Picks of July: INNOPASS Call, Advances in Cell Therapies and Drive Towards Healthcare Transformation
This July has been marked by new strategic calls, significant research breakthroughs, and key movements in scientific leadership. Here are the 10 most important highlights:
- This month saw the celebration of the PASS Conference, marking the first anniversary of the Innovation Access Program in the Healthcare System. Within this framework, Biocat announced the program’s first call, named INNOPASS, which offers an "innovation passport" with personalized guidance to facilitate the adoption of high-impact innovations within the Catalan healthcare system. The call is open until October 15.
- In parallel, Catalan biomedical research has once again stood out internationally. In just a few weeks, Hospital del Mar identified the TIM3 protein as a trigger for metastases in breast cancer, while IRB Barcelona and its spinoff Inbiomotion succeeded in bringing the MAF test to hospitals— a tool capable of predicting which patients are at higher risk of metastasis, thus improving breast cancer therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, researchers from Bellvitge validated the NSE protein as a biomarker to anticipate brain damage following cardiac arrest, and VHIO published new results showing the benefits of administering immunotherapy both before and after surgery in head and neck cancers. Added to this is the creation of a global alliance on neurodegenerative diseases, which has released the most comprehensive proteomic map ever made of the diseased human brain.
This month also saw significant progress in advanced therapies and translational medicine. Bellvitge is leading Spain’s first clinical trial to test anti-fibrotic therapies in patients with post-COVID lung sequelae, and several Catalan hospitals took part in two international trials led by Boehringer Ingelheim for new treatments for pulmonary fibrosis, including Clínic, Bellvitge, and the Policlínica de Barcelona. These advances are accompanied by developments from GoodGut in areas such as gut microbiota, with non-invasive tests already delivering clinical value, and preclinical evidence of a dual CAR-T therapy for T-ALL by the Josep Carreras Institute.
In terms of funding, startups have led several noteworthy rounds. Biorce raised €5 million from Norrsken VC to continue developing AI-based drugs, and The Blue Box secured €3 million to revolutionize breast cancer screening with a non-invasive device. Other standout rounds include €3 million for Ocean Ecostructures in the blue economy and €2.14 million for Yplasma, which is developing innovative plasma-based technology for electronic cooling with potential health applications. It was also announced that Bcombinator will receive support from ICO for a new €40 million fund, and the Ministry of Science has launched a €127 million package for innovative projects in health and pharmaceuticals.
Strategic infrastructures and initiatives also made headlines this July. IRTA announced the expansion of the CReSA BSL3 biosafety lab to boost research on emerging viruses. Meanwhile, Grifols announced a €160 million investment in a new facility in the Barcelona area; Mesoestetic will allocate €42 million to expand its premises; and pharmaceutical company Rubió has begun expanding its Castellbisbal plant with support from ICF. Also notable is the consolidation of the InnoFAB project, the bioelectronic chip center promoted by the Government, which now has its own foundation for management. On another front, the Catalan Health Institute presented its new Strategic Plan 2026–2028, focusing on structural sustainability, organizational innovation, and strengthening clinical leadership in the public network. Simultaneously, Barcelona Innovation Coast (BIC) presented its Action Plan 2025–2027, which doubles the investment in innovation and knowledge transfer, reinforcing the city’s position as a European scientific hub. In this same context, the creation of the Barcelona Investment Office (BIO) was also announced— a new municipal initiative to attract and coordinate strategic foreign investments in the city, including those in the health sector.
In healthcare delivery, Catalonia has made a giant leap forward by transforming primary care: the traditional CAPs are becoming Comprehensive Reference Health Centers (CSIR), with 27 pilot teams now in operation. The new model promotes autonomy, social and health integration, and intensive use of technology. This month also saw the unveiling of the new Hospital Clínic project, which will transform access to the city along Avinguda Diagonal and triple the available space for healthcare and research.
In knowledge exchange, July saw the 13th edition of the Farma-Biotech program, which connected 7 Catalan biomedical projects with around twenty national and international pharmaceutical companies. These projects include innovations to treat ALS, autoimmune diseases, pulmonary hypertension, and complex cancers. Another standout event, with strong institutional representation, was Boehringer Ingelheim’s “Ruta 86,” an initiative to analyze the history of our healthcare system and reflect on the main challenges it will face in the medium and long term. On a more social and networking note, two of the most anticipated summer gatherings also took place: the Catalonia.Health BBQ and the Tech Spirit Barcelona party, both of which once again brought together many professionals from Barcelona's entrepreneurial and scientific-tech communities.
This July also brought advances toward more sustainable healthcare. Notably, the Department announced a new carbon footprint calculation tool, adapted for the first time in Spain to Catalonia's primary care centers— set to go live after the summer— as part of the goal to achieve full decarbonization of the healthcare system by 2050. In the business sphere, Almirall announced its commitment to generating a positive impact through a new sustainability strategy. Meanwhile, Medichem has earned B-Corp certification for implementing sustainable practices in its production processes.
In terms of recognition, the 2025 Vanguardia Science Award honored a study on the genetic origins of autism by IRB Barcelona. The Banc Sabadell Foundation awarded researchers Alberto García-Basteiro and Sílvia Osuna for their work on tuberculosis and protein design, respectively. In addition, the Ministry of Science announced the National Innovation and Design Awards, in which several Catalan health-related projects received accolades. Regarding leadership, several high-profile changes were announced, Mónica Bettencourt-Dias has been appointed as the new Director of the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), succeeding Luis Serrano after more than a decade at the helm of the centre. In addition, Ramon Pastor has been named President of Leitat.
We close this monthly summary with sad and unexpected news for the entire ecosystem: the loss of Raúl Martín-Ruiz, partner at Ysios Capital, a highly respected professional in the investment community and driving force behind many major deals in the sector over the past seventeen years. Sadly, this month we also bid farewell to Dr. Jaume Bosch, a key figure in hepatology and a renowned clinical researcher at Hospital Clínic and IDIBAPS.