In 2021, the University of Barcelona managed knowledge transfer projects worth over 24 million euros
In 2021, the University of Barcelona’s technology and knowledge transfer office, the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation (FBG), managed projects worth 24.31 million euros. Last year, collaboration between the UB and socio-economic agents led to the development of 564 projects, the licensing of 17 technologies, and the creation of two new spin-offs. These are the key indicators in the FBG’s activity report for 2021.
In 2023, the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation will celebrate 40 years of working to transfer the research results generated at the University of Barcelona to society through contract research, the creation of spin-offs, and the commercialisation of technologies, materials and licences. In this regard, last year, the UB had 1,921 active projects managed by the FBG and obtained 10.53 million euros in grants, while 670 companies and institutions outsourced research to the UB.
In terms of business creation, the spin-off Oniria Therapeutics (UB, VHIO and ICREA) was established last year with the aim of eliminating resistant tumour cells, and the UB became a shareholder in Reveal Genomics, a spin-off that develops innovative diagnostic tests in oncology and is already marketing a test that allows tailoring treatments for breast cancer. In this area, 18 entrepreneurial projects linked to the UB were also assessed. In total, the University holds shares in 22 companies.
The UB currently has 132 patents ready to be transferred. In 2021, 17 licensing contracts were signed with companies that use technologies developed at the UB.
Awards and grants
As every year, the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation has also contributed to the transfer of knowledge by awarding several prizes. The Antoni Caparrós Prize for the best knowledge transfer project was awarded to Albert Soler for the project “Isotopic geochemistry: a new technology for the improvement of environmental management,” and the Senén Vilaró Prize for the best innovative company was granted to Núria Serrat for the project “Co-creation of educational projects in museums: people-centred culture”. Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, SL, a spin-off of the University of Barcelona.
The FBG awarded 100,000 euros to four projects through the F2I grants. The sixth edition of this call recognised the development of a promising drug against childhood osteosarcoma, a project led by Dr. Maria Dolors Pujol, from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences; a potential molecular therapy directed against pancreatic cancer, a project coordinated by Dr. Neus Agell, from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; a digital microscope the size of a chip that facilitates its placement in hard-to-reach places, a project led by Dr. Anna Vilà i Arbonès, from the Faculty of Physics; and a gel with nanoparticles to improve disinfection in endodontics, presented by Dr. Elena Sánchez, from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences.