Collaboration, efficient management of intellectual property and creation of spin-offs, vital for technology transfer and a thriving innovation ecosystem

Technology transfer and collaboration are the fundamental pillars of biotechnological innovation. A binomial that allows frontier research carried out in the biotechnology field to be transformed into innovative solutions that reach patients. In this sense, biotech companies have specialized in covering one of the most critical links in the transfer chain: converting scientific discoveries into technologies.

Against this backdrop, AseBio and the Biotechnology Markets Platform have organized, as part of the 17th Annual Conference of Biomedical Research Technology Platforms (Barcelona), a round table discussion entitled “Collaboration and transfer: the DNA of biomedical research”. This meeting is promoted by the Biotechnology Markets Platform, set up by AseBio, in collaboration with the Spanish Technological Platform for Innovative Medicines, Fenin, Veterindustria and Nanomed.

Spain is positioned as the ninth global power in terms of scientific production in biotechnology. Despite this, there is a significant imbalance in our country between this scientific production and innovation performance. In this context, one of the main challenges we face in the modernization and transformation of our country lies in the need to connect scientific knowledge and research advances with the creation of innovative products that address economic and social challenges.

“Technology transfer must be understood as the opportunity to bring to the market a first, a technical advance, an innovative challenge. It must be conceived as a competitive advantage in the context of the current market. Incorporating value to the social context and accelerating the capacity we had as researchers to touch this fabric and multiply the capacity to transfer was the reason for creating Microomics", explains Pedro Iñaki González, co-founder, CEO and COO of Microomics.

“After an initial impulse of technology transfer, the spark or the starting point that sustains the entity or startup, it has to be constantly fed if it wants to perpetuate competitively and reinvent itself. The system itself, the spin-off itself, must begin to evolve and build resilience in its ability to transfer and adapt technology,” he adds.

“The links with our centers of origin, co-founders and long-lasting agreements (consortia, CDTI projects, operational groups) are key. If we understand technology transfer as a bidirectional exercise between research centers and markets, the channel and flow of opportunities will undoubtedly increase. The current challenge is to close the administrative and conceptual (mental) gap between our centers and the research and biotech fabric,” says Gonzalez.

Collaboration between the different links in the transfer chain is fundamental

Collaboration between the different links in the transfer chain is crucial. It is a key element in the creation and strengthening of the business fabric and, in Spain, it is fundamental for the development of the biotechnology sector.

In 2022 there were 295 alliances between biotech companies in our country, of which 189 were agreements with public centers, i.e. 64% of the collaborations are public-private. Behind these were collaborations between different biotechnology companies, with almost 20% of the collaborations. It should be noted that most of these alliances are focused on R&D (176), followed by clinical development and alliances dedicated to production.

A perfect example of this situation can be found at  Grifols Innovation and New Technologies (GIANT), as explained by its Vice President, Jose Terencio: “Our mission is to find the most advanced innovations outside Grifols to enrich our portfolio focused on therapeutic areas such as immunology, pulmonology, infectious diseases and others. We believe in collaboration and therefore, our partnerships span different levels, from investing in biotech companies with disruptive products in development, to acquiring companies to leverage our internal capabilities, and including exploring innovative technologies to enhance our solutions. We are committed to excellence and to constantly expanding our frontiers in order to improve the health and well-being of patients.”

“Collaboration between large pharmaceutical companies and small biotech companies is crucial for driving innovation and biomedical research. This type of interaction not only accelerates scientific progress, but also allows these small companies to transfer their advances and ensure that they reach society as quickly as possible. At Lilly SAU we have also been actively committed to collaboration with public and private centers of excellence, and as a result we have achieved important joint projects such as those recently signed with the National Cancer Research Center and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. Through these collaborations we intend to generate important advances in the knowledge and treatment of pancreatic cancer", says Juan Velasco, Vice President of Research at Eli Lilly.

Efficient management of intellectual property and the creation of spin-off companies, the driving force behind technology transfer.

Both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission (EC) have warned Spain about the need to promote technology transfer and collaboration in order to convert the excellent science we have into innovative solutions. The picture we observe of our ecosystem reveals our potential to create more spin-offs, but to do so, it is necessary to have professionals with the necessary skills and talent capabilities, as well as to accompany them in their growth.

In this sense, the protection of intellectual property in a way that allows researchers to advance and develop products and solutions derived from their research, is presented as one of the first steps we must take on the road to the creation of innovative products. “Efficient management of intellectual property and the creation of spin off companies are vital for technology transfer and for a thriving innovation ecosystem. Strong intellectual property protection is essential for the competitiveness of companies, and spin-offs are particularly useful for attracting investment, strengthening links between academia and industry, and boosting job creation and economic growth,” says Anabel Sanz, Head of Technology and Business Development Office CRG.