Applications open for the 9th edition of CRAASH Barcelona

Biocat opens the call to participate in the 9th edition of CRAASH Barcelona, the acceleration programme that helps research teams, spinoffs and startups transform health innovations into market-ready solutions with an impact on people’s health.

The programme is aimed at initiatives in the field of medical devices, diagnostics and digital health, with a maturity level equivalent to the stages between proof of concept and first clinical trials (TRL 3-6). Projects or startups based in the BioRegion of Catalonia or with a proven link to this ecosystem may also apply. Drug discovery or development technologies are outside the scope of the call.

CRAASH Barcelona is organised by Biocat in collaboration with CIMIT, one of the health accelerators with the strongest international track record. Over the past 20 years, CIMIT has supported more than 600 healthtech projects, helped double the success rate in commercialisation and reduced by more than half the time needed to move on to the next development stage.
 

A new collaboration to strengthen clinical impact

One of the main new features of this edition of CRAASH Barcelona is the incorporation of the Col·legi de Fisioterapeutes de Catalunya as a new programme partner. This alliance will help bring the programme closer to the needs and challenges of a professional group that plays a key role in patient care, rehabilitation, prevention and improving patients’ quality of life.
This new collaboration builds on the commitment launched in the previous edition with i4KIDS, the paediatric innovation hub coordinated by the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona.
 

From research to market

The selected teams will receive expert support to validate their value proposition, assess the clinical and market need, define the business model and prepare the pathway to commercialisation. Each team will benefit from individual mentoring by experts from the CIMIT Accelerator Team, made up of entrepreneurs, investors and professionals with experience in the commercialisation of healthcare technologies, as well as support from European experts.

The programme combines mentoring sessions, masterclasses, validation interviews with key sector stakeholders and immersions in international ecosystems. The aim is to help teams step out of their comfort zone, test hypotheses with clinical professionals, potential users, buyers and other system stakeholders, and build a solid proposal with the potential to impact patients within three to five years.
 

Connection with ecosystems in Europe and Boston

The new edition will begin with a virtual orientation session with the teams on 16 October, followed by the in-person kick-off in Barcelona, which will take place from 26 to 28 October. Participants will then start a programme of online sessions and intensive work that will include Barcelona Week, from 30 November to 2 December, an in-person week to share progress, strengthen learning and generate connections between the teams and the ecosystem.

The programme will also include a European immersion in Germany, scheduled for 9 to 11 February 2027, to gain first-hand knowledge of other healthcare systems and explore key aspects such as regulation, reimbursement and market access. CRAASH Barcelona also offers participants connection with the Boston ecosystem, one of the world’s leading hubs in health and life sciences, through sessions designed to understand the US market, how funding rounds work, regulation and entry strategies for the United States.
 

Selection criteria

Applications will be assessed according to the overall quality of the project, market potential, feasibility of the pathway to impact and alignment with strategic priorities of the Catalan healthcare system, such as mental health and emotional wellbeing, planetary health, sexual and reproductive health, and healthy ageing.

Teams must include at least three complementary profiles: entrepreneurial leadership, technical leadership and clinical leadership. Applications must be submitted in English through the form available on the CRAASH Barcelona website.

The selection process will include an initial review of applications, an assessment by experts and an online interview stage with the finalist projects. The selected teams are expected to be announced on 9 October.

Registration open until 31 August

Applications can be submitted from 29 June to 31 August through the form available here.

Participation in the programme has a fee of €1,250 for teams from the BioRegion of Catalonia. For teams from outside the BioRegion, the participation fee is €12,000.

CRAASH Barcelona will be carried out in co-organisation with CIMIT, and with the collaboration of ACCIÓ, the Ministry of Health of the Government of Catalonia, Tech Barcelona, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, the accelerator programme Life Science Accelerator Baden-Württemberg, the innovation centre Next Mannheim, and the European Innovation Council (EIC).

Don’t miss the opportunity to accelerate your project and connect with experts, mentors and key international ecosystems to bring health innovation to market!