When researching, one of the most complicated steps is the industrial production of what has been validated in the laboratory. start-up Dan*na has reached this stage after a year of proving its feasibility. "In the lab, everything goes well; the challenge comes when you increase the volume because it must be technically and economically viable," summarizes the company's co-founder and CEO, Xavier Marin. Based in the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), the startup will begin producing bioplastic in large quantities, a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastics such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

The biotechnology pharmaceutical company Hipra officially opened its new campus in Aiguaviva (Gironès) this Thursday, which aims to become one of the main hubs in animal and human health research and development in Europe. The complex has an investment of €500 million and occupies a total area of 114,000 m2, of which only 28,000 m2 have been occupied so far, the first phase. The institutional event was attended by the Minister of Industry, Jordi Hereu, and the President of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), Salvador Illa.

The investment fund Ysios Capital has closed a purchase agreement with the Swiss multinational CSL for a maximum price of 2.2 billion dollars (about 1.862 billion euros) for its start-up VarmX, the fund reported in a statement on Tuesday.

SpliceBio has become the biotechnology company that has raised the most money in the history of the sector in Spain. From its laboratories in the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), the Catalan company has raised €119 million. in a financing round which will be used to validate the gene therapy he has developed for a rare disease that causes blindness. More than ten years ago, the company was born from the research conducted by Miquel Vila-Perelló and Silvia Frutos in the United States, under the leadership of Professor Tom Muir, a pioneer in protein modification that allows them to attack Stargardt disease. With a workforce of more than 40 employees, the company grew alongside the local biotechnology sector, which set another investment record this first half of the year with €227 million, according to data from Biocat.

The pandemic boosted investment in the healthcare sector, achieving unprecedented levels, but Catalan companies are struggling to attract local investors. Catalan funds disbursed €158 million in 2024, but only allocated 19% of this to Catalonia, according to a report prepared by Catalonia.Health and EY. This represents approximately €30 million. This proportion has also been declining in recent years, compared to 30% in 2023 and 51% in 2022.