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EF: Could you give us an overview of Biocat and the current priorities on your agenda?
RF: Biocat was created in 2006, and since then, our ecosystem has expanded significantly, presenting us with new challenges that we addressed extensively over the past year within our board of trustees. One of our main challenges in Catalonia is managing our growth effectively. We have experienced rapid expansion, which has outpaced our capacity—not just in terms of retaining existing talent but in training individuals with the necessary skills for our ecosystem. Attracting skilled professionals from abroad is also crucial, given that new technologies demand new expertise. This concept of upskilling and attracting talent is a major challenge for us.
Another critical challenge is preparing for the development of advanced therapies, including emerging and advanced therapies. While these hold promise at the clinical level, their current high costs are not sustainable within our public healthcare systems. To address this, we are collaborating closely with both the public and private sectors to explore innovative models of collaboration and overcome existing barriers. Our aim is to ensure that innovative solutions are not only developed but are also affordable and accessible to the general population.
We also emphasize the adoption of innovation beyond new therapies. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of transforming healthcare systems to enhance sustainability, which hinges on effectively implementing and adopting the innovations we are creating. Despite having exceptional research centers and innovative companies generating groundbreaking ideas, there is a critical need to ensure that these innovations translate into tangible improvements within healthcare systems.
This gap between innovation and adoption is a pressing issue we are actively addressing in Europe. We are facing significant administrative complexity due to the presence of multiple levels of governance—European, Spanish, and Catalan—which often results in bureaucratic barriers that hinder entrepreneurs. We are actively working to streamline and expedite these processes to facilitate business development.
Another critical challenge is digital transformation. This was especially heightened by the pandemic. Our population is aging, presenting increased healthcare demands and budget constraints. To address this, we must integrate digital technologies to enhance efficiency and affordability in healthcare delivery. This entails not only adopting innovations but also upskilling professionals and educating the public to embrace new perspectives. These are the main challenges we are facing in Catalonia.
We have seen substantial growth in our ecosystem, but now we must catalyze the final scale-up. We need to attract investment and establish local production capabilities to develop therapies and solutions within Catalonia. We aspire to elevate Catalonia's position, akin to competing in the Champions League. We aim to cultivate a robust innovation ecosystem that meets global standards and fulfills local needs.
EF: What makes Catalonia so attractive for investment from a life sciences perspective?
RF: For me, it is quite straightforward—it is all about the network. In the past, Catalonia made specific investments in research that laid a strong foundation for our current status. We have outstanding scientific research centers, and hospitals recognize the importance of research, making them attractive for clinical trials, which are now one of our main assets. This increased technology transfer and led to the creation of numerous startups and business ventures across Catalonia. This foundational work in science and research is crucial because it enables us to scale up effectively.
From the beginning, there was a shared vision within our ecosystem, which prompted the creation of Biocat—to collaborate and build a robust network. While other ecosystems may have similar organizations, such as clusters or associations with company members and public agencies, Biocat stands out as a private foundation that connects companies, associations, and public sector agencies. We act as an umbrella, covering all these other entities. I recently attended a meeting with investors, researchers, and startups—both large and small. Such interactions occur daily in various venues throughout Catalonia, fostering synergies and collaborations that enhance productivity and unlock the full potential of our sector.
EF: How can we improve access to gene therapies and innovative therapies?
RF: We are currently in the process of establishing a network for advanced therapies in Catalonia. This initiative will bring together key stakeholders, including hospital research centers, investors, startups, spin-offs, and large and small companies. The purpose of this network is to convene these stakeholders to identify and address the most critical barriers, such as regulatory hurdles, intellectual property considerations, and accessibility of innovation within the healthcare system. Through these discussions, we aim to derive new insights and learnings that will inform our approach moving forward. It's essential to shift our mindset because advanced therapies are fundamentally different from traditional drugs. As an organic chemist myself, I understand that developing new therapies requires a fresh perspective and innovative strategies. You can do this in a lab without having any contact with the patients. That contact will occur later in the clinical trials.
When discussing advanced therapies and their implementation, direct engagement with patients, healthcare providers, and hospitals is essential. Companies cannot develop and deploy these therapies effectively without the involvement of the public healthcare system. Likewise, the public healthcare system relies on the expertise and capabilities of companies to bring these solutions to market. This mutual reliance highlights the necessity of public-private partnerships in our work. It is not merely a beneficial option but an imperative. Collaboration between these sectors is crucial for success. We must work together closely to address the challenges posed by advanced therapies, ensuring that our efforts are aligned and impactful. This collaborative approach is fundamental to our work and the progress we aim to achieve.
EF: How is Biocat working to facilitate the real-life application of AI technology in healthcare?
RF: First and foremost, AI presents a learning curve not only in terms of its capabilities but also in understanding the problems it can solve. Access to quality data is the foundation of AI's effectiveness. Without substantial and quality data, AI algorithms cannot function optimally. Fortunately, in Catalonia and across Spain, our public healthcare system provides access to data from a significant population of 8 million people in Catalonia alone. This access to comprehensive data sets is a unique advantage compared to other ecosystems.
