Barcelona Science Park receives ISO 14001 certification
They are the first science park in Spain to implement and receive certification for an Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with ISO regulations.
BY BIOCAT
The Barcelona Science Park (PCB) has successfully completed the auditing process for ISO 14001:2004 certification, which accredits that the Environmental Management System (EMS) in place in their buildings and facilities meets the standards set out in this regulation. This is the first time a Spanish science park has been granted certification related to quality levels established by European standards specific to environmental issues.
At the same time, they have also received certification for the Quality Management System applied to their Core Scientific Services, according to requirements established in the ISO 9001: 2008 regulation for science support services, maintenance of scientific equipment and user-support services. These services provide support for research activities carried out at the Park and are part of a benchmark technology center, which focuses on biomedicine, biotechnology, nanobioengineering and pharmaceutical chemicals.
"With these certifications, we aim to demonstrate our commitment to ongoing improvement of our work processes and to optimizing efficiency and resource management,” explains PCB General Manager Fernando Albericio.
The PCB, established by the University of Barcelona in 1997, was the first science park in Spain and is now an international benchmark. It includes more than 75 companies, an incubator with 20 biotechnology start-ups, plus 70 research groups, three public research institutions and a wide range of technological support services, housed in 7,000 square meters and serving 500 groups and companies each year.
One of the park’s strategic areas is organizing activities to raise awareness of scientific culture among the general public and to foster scientific vocation among young people. They are currently organizing –under the framework of their Research in Society Program– more than 120 yearly activities with a total of 6,000 participants. They have recently presented two European educational portals Nanoyou and Xplore Health.