The HEU-EFS Consortium has announced its creation. This four-year project, funded by the Innovative Health Initiative of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and involving 22 public and private organizations from across Europe (including the EEA and Switzerland), aims to improve the pathway for generating early evidence for medical device innovators. This will help promote access to innovative technologies for patients with unmet needs, strengthen excellence in clinical development, increase the attractiveness of the EU, and support healthcare system efficiency. One of the participating entities is the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech. 

AstraZeneca and WIVI Vision have been awarded with the Bioèxit Award during the celebration of La Nit, the annual reference meeting of the biomedicine and health sector in Catalonia, organised by CataloniaBio & HealthTech. With this event, the association wanted to recognise the importance for the sector and the city of AstraZeneca's decision to locate its global hub in Barcelona, as well as to highlight the business milestones achieved by WIVI Vision, also in a special year for CataloniaBio & HealthTech, which is reaching its majority.

Many companies have benefited and can continue to benefit from the Next Generation Funds. In order to update information on the calls currently active and those planned for the immediate future, CataloniaBio & HealthTech has organised a webinar to explain it in detail and answer questions.

Inteplast and Eurecat, members of CatalonioaBio & HealthTech, together with VEnvirotech Biotecnology, Synthetic Polymers and Structure and Property (PSEP) from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia have joined forces to develop biodegradable bioplastics from agri-food waste, which will be used in health applications. The aim is to address the environmental challenges of the healthcare sector, where more than 50% of the plastic used is single-use due to hygiene and sterilization requirements.  

A consortium led by OneChain Immunotherapeutics (OCI), a spin-off of the Josep Carreras Institute (IJC) and member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, has received support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities to bring to clinical phase an innovative therapy that could treat up to 80% of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), a rare condition that affects children (60%) and adults, and has few therapeutic options. The project, which will last for three years, will involve the participation of the IJC and the Blood and Tissue Bank. 

Ahead Therapeutics, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, has closed a funding round of 1,3 million euros through the microfinancing platform Capital Cell, also members.  

Esteve Healthcare (ESTEVE), member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, started 2024 with a renewed Board of Directors, aiming to continue driving sustainability and future growth. These changes follow Lubea's entry into the shareholding in September 2023. In adherence to good governance practices, the revised Board composition not only enhances diversity but also assembles a seasoned and diverse group.

Vytrus Biotech, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, published its Strategic Plan for the period 2024-2027. As a result of the strategy that will guide the company's direction over the next 4 years, the biotechnology company expects to triple its sales to reach 12 million euros and quadruple its EBITDA to 5 million euros by 2027. 

The Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) and the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau), both members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, signed a collaboration agreement aimed at promoting the development and production of innovative drugs. The agreement, which represents a pioneering alliance between two leading institutions in the health field, establishes the foundations for the creation of a joint hub that will have facilities prepared to produce advanced therapies, including CAR-T cells. 

As part of the celebration of the Mobile World Congress 2024, Forbes Women has published a list of 35 women who stand out in the technology sector and who they consider worth keeping an eye on this year. Among the 35, three women who lead companies that are members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech: Anna Maiques from Neuroelectrics; Eva García Ramos from WIVI Vision; and Nuria Pastor from HumanITcare. 

CataloniaBio & HealthTech has once again been present at the international exhibition dedicated to connectivity and in this edition, moreover, has been able to facilitate access to more than a hundred members, in addition to offering a specific and exclusive tour for member companies.

Barça Innovation Hub (BIHUB) joins the ownership of Made of Genes, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, in a pioneering agreement to develop new biomedical intelligence solutions for optimizing sports performance, preventing injuries, and managing health with a gender perspective for elite athletes. 

The technological center Eurecat, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, presented this week at the Mobile World Congress an assistive robot that helps people at home with daily tasks. The robot can engage in conversation and providing personalized assistance to users based on monitoring their health or mood offering, for example, guidance related to an exercise routine. 

You have a product that represents, or has the potential to represent, significant improvements for the health system and for the population. In many cases, the challenge will not be to have reached this level of development, but rather to bring this product to market. Successful commercialisation is a complex challenge that requires resources and a meticulous strategy; whether for start-ups, SMEs or large companies, it is important to consider how to tackle crucial issues such as which market to target, how to connect with strategic partners, or how to collaborate with the public administration.

One of the issues of concern and interest in our community is the improvement of taxation in the field of entrepreneurship. For this reason, in a session prior to the ordinary General Assembly of members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, a Taxation Forum was held to debate the impact that tax measures could have on investors, entrepreneurs, researchers and R&D generated in the sector.

The technology of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is opening new opportunities in various fields, improving the daily lives of many people. A clear example of this advancement is the application of AI in the field of vision, which is the focus of the company Wivi Vision, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech and a project led by Eva García Ramos and Juan Carlos Ondategui-Parra.  

CataloniaBio & HealthTech held its general assembly on 14 February at the Ateneu Barcelonès, where the members of the board, the executive team and around a hundred members met to discuss and approve the management report and accounts for the 2023 financial year, as well as the action plan for 2024. It also approved the admission of 36 new members, who had the opportunity to present themselves before the attendees.

SANNO, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, has been selected for a groundbreaking program with EIT Health, Takeda, and KU Leuven, focusing on the early detection and better management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This initiative focuses on advancing and validating innovative technologies designed to predict IBD flares. 

Palobiofarma has closed a seven-million-euro investment round led by Inveready, both members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, through the Inveready Biotech IV fund, the public company Sodena and the company’s founders.  

In 2023, Parc Taulí Hospital in Sabadell launched the Advanced Resolution Assistance Unit (ARA). In this unit, patients visiting the emergency room with low-complexity conditions are triaged by nursing staff with the support of Mediktor, an artificial intelligence software. The professionals involved have voiced their support for the project.