The strategic plan for transfer activities at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) for the next four years, IRB Innova 2015, has received funding from the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the INNCIDE 2011 programme. This programme aims to promote knowledge transfer through strengthening Technology Transfer Offices.

The Innovation Department at IRB Barcelona is charged with protecting, developing and commercializing the discoveries and inventions made by investigators at the institute, ensuring that research reaches and benefits society. Started in 2009, the main activities of this department include providing support to researchers to identify, protect and license results from research, to promote agreements between the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors and to set up spin-off enterprises. The strategic plan sets out the technology transfer activities to be implemented at the centre up to 2015. “This plan allows us to grow and to consolidate the department, objectives in line with the firm commitment of the direction of IRB Barcelona to boost transfer activities”, explains Cristina Horcajada, head of the Innovation Department.

In this year’s call, the Ministry of Science and Innovation has awarded seven million euros of funding to 35 innovative projects. Through the INNCIDE programme, the Ministry intends to contribute to the development of a sustainable economy, with high value employment opportunities that are more stable to economic fluctuations.

More information:

INNCIDE 2011 Programme

Press note from the MICINN

Innovation Department at IRB Barcelona