#BIOSPAIN2023Interview | "It is necessary to increase investment ratios in R&D through public-private collaboration in the biotechnology sector"

Research and development form a perfect duo whose results translate into advancements thanks to the innovation, science, and technology they produce. In this regard, it is necessary to talk about a concept that has been gaining relevance over the past years: technology transfer, which means the ability to bring scientific and technological findings to the market. This is a crucial aspect since historically, Europe holds leading positions in scientific production but faces numerous difficulties when it comes to transforming this knowledge into industrial innovations.

If we focus on biotechnological companies, data collected in the AseBio 2022 Report highlights that we are dealing with a science-intensive sector. The work carried out by researchers places Spain as the ninth powerhouse in terms of scientific production in biotechnology.

These data present a picture where technology transfer emerges as a key element in enabling innovation and the development of biotech companies. This is a scenario well-known at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-National Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), an institution that plays an active role in promoting high-performance computing (HPC) in Spain and Europe, and a Silver Sponsor of BIOSPAIN 2023, an internationally renowned event in the biotechnology sector. We spoke with Mariona Sanz Ausàs, Head of Innovation and Business Development, to learn about the role BSC plays in technology transfer in the biotechnology sector.

AseBio. First of all, what is the Barcelona Supercomputing Center?

Mariona Sanz Ausàs. The Barcelona Supercomputing Center-National Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) is the national supercomputing center in Spain. We specialize in high-performance computing (HPC) and manage MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, located in the Chapel of Torre Girona. Since its creation in 2005, the BSC-CNS has played an active role in promoting HPC in Spain and Europe as an essential tool for international competitiveness in science and engineering.

BSC is a center that attracts talent. Our research focuses on four fields: Computational Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Computational Applications in Science and Engineering. Our research lines are developed within the framework of European Union research funding programs, Spanish and Catalan public research calls, and collaborations with leading companies.

AseBio. You play a key role when it comes to technology transfer in the biotechnology sector. What kind of work do you carry out in this regard?

Mariona Sanz Ausàs. Through collaborations and licensing agreements, we work to transfer the results of research projects in the field of life sciences to society, acting as a driving force for innovation and competitiveness in the biotechnology industry. These projects are based on theoretical and computational methods related to diverse fields such as molecular modeling, genomics, proteomics, cancer research, etc.

The results can be transferred directly to the industry or to new spin-off companies created by BSC itself. For example, Nostrum Biodiscovery (drug design), Nextmol (molecular simulation), FrontWave Imaging (breast cancer detection), or ELEM (biomechanical simulations).

AseBio. Based on your experience, what is the picture observed in the biotechnology sector in Spain from the perspective of innovation and development?

Mariona Sanz Ausàs. The biotechnology sector in Spain is a constantly growing sector with significant importance in terms of GDP. This sector has demonstrated high competitiveness on a global scale, thanks to its innovative efforts and development of new solutions. It is worth noting that the sector has mechanisms in place to collaborate with research and development entities. Through this public-private collaboration, patents, spin-offs, start-ups, and new technologies emerge, providing a differential advantage to the sector.

AseBio. Is there any gap in this regard between Spain and Europe? What aspects could be improved?

Mariona Sanz Ausàs. The biotechnology sector has demonstrated its capacity to generate high-quality employment and attract talent. To remain competitive at the European level and continue to attract talent, it is necessary to increase investment ratios in research and development through public-private collaboration.

While it may be challenging to compete with European multinational companies due to the limited size of national companies.

AseBio. You manage MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe. What possibilities does it offer?

Mariona Sanz Ausàs. BSC has the dual role of being both a research infrastructure and a research center, and its performance in both areas is reflected in obtaining several distinctions and participating in prestigious international projects.

In addition to participating in some of the most important research and infrastructure projects in HPC (see the projects section), BSC plays a key role in think tanks and strategic global forums for HPC and Big Data, where future research priorities are defined.

BSC-CNS offers access to its supercomputing resources and data exploitation through the Spanish Supercomputing Network (RES), open to the Spanish and European research community. The requests received are evaluated based on their technical and scientific excellence, and resources are allocated accordingly.

AseBio. What does BSC expect from its participation in BIOSPAIN 2023?

Mariona Sanz Ausàs. Through its participation in BIOSPAIN, BSC hopes to stimulate its portfolio of technologies in various fields related to omics (genomics, proteomics, etc.), molecular modeling, and cancer detection. In this way, it can receive feedback from the business/industrial sector and explore potential collaborations.