment. “This is our aim, still have to prove it, some time before the product reaches the market,” he added.

With the money earned now, Aelix be reached until 2019 to carry out studies to assess the safety and efficacy in infected patients, equivalent to Phase II clinical study. He has so far tested in animals, and later this year will begin testing in healthy volunteers and patients. “Then, depending on the results, we will think how to complete the trial with the phase III (involving thousands of patients in various countries is different scale), if investors, or a pharmaceutical incorporated”.

Hivacat is a consortium of public-private research created in 2006 by two research centers in more developed AIDS and international reference, the AIDS Research Institute IrsiCaixa-Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol-Can Ruti (who runs Bonaventura Clotet ) and the Department of Infectious Diseases and AIDS of Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (Josep Maria Gatell).

In 2009 the Esteve pharmaceutical joined the Obra Social La Caixa and the Generalitat, through the departments of Health and Economy and Coneixement, and the Clinic Foundation. Hivacat coordinator is the researcher Christian Brander, Harvard hired by the Generalitat Icrea program. Since its founding twenty years ago, IrsiCaixa has received 3.1 million euros from the Obra Social La Caixa.

Hivacat has launched eight lines of research addressing major obstacles in the development of HIV vaccines, both preventive and therapeutic. “One of the projects is the therapeutic vaccine candidate HTI. In 2014 came to a point that needed a high volume of investment and decided to form a spin-off that acquires the rights and seeks private investment, “says Naval, companies with experience in the health sector and current director of the Foundation Bosch i Gimpera).

Ysios participated in the development of the business model and has led the investment round (the bottom Ysios Biofund II provides 3.75 million) with Caixa Capital Risc, a regular partner in the main operations of the sector, and Johnson & Johnson Innovation. The operation has been advised by the law firm RCD. Aelix joined his advice to Karen Wagner, Ysios; Jose Antonio Mesa, Caixa Capital Risc; Jordi Naval, co-founder and a representative of JJDC. The company currently has a team of four people in the Parc Cientific Barcelona.

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Evolution of the universe

Exhibition ‘Accelerating Science’ at the CosmoCaixa in BCN

CosmoCaixa Barcelona

CosmoCaixa Barcelona presents the exhibition entitled ‘Accelerant science “, where a visual spectacle in which the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to the present explains offered. A sample produced by the Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN) with the aim of spreading its research while seeking to raise public awareness of its usefulness.

The viewer will know, from different interactive methods, such as the CERN carried out investigations of the fundamental particles that make up the universe, inviting him to wonder what exactly are these particles and what the various families that compose them are.

The exhibition, already present in different European cities, will run until January 10. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10-20 h. Also Monday holidays. General admission: 4 euros.

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How will humans in a hundred years?

The CCCB of Barcelona expo + HUMAN ‘, an exhibition that explores the boundaries of what it means to be a human being and what is ethically acceptable

Exibition-HUMANS-at-CCCB-Barcelona

Cyborgs, and clones superhuman. Evolution or Extinction? What it means to be human today? How will humans in a hundred years? Around these questions touring exhibition “HUMAN +” can be seen at the Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona until 10th April.

“Human +” explores the limits of what it means to be a human being: the limits of the body, the limits of the species, the limits of what is socially and ethically acceptable. We have to improve ourselves, or we try to modify our descendants? We approached a singularity of a man-machine hybrid or lose authority because of the ever-increasing dependence with respect to the technological extensions of the body? It is the extension of human longevity magnificent aspiration or a terrible threat to the planet?

This exhibition continues the project “Human +”, presented at the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin in 2011. The artist Cathrine Kramer is the executive curator has had the collaboration of researchers Ricard Solé.

With works by fifty artists and pioneering research proposals, “Human +” explores the possible paths for the future of our species. From assisted reproduction techniques and emerging synthetic biology experiments to the ability to perpetuate ourselves through the digital world, our lives are conditioned and defined a revolutionary convergence of new scientific and technological fields.

To create the framework for exploration have been devised four general topics: increased skills, find themselves with others, designing the environment and life on the frontier. Each theme is represented through works of art, historical artifacts, videos, scientific research and commercial products.

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