Picks of October: Strategic openings, investments, and new advances in oncology
October has been a key month for the BioRegion of Catalonia, marked by significant progress in research, new industrial investments, and institutional initiatives that further consolidate the region as a European benchmark in health innovation.
- Research carried out in Catalonia has made an impact this month with notable discoveries. IBEC has succeeded in reversing Alzheimer’s symptoms in animal models using nanoparticles that restore the blood–brain barrier. IrsiCaixa has established a model to study long COVID, and IRBLleida has identified a new therapeutic target for spinal muscular atrophy. In genomics, IRB Barcelona has described a key genetic mechanism that behaves differently depending on tissue and individual, helping to explain why the same mutations can have variable effects among patients. The collaboration between UPF, CRG, and Integra Therapeutics has led to the development of an AI system capable of designing proteins for genome editing that outperform their natural counterparts. Meanwhile, the Salvat Group has received FDA approval to commercialize Clotic in the U.S. At the territorial level, the new Chair of Health Innovation launched by the University of Girona, Hospital Trueta, and other regional agents stands out. In addition, Lumiris Spectral Solutions has been awarded the Best Young Business Initiative prize for developing Metaphor, a technology that combines hyperspectral microscopy and artificial intelligence to assess embryo metabolism and improve assisted reproduction outcomes.
- In a month marked by Breast Cancer Awareness Day, institutions across Catalonia joined the Pink October actions to raise awareness about early detection. Continuing in oncology, IRB Barcelona has identified mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in colorectal tumors, while Clínic-IDIBAPS has proposed saliva as a non-invasive liquid biopsy for head and neck cancer. IrsiCaixa and Archivel also presented promising results from their RUTI® vaccine for bladder cancer. In the healthcare field, Hospital de Bellvitge has been recognized by the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center — becoming the second center in Spain to earn this accreditation.
- Another milestone in international scientific collaboration was the announcement of the new Fraunhofer Center for Advanced Therapies (CAT) in Barcelona. The project, jointly promoted by the Government of Catalonia, the Government of Spain, the Barcelona City Council, and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft — Europe’s leading applied research organization — will be based at the Barcelona Science Park to accelerate the development and transfer of advanced therapies.
- Johnson & Johnson announced that it is considering establishing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center in Barcelona to drive research in digital health, pharmaceutical development, and process optimization. The planned investment could reach €100 million, positioning the center as a key technology hub within J&J’s global AI strategy for healthcare. It would also strengthen the company’s presence in Spain through a specialized node focused on biomedical data processing, AI-assisted clinical trial design, and algorithm-driven drug discovery.
- Numerous strategic investments and expansions have also made headlines this month. Vytrus Biotech will invest €3.5 million in a new facility in Terrassa to boost production of plant-based active ingredients, while iVascular expects to surpass €100 million in sales in 2025 thanks to the expansion of its plant and international growth of its medical devices. In diagnostics, Roche Diagnostics will modernize the Laboratori de Referència de Catalunya centers to enhance analytical processes, and Appliant has completed the digitalization of Meribel Pharma’s plant in Parets del Vallès using automation technology. Veritas Genetics has acquired qGenomics, a Catalan company specialized in prenatal genetic diagnosis, which will be integrated into SID Barcelona.
- In terms of investment and financing operations, Nanoligent has raised €12 million to bring its anti-tumor nanodrug into clinical trials. Also in oncology, Ona Therapeutics closed a €10 million funding round led by CDTI Innovación to advance its antibody therapies targeting metastatic cells. Adaptam Therapeutics raised €3 million to progress in new approaches for personalized cancer treatment.
- Public administrations have also announced new measures to boost health innovation and technology in Catalonia. The FITA Fund, managed by Grow Venture Partners with support from the Institut Català de Finances, has made its first five investments in Catalan startups from key sectors: Shinephi (a spin-off from ICFO), Qilimanjaro (born from IFAE, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and the UB), Kreios Space (founded at UPC), VirTest Technologies (a UPF spin-off), and Health Tech Innovations (HTI), from the Germans Trias i Pujol Institute, developer of the MEDVISION platform. Altogether, the fund has contributed over €4 million, mobilizing nearly €25 million in aggregated investment.
- In parallel, the Department of Health has acquired 13 exoskeletons to strengthen rehabilitation for people with rare neuromuscular diseases, while the Catalan Government has allocated €504,000 to URV to bring innovation projects to market and launched a new €285 million public fund to finance science and technology startups. At the national level, the Spanish Government has invested €10 million in disruptive health technologies through the CRB Digital Health III fund, aimed at promoting digitalization and knowledge transfer. In public research and infrastructure, the Barcelona Science Park has announced record research investment for 2024, consolidating itself as one of the country’s main R&D drivers. The Government of Catalonia has also approved a €104 million investment to build the new Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Ciutadella campus in Barcelona.
- Biocat has played a key role this month in energizing the ecosystem. In terms of international positioning and influence, Biocat co-organized a session at the European Parliament to highlight the role of personalized medicine, advanced therapies, and regional innovation as drivers of European competitiveness. Biocat was also instrumental in hosting the international BIOSPAIN 2025 conference in Barcelona, organized by AseBio, which will return to the city in 2027. The event gathered over 2,400 professionals and 1,000 companies from the sector. The BioRegion of Catalonia Pavilion hosted institutional meetings, startup pitches, and exhibition stands. On the final day, organizers announced that BIOSPAIN 2026 will take place in Bilbao. Finally, Biocat announced its participation in two new European projects, BREATH and BRIDGE, and hosted both the CRAASH Barcelona Week and the d·HEALTH Barcelona hospital immersion program.
- This month also saw the release of several reports and advances in research and ecosystem management. The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) published its 2024 Annual Report, summarizing the year’s main scientific and knowledge transfer achievements. The Catalunya Europa Foundation released the study “Catalonia, Engine of a New Europe”, reflecting on the region’s innovation and research potential as key competitiveness drivers. The internationally recognized BCLC 2025 guidelines for personalized liver cancer treatment , developed at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona — were also updated and remain the global clinical practice standard. The Clínic additionally held its Campus Clínic Innova Day. Institutionally, ACCIÓ celebrated its 40th anniversary as Catalonia’s agency for business competitiveness, highlighting four decades of support for innovation and internationalization. In terms of talent, Ona Therapeutics appointed Antoine Yver, former Johnson & Johnson executive, as the new chair of its advisory board; Laia Arnal joined as Director General for Innovation and Research in Mental Health, Joan Torrejon Mir as CEO of Cebiotex and Ramon Pastor, president of Leitat, joined the executive committee of Cecot, strengthening the link between business and technological research.