However, despite this wealth of data, we face challenges in making it readily available for research and innovation purposes. The main challenge is affordability. We are actively collaborating with the Ministry of Health in Catalonia, the Ministry of Health in Spain, and the European Commission to address these challenges. Our efforts include leading a project on behalf of Spain within Europe to identify and bridge gaps between European states, paving the way for the development of the European Health Data Space. This initiative is important because without addressing data accessibility, AI algorithms will struggle to deliver meaningful outcomes for individuals. At Biocat, we are heavily focused on this area, aiming to support and enhance our healthcare system through improved data utilization.
This morning, a colleague mentioned that despite the vast amount of data generated during the pandemic in his organization, only 10% to 15% of this data is currently usable due to poor quality or irretrievability of the rest. This level of data loss is unacceptable because it represents a significant loss of valuable information that could otherwise inform crucial algorithms and analyses.
EF: How are you ensuring that the talent required by companies and startups aligns with the expertise available at universities and research institutions? How are you actively attracting and integrating this diverse talent pool into your ecosystem?
RF: There are different levels to attract talent. In the short term, the existing network and connections within Catalonia make it easier to observe the movement of talent. When I completed my PhD around 15 years ago, the typical career paths were limited to academia or research, but now there are numerous options, including opportunities at both large and small companies. For instance, AstraZeneca's investment in creating 2000 new positions is one of the short-term efforts. However, there are challenges, such as talent shortages and competition among research centers. Nevertheless, these issues are solvable, and the live connections in our ecosystem mitigate their impact.
While we face scarcity in specific areas like advanced therapies and the need for business-savvy CEOs for startups, we recognize the importance of attracting individuals with expertise in both scientific and business domains. Sometimes, investors must seek talent internationally to fill these crucial roles. In the medium and long term, we aim to increase and enhance specialized training within Catalonia, not only through universities but also business schools. Over the next four to six years, we anticipate significant advancements in this regard. Additionally, we are focused on elevating Catalonia's profile as an appealing destination for talent, both for Catalans who ventured abroad and wish to return and for international professionals seeking rewarding opportunities. Collaboration with various institutions around Barcelona underscores our efforts to highlight the city's allure, not just for its lifestyle but also as a thriving hub for professional growth and development within our ecosystem.
EF: If you had to design a roadmap to a prosperous and sustainable healthcare ecosystem in Catalonia, what are the most important pillars?
RF: The most important pillar would be to integrate digital tools into healthcare systems. This approach will raise awareness and align objectives, enabling personalized patient care. Digital tools establish a constant connection between patients and healthcare providers, encouraging visits to hospitals only when necessary—a critical shift for healthcare systems. Telemedicine fosters this ongoing connection, which is particularly vital given longer lifespans and increasing chronic conditions. Healthcare services must cater to urgent needs, with non-essential tasks managed from home, a transition only achievable through digital tools.
However, introducing these tools requires educating the public, especially older individuals, to avoid the perception of neglect by the healthcare system. Rapid, unaccompanied implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed overlooked lessons. It is easy to forget recent lessons from the pandemic, but we must not lose these opportunities; otherwise, we risk a diminished quality of care, which is evident in the growing reliance on private healthcare and indicative of waning public sector standards. While people may be willing to pay more in taxes for improved services, the healthcare budget remains constrained within Catalonia's total budget. The approximately 2 billion euros allocated to healthcare constitutes a substantial portion, and digital transformation is imperative to optimize these resources swiftly. Failure to act swiftly risks a decline in service quality. We currently have the innovation to implement digital tools. However, the problem is that we are not adopting them as we need to. It is always difficult to implement change in the healthcare system.
EF: What are your three favorite things about Catalonia?
RF: I think that Catalonia is the most European region in Spain. It has a rich history of openness to Europe. We have a diverse geography, encompassing mountains and favorable weather. Personally, having traveled to over 45 countries, I find Barcelona to be one of the best places to live. Its combination of historical charm and continuous adaptation to modern trends makes it stand out. Barcelona's appeal extends beyond its history and geography. It's a city that evolves with the times, embracing new ideas and innovations. Moreover, Catalonia's distinct language underscores its unique identity. Catalonia has always been welcoming to people from various backgrounds. This openness is ingrained in our culture, evident in the diverse population shaped by individuals from across Europe and Spain. Catalans take pride in this inclusive spirit, fostering a vibrant and dynamic community.
EF: Do you have any final message for our readers?
RF: We are leading innovation in Catalonia, and we are one of the most important hubs of health innovation in Europe. We are trying to make things easier and faster to become a real gateway to Europe. We only have 8 million people, but this country can serve as a gateway to accessing a market of around 750 million and understanding the European Union's business landscape. Our message aims to elevate its profile and position it prominently on the global map.
