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Picks of May: new acquisitions, specialized capital and more facilities drive more technological BioRegion
The snapshot of the ecosystem from May shows increasing depth and ability to scale up. The BioRegion continues to generate excellent research and new startups, but this month’s news mainly points to a strengthening of the foundations needed for growth: new specialized funds, more science facilities, industrial capacity and technological talent.
- One of the most notable moves has been Asabys launching a new fund with up to €120 million for technology transfer. The main goal is to create a dozen spinoffs. This news comes on top of a particularly active month for venture capital, with the first close of Montana Children’s Health Innvierte, managed by Ship2B Ventures, which raised €37 million to invest in children’s health, and the closing of CRB Digital Health, with €50 million for digital health.
- In business news, UCB acquired the patient data business from VHIR spinoff IMIDomics in a deal that strengthens the role of precision medicine and shows the international pharmaceutical industry’s interest in clinically robust data assets. Plus, medtech company Inbiomotion signed an agreement with Korean healthcare and diagnostic company HJ HyupJin to launch its MAF Test in South Korea. Along the same lines, IRB Barcelona, ICREA, UPC and Napptilus launched HelixAI, a new spinoff that aims to transform biomedical data into clinical knowledge through artificial intelligence.
- Regarding funding, startup Manina Medtech closed a round of funding to advance the industrialization and clinical validation of Seedchrony, the first solution that can assess whether the uterus is ready for embryo implantation in real time, on the day of transfer.
- In terms of technological capability, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center has developed Europe’s most advanced open source microchip, with transistors just 1.8 nanometers, a milestone that strengthens Catalonia’s position in advanced computing and technological sovereignty. This initiative connects with other emerging facilities like InnoFAB, the future center for advanced semiconductor development and prototyping at Parc de l’Alba, and Eurecat’s investment in a new AI and quantum facility.
- In fact, new facilities were another main theme in May. SID is going to open new specialized laboratories in Barcelona, investing €16 million and adding nearly 10,000 m² of science space, in response to growing demand for space from life sciences companies. The owner of Quirónsalud has also announced they will be opening a new hub in Barcelona, a move that reinforces the city’s appeal as a center of healthcare, business and innovation.
- In the corporate arena, Saesco Medical acquired the Sangüesa business unit and its subsidiary Tramedic, both in bankruptcy proceedings. Additionally, Esteve confirmed their international leap with sales up 11% to €828 million, despite a slight drop in profit. Also in a business context, the Europewide fund Columna Capital acquired a majority stake in Evidenze, a Catalan company providing services to the pharmaceutical industry.
- The system is also being strengthened through talent and training. The UOC launched a new Bachelors Degree in Biomedical Engineering, a 100% online program designed to train hybrid professionals in engineering, computer science and medicine, with a special focus on AI, bioinformatics and medical imaging.
- And in the hospital arena, IGTP launched PATH (Program of Advanced Therapies) to strengthen advanced therapies on the Can Ruti Campus.
- In sustainability, Hospital Clinic Barcelona has been working on a strategy to reduce the environmental impact of dialysis. Also, the Hospital Parc Taulí clinical laboratory is working to become the most sustainable clinical laboratory in Spain.
- The month has been marked by significant changes in scientific and institutional leadership: Monica Bettencourt-Dias began her journey as director of the Center for Genomic Regulation; Dr. Xavier Cañas was appointed scientific director of I3PT-CERCA; and Gonzalo de Miquel, of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, will take over as Barcelona Global chapter president. Sadly, we also have to mention the death of Ramon Cunillera, manager of the Maresme and La Selva Health Corporation.