Ecosystem
June Picks: ATMP Catalyst, record investments and key openings
This June, the health innovation sector in Catalonia has experienced a historic month marked by the launch of ATMP Catalyst, unprecedented investments in startups, and the opening of new strategic spaces. We review, in 10 highlights, the key moments that consolidate Catalonia as a European hub for health and innovation.
- First of all, the new ATMP Catalyst accelerator, driven by Biocat with the support of the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council, is now a reality. The program was officially presented during ATMP Day 2025, where the six initial projects selected for this first edition of the accelerator were announced. This initiative was created to support startups and scientific projects in advanced therapies in their early stages, promoting technology transfer, internationalization, and the growth of the Catalan ecosystem.
- In terms of funding, SpliceBio closed a Series B funding round of $135 million (around €119 million), led by EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with participation from Roche Venture Fund and existing investors. This is the largest investment ever recorded in Catalonia and Spain and will support the clinical development of its lead gene therapy candidate, SB-007, for Stargardt disease, as well as the expansion of its pipeline into other therapeutic areas.
- Aortyx also raised €13.8 million in a Series A round, with support from investors such as Ship2 Ventures, Clave Capital, and the CDTI. This funding will allow the company to move forward with the first human trials of its bioabsorbable patch for aortic dissections, with the goal of bringing the solution to the European and North American markets in the coming years.
- The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) has successfully joined three European innovation projects, with a combined funding total of over €12 million. Through the INEDIT group, IGTP will take part in adoptHIT, PIPRA, and CAREPATH—initiatives aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare through innovative solutions. CAREPATH alone has been awarded €11.7 million and seeks to transform chronic disease management across Europe.
- In terms of urban development, work advances on the undergrounding of Gran Via to create the Biocluster of Innovation and Health in L’Hospitalet, a 96-hectare area that stands out as one of the most transformative projects in the Barcelona metropolitan area. With the presence of key institutions and a projected investment of €4.5 billion, the plan includes the creation of 50,000 jobs and a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.
- As for infrastructure, Smith+Nephew has inaugurated its new campus in Esplugues de Llobregat, a center for innovation in medical technologies equipped with surgical robotics and augmented reality simulators. This opening strengthens Catalonia’s leadership in the health sector and positions the region as a reference in medical training and innovation.
- In the field of research, the team at Hospital del Mar has published a study showing how a blood test can predict the risk of relapse in colon and rectal cancer before surgery, paving the way for new monitoring protocols. In addition, Hospital Clínic unveiled the mural Conexiones (In)visibles by Jordi Labanda, a piece that highlights the link between art and health and symbolizes the invisible interactions of the heart, kidneys, and metabolism. Meanwhile, Catalan startup BeCytes inaugurated a new lab to accelerate the production of in vitro cell models. Finally, IDIBELL has generated 3D-printed cardiac tissue that was able to beat for one month in animal models.
- Genomic research has also had a significant month. CNAG developed the STAMP methodology, which enables the study of millions of individual cells without the need for sequencing. At the same time, Hospital de Bellvitge led an artificial intelligence project to better understand the human genome and accelerate the discovery of new drugs, while Genomcore and Palex announced an alliance to integrate next-generation DNA sequencing technologies, optimizing genomic analysis in Spain.
- Catalan talent has been recognized with several awards this month: the latest edition of the National Research Awards honored the i4KIDS innovation hub at Sant Joan de Déu and the FERO Foundation; D-Sight received the Disruptive Innovation Award at the Emprende XXI Awards; Andreu Veà, Olalla Moreno, and Fran López were recognized at the 18th Gaudí Gresol Awards; IDIBGI won the Girona Talent 2025 Awards; researchers from Hospital Arnau de Vilanova and IRBLleida received European distinctions; and the list of the 100 most influential women in Catalonia was published, with a strong presence of professionals in health, biomedical research, and biotechnology. The second edition of the Innomed Awards also took place, with five winning proposals.
- To close, June also brought several notable appointments: Cristian Canton succeeded Pep Martorell as Associate Director of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year); Ricardo Barza was named Director of the BSC AI Institute; Susana Puig became the new Director of IDIBAPS; Josep Cornella, new director of Max-Planck-Institute; Anne Berner was appointed President of Grifols; and Barbara Krebs-Pohl became Chair of the Board at OneChain Immunotherapeutics.