The UB leads the ranking of Catalan universities with the largest number of projects selected in the call for Knowledge Industry Grants 2023
The University of Barcelona (UB), through the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation (FBG), its technology transfer and innovation office, leads the ranking of Catalan universities with the largest number of projects achieved in the call for grants of the Knowledge Industry 2023 of the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat of Catalonia.
Specifically, the UB has received a total of 1,169,680.53 euros in funding for the development of thirteen innovative projects. The call, promoted by the Agency for the Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR), aims to promote the knowledge generated in the scientific environment so that it can reach the productive fabric.
This prominent position of the UB and the FBG reflects their commitment and excellence in research and innovation, collaboration with the business and industrial fabric, and consolidates their reputation as a leader in knowledge transfer.
“These types of aid are very necessary to be able to facilitate the arrival of the knowledge generated by the research groups to society, which will be the final user”, points out the vice-rector of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Transfer of the UB, Dr. Mercè Segarra And he adds: “Our transfer office (the FBG) has been a key player in achieving these good results. Without the advice and support of the FBG staff and our research staff, we would not have come this far. This is the way for the University of Barcelona to become a leader in transfer and innovation, just as it is in the field of research”.
Innovative projects with the potential to be incorporated into the productive sector
The 2023 Knowledge Industry Grants program is divided into three modalities according to the maturity of the projects and innovative ideas: the Seed, Product and Innovators modality. Of the thirteen projects selected in this call, six are from the Seed modality, financed with 20,000 euros for each project, and seven belong to the Product modality, financed with approximately 150,000 euros each.
The Llavor modality is intended to finance innovation projects that are in the initial stages of technological maturity. The six UB projects selected in this modality add up to a total of 120,000 euros and are as follows:
– Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences
Christian Griñán Ferré, from the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, with two projects: Optimization of new G9a/HDAC6 dual inhibitors family for Alzheimer’s disease and other CNS conditions: from hit to lead; and Optimization of new FTO inhibitors family for main CNS conditions: from hit to lead.
María Luisa García López, from the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, and Physical Chemistry, with the project Nanotechnological eyedrops for glaucomatous neurodegeneration.
Carmen Escolano, from the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, with the project GBMDrug. Preclinical progression of a structurally new anti-glioblastoma drug.
– Faculty of Chemistry
Ana Belén Caballero Hernández, from the Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry – Sec. Inorganic, with the project Light-responsive albumin nanocarriers for diagnosis and therapy (NanoAlbuCarrier).
Josep Oriol Rius, from the Department of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry, with the project 3D microprinting.
The seven UB projects included in the Product modality add up to a total of 1,049,680.53 euros and will serve to finance projects aimed at obtaining prototypes in order to reduce uncertainties about the technical and commercial viability of the technology in development the projects that have been chosen are the following:
– Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences
Christian Griñán Ferré, from the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, with the project Lead optimization of selective G9a inhibitors family for Alzheimer’s disease treatment.
Diego Muñoz-Torrero López-Ibarra, from the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, with the project A first-in-class anti-Alzheimer lead that blocks multiple early disease mechanisms.
– Faculty of Physics
Angel Diéguez Barrientos, from the Department of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, with the project Microscopes on Organs-On-a-Chip.
Eduard Vives Santa Eulalia, from the Department of Physics of Condensed Matter, with the project Prototype twistocaloric refrigerator with energy recovery, based on natural rubber.
– Faculty of Biology
Antonio Monleón Getino, from the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, with the project Portable electronic device controlled by an APP for the in-situ measurement of the elasticity of flour masses based on artificial intelligence.
Sergi Munné Bosch, from the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, with the project Validation of the market release of RIPLESS, a natural solution to extend the shelf life of stone fruits.
– Faculty of Psychology
Carles Escera i Micó, from the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, with the project Predictive device for two-year neurodevelopment based on artificial intelligence applied to neonatal EEG records.
From 2015 to 2023, more than 2,369,681 euros have been granted to 48 projects presented by the FBG.