Fraunhofer announces German-Spanish alliance for biomedical innovation

A partnership for the future of medicine: Representatives from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Spanish government, the regional government of Catalonia and the city council of Barcelona signed a joint declaration of intent in Barcelona today. With this step, the Spanish funding partners have laid the groundwork for pioneering theranostics research in Spain.

The right therapy for the right patient at the right time: Theranostics is a relatively new research field that combines therapy and diagnostics to provide individualized patient treatment. To pool their expertise and thus better harness the potential of this pioneering field, Fraunhofer, the Spanish government, the regional government of Catalonia and the city council of Barcelona signed a joint declaration of intent in Barcelona today.

At the signing ceremony, the Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Holger Hanselka, declared their intent to significantly advance the future of personalized medicine under the umbrella of the Fraunhofer Spain Research Foundation. The Fraunhofer Center for Applied Theranostic (Fraunhofer CAT) in Barcelona serves as a model for future planned measures, having successfully prepared the joint project over the last year with the support of the funding providers.

The Fraunhofer Spain Research Foundation will serve as the legal framework for the Center and all current and future institutionalized research activities of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Spain. Today's declaration, which was signed by the funding partners that provide institutional funding for the Center in Barcelona, lays the foundation for a long-term partnership.

A fertile ground for innovation

With the highest concentration of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in Europe, Catalonia is a key global player in the entire life sciences industry. Being part of this environment promises a productive scientific and economic partnership in a highly dynamic ecosystem. The entire initiative — the result of the strategic partnership and long-standing collaboration between the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, under the leadership of Institute Director Heiko Zimmermann and Deputy Institute Director, Peter Hauptmann, and the renowned Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia IBEC — is based on this ecosystem.

Josep Samitier is set to take the helm of the Center. The renowned research scientist is the Director of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia IBEC and a professor at the Faculty of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Barcelona (UB). Under his leadership, the new center will combine the IBEC’s strengths in bioengineering, biosensors and biomimetic systems for biomedical applications with Fraunhofer IBMT's expertise in stem cell process technology and cell-based microsystems. The aim of the researchers is to develop innovative technologies that advance diagnostics, prognosis and therapy selection, paving the way for precision medicine. Fraunhofer CAT will act as an interface between research laboratories, clinics and the biotech industry.

Strategic momentum for Europe's innovative strength

The initiative by the funding partners (the Spanish government, the regional government of Catalonia and the city council of Barcelona) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft not only represents a significant step towards enhancing Europe’s innovative strength; it also serves as a catalyst to strengthen the European research landscape and enhance Fraunhofer’s overall impact.

This article was first published on 10 October by Fraunhofer.