On Friday 24 November the Health and Innovation Biocluster was presented at an event organised by the investment agency Barcelona&Partners and held in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. ‘The new Health Biocluster is both an opportunity and a challenge for the Bellvitge biosanitary ecosystem,’ said Dr. Cristina Capdevila, manager of the ICS's Metropolitan South Territorial Management.
Dr Capdevila emphasised the need to "strengthen and consolidate" the healthcare ecosystem across three priority areas: digital health and data, personalised medicine, and efficient technologies and the knowledge economy. "The Health and Innovation BioCluster must enable progress on the Green Campus project through the integration of green spaces into the healthcare environment, while also enhancing our ability to attract biomedical, pharmaceutical, innovation and research companies," stressed the GTMS Chief Executive. Referring to the potential impact of the project, she cited the arrival of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the significant return it has generated for the city's cultural sector and the wider Basque Country.
Cristina Capdevila also highlighted the considerable healthcare capacity of the Smart Health Community, which brings together more than 10,000 professionals. The initiative, led by the Bellvitge biomedical cluster, aims to foster an economy driven by innovation and knowledge across the metropolitan area. "We are building a smart health community that creates opportunities to generate value and deliver both health and economic impact. Our key pillars are citizens and the intelligent use of data," added Gabriel Capellá, Director of IDIBELL.
"An alliance to lead health research and innovation in Southern Europe" was the slogan chosen for the presentation of the Health and Innovation BioCluster, chaired by the mayors of L'Hospitalet, Núria Marín, and Esplugues, Pilar Díaz. The project is expected to create 50,000 jobs, support talent retention, and strengthen the biomedical and healthcare sectors. Furthermore, since December 2022, the Health BioCluster has been recognised as a "strategic national project" by the Government of Catalonia, reflecting a decisive level of institutional consensus.
During the event, Robert Fabregat, Director General of Biocat, highlighted Catalonia's leading position in biotechnology and clinical trials, while underlining the strategic role of the BioCluster in strengthening the life sciences and healthcare ecosystem. "It expands the country's capacity by providing additional space and talent, while ensuring that citizens' quality of life remains at the heart of our priorities," Fabregat concluded.