IDIBELL opened the gates of its laboratories to a delegation of 20 business leaders from AEBALL‑UPMBALL. The meeting represented a new opportunity to strengthen alliances between research and the business sector of the Baix Llobregat, with a focus on the opportunities arising from the creation of the Health Innovation Biocluster. This initiative will begin its journey with the launch of GranVia Lab, the biomedical accelerator that will connect the development of public research at the Campus Salut Bellvitge with the private ecosystem.
Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the innovation and business development methodology designed by IDIBELL. As highlighted by Miguel Souto, director of the area, the key to supporting biomedical research projects on their path to the commercial circuit is the principle of realism and slow pace: “the timelines of science are not those of business, but if scientific development is suitable and innovative, results reach both society and investors. At IDIBELL, we specialize in managing these two variables.”
Along these lines, there was consensus among participants on the major opportunity represented by the establishment of the biomedical accelerator. The project is expected to start in early 2027 in the Green Via Lab building. The initiative is being launched with IDIBELL as the scientific partner and the Fornesa & Sala Group as the promoter of the physical space that will house the incubator. Once fully implemented, Cosymbio Labs, a company specialized in the implementation of research facilities, will act as the managing entity.
Biomedical research in two key areas: regenerative medicine and immunology
The AEBALL business representatives also visited two research projects to gain first‑hand insight into the biomedical scientific research development process carried out at IDIBELL and its impact on people and society. In the field of regenerative medicine, Jordi Guiu shared his advances in research on intestinal stem cells aimed at improving the quality of life of cancer survivors who suffer side effects from radiotherapy, including acute and chronic intestinal inflammation. In another area, Josep Maria Aran presented his research proposal in the field of immunotherapy, which is already in the early stages of its path to market: an analogue of a naturally occurring immunomodulatory blood protein that eliminates inflammation by acting as an immunosuppressant, with the capacity to reprogram innate immune cells and facilitate the system’s return to its optimal and natural state.
The visit concluded with a networking session among representatives from AEBALL and teams from IDIBELL, Bellvitge University Hospital, and the Catalan Institute of Oncology, where the existence of multiple synergies was confirmed—synergies that will be consolidated among all these organizations in the coming years.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research centre created in 2004 and specialises in cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. It has a team of more than 1,500 professionals who, from 73 research groups, publish more than 1,400 scientific articles a year. L’IDIBELL is owned by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Health Institute, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the HR Excellence in Research program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).