The first conference of the Hospital Connection aimed at providing pharmaceutical, biotechnology and biomedical companies with access to collaboration models and clinical development lines of hospitals in Catalonia was held on July 2 at PCB. The availability of venture working, along with its working conditions, therapeutic areas of excellence and successful experiences from public-private collaboration partnerships were the main points discussed at  the meeting, which was promoted by the employer´s organization, CataloniaBio, currently based at PCB.

The conference was attended by innovation representatives from reference organizations such as Joan Bigorra, coordinator of the Catalona Subcommittee of Itemas; José María Tormos, research coordinator of the Institute Guttmann; Lluís Blanch, Director of Research and Innovation of the Corporació Sanitaria Parc Taulí;  and Joan Comella, director of the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). They all have in common their support to an innovation model that takes business into account.

One of the highlights of VHIR  is that they offer no-risk trial  at  zero cost  for the company “in exchange for 10% of royalties in case of success” explained Raquel Egea, head of  Innovation at this research center. The profile are projects lasting two years and preferably for drug reprofiling. One of the areas of high therapeutic interest are rare diseases.

At Institute Guttmann, we understand clearly that we must innovate in the provision of patient services and think about not only “what but how” (Open Service Innovation). “We need to achieve a business model for people to benefit from new technologies” said José María Tormos, who admitted having less collaborations with companies than they would like.

At Park Taulí, several recent collaborations have been carried out -Telstar, Ventura Medical Technologies, Vecmedical or Seys- for process innovation. “To solve problems we need companies”, acknowledged Louis Blanch, who went on to say “we do not have technical knowledge of the market, in addition to the impossibility of debt or financial risk.

Itemas, a network comprised of 56 hospitals and centres

These three hospitals are part of Itemas (Platform for Innovation in Medical and Health Technologies associated with Instituto Carlos III), together with other institutions 56 across the state. As recalled by Joan Bigorra, in recent years relationships with the industry are being fostered to encourage the transfer of knowledge and products, which will result in an improved health system: “In Catalonia, we have meetings every two months or so, yesterday at Vall d’Hebron, that are open to members and non-members and to the healthcare industry.”

ITEMAS hospitals have more than 500 projects under development or transfer and the network is continuously open to the entry of new collaborating entities. The projects in the bio field represent a 15%, tecmed a 50% and ICT / Big Data a 35%.