ATMP Catalyst opens second call to accelerate new advanced therapies projects in Catalonia

Now that the first edition is up and running, Biocat has opened the second call for ATMP Catalyst, a pioneering accelerator designed to support scientific projects and startups in the early stages of technological development in the field of advanced therapies.

ATMP Catalyst is a three-year program structured in three progressive phases, adapted to the maturity level of each innovation:

• Phase 1 (6 months – TRL 2–3): formulating the technological concept, developing initial prototypes and conducting the first preclinical tests.
• Phase 2 (1 year – TRL 3–4): experimental validation, safety and mechanism of action assays, and preparing regulatory documents.
• Phase 3 (1 year – TRL 4–5): lab validation, interaction with regulatory authorities, scalability strategy and clinical trial design.

Each year, six new projects and/or companies join Phase 1, with the chance to progress through the program and complete the full three-year cycle. In the first edition, the six selected initiatives (THOR, Phagocytic Synthetic Cells, CARcoma, NoctuRNA, Spes Immunotherapies and FORCE) joined this first phase and, this year, are moving on to Phase 2, making room for a new cohort of projects that will join the program at its initial stage.

The initiative is supported by the Catalan Ministry of Research and Universities and the Barcelona City Council, with Leitat technology center as a knowledge partner and collaboration from the Barcelona Science Park.

New partners to bolster the second edition

In this second call, the program is adding new stakeholders to expand its support and specialization capabilities. On one hand, IESE and EATRIS are joining as knowledge partners, particularly strengthening the training and strategy side of the program. In this regard, a significant part of Phase 2 of the training program will be taught by IESE, focusing on entrepreneurship and business (finance, public speaking, negotiation, etc.).

On the other hand, SID and Cosymbio are joining the program as facility providers, expanding participants’ access to facilities and support services to develop their projects. Plus, additional partners may be added in the future.

Specialized mentoring, access to facilities and strategic connections

ATMP Catalyst stands out from other acceleration programs for its specific focus on advanced therapies and access to high value added services and facilities. The initiative offers specialized mentoring, regulatory support, connections with strategic partners and investors, and specialized training, at no cost to participants from Catalonia’s health innovation ecosystem.

Additionally, the program provides access to state-of-the-art laboratories with progressive discounts on rent: 75% off the first year, 50% off the second year and 25% off the third year.

One of the key assets of ATMP Catalyst is its network of top-notch mentors and experts in advanced therapies development, regulatory issues, intellectual property, business strategy, investment and market access.

Who can apply?

The second call for ATMP Catalyst is geared towards research teams at research centers, universities and hospitals with projects that have high transfer potential, as well as early stage startups (TRL 2–3) that need support to complete the first validation phases.

How to apply

Applications for the second edition of the program are being accepted now. Interested teams can request more information and submit their applications through April 24. The selected projects and companies will be announced on June 2 and the program will kick off on June 16. Contact the Biocat team with any questions by email at msalas@biocat.cat (Miquel Salas).