Biocat has launched a pioneering accelerator designed to support startups and scientific projects in the early stages of technological development. The initiative is supported by the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Barcelona City Council, with Leitat Technology Center as a knowledge partner and the collaboration of the Science Park of the University of Barcelona.
Advanced therapies are experiencing strong growth, and Catalonia is emerging as a leading hub in this field. According to the 2024 BioRegion Report, there are currently 21 treatments in clinical development and over 60 active trials, representing 70% of the total across Spain. These figures place Catalonia fifth in Europe and eighth globally in terms of the number of clinical trials involving Catalan centers.
To strengthen this leadership and accelerate the translation of these therapies toward validation and commercialization, Biocat has launched ATMP Catalyst, a pioneering accelerator designed to support startups and scientific projects in the early stages of technological development. The initiative is supported by the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Barcelona City Council, with Leitat Technology Center as a knowledge partner and the collaboration of the Science Park of the University of Barcelona.
ATMP Catalyst is complemented by the Catalonia Advanced Therapies Network, which leverages an ecosystem of more than 65 members to connect participants with experts, companies, and strategic infrastructure. This collaborative environment provides startups and research teams with access to an active, well-established community, facilitating their growth and entry into the market.
A Three-Year Program to Accelerate Advanced Therapies
L’ATMP Catalyst és un programa de tres anys estructurat en tres fases progressives, adaptades al grau de maduresa de cada innovació:
- Phase 1 (6 months – TRL 2–3): Technology concept formulation, development of initial prototypes, and early preclinical testing.
- Phase 2 (1 year – TRL 3–4): Experimental validation, safety and mechanism of action studies, and preparation of regulatory documentation.
- Phase 3 (1 year – TRL 4–5): Validation in laboratory settings, engagement with regulatory authorities, scalability strategy, and clinical trial design.
Each year, six new projects and/or companies will enter Phase 1, with the opportunity to advance through the phases and complete the full three-year cycle.
Key Differentiators: Exclusive Focus and Access to Infrastructure
ATMP Catalyst stands out from other acceleration programs thanks to its exclusive focus on advanced therapies and access to high-value infrastructure and services.
The initiative offers specialized mentoring, regulatory support, and strategic connections with investors and key industry partners, at no cost to participants within Catalonia’s health innovation ecosystem. In addition, the program provides access to state-of-the-art laboratories through a progressive discount model on rental fees (75% discount in the first year, 50% in the second, and 25% in the third).
- Specialized mentoring: Experts in advanced therapy development, regulation, intellectual property, business strategy, and market access.
- Access to state-of-the-art laboratories: Fully equipped labs and shared workspaces in two leading centers: the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) and Leitat. These facilities are designed to ensure competitive development and promote technology transfer.
- Leitat: 4 coworking spaces with shared labs (430 m²).
- PCB: 125 m² of fully equipped labs (individual and shared).
- Networking and investment: Connections with investors, hospitals, and CDMOs to support the transition to the clinical phase.
- Specialized training: Theoretical sessions, real-world case studies, and personalized advisory.
Top-Level Experts
The program brings together a broad group of leading mentors and experts in advanced therapies, including Esteve Trias, Executive Medical Director, and Sílvia Cufí, Director of Innovation of the Medical area at Leitat; Christopher Mann, Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at Asphalion; Joaquim Delgadillo, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Research Management at the Blood and Tissue Bank; Montse Galcerá, Director of the Pons IP office in Catalonia–Balearic Islands; Laura Rodríguez, Partner at Invivo Capital; Sara Secall, Partner and Investment Director at Inveready; Clara Campàs, Co-founder of Asabys Partners; Guillem Laporta, Partner at Ysios Capital; and Stefanos Theoharis, CEO of OneChain Immunotherapeutics, among others.
Who Can Apply?
ATMP Catalyst is open to research teams from research centers, universities, and hospitals with projects that have strong transfer potential, as well as early-stage startups (TRL 2–3) in need of support to navigate the initial stages of validation.
How to Apply
Applications for the first edition of the program are now open. The selection of the first six participating teams will take place between April and May, with the selected projects to be announced in June to coincide with the start of the program.
Interested teams can request more information and apply here.
They can also contact the Biocat team for any inquiries by emailing msalas@biocat.cat(Miquel Salas).
