Innovating Innovation systems: the Catalan experience

Arantxa Sanz Head of Corporate Projects

Spain? Catalonia? Innovation?

Social innovation to improve technological innovation?

IBEC – A 5-year old with a different attitude

“IBEC is a multidisciplinary research centre focused on the Development of the future medical technologies”•14 research groups contributing to three Research Flagships: Nanomedicine, Cell engineering, Intelligent Healthcare • 2 spin off companies created in 2008 and 2011.•Expert leaders in FP7 and contributors to HORIZON 2020•Member of the CERCA network of research centres

The way we were - Catalonia circa 2000-2002

CHALLENGES (increase budget but also..)•More international; more dynamic•Scientific excellence – evaluation “post”•How to bring closer Academia-Industry•Less centralized, more flexible admin•Implement proper tech transfer culture•Adequate legal framework to encourage enterpreneurship

RETHINK THE MODEL!

A cocktail of reinvigorating tools

•Recruiting and retaining top researchers•A new hiring and evaluation formula•An institution without walls•Supporting ICREA fellows in all KTT•210 ICREA fellows : 65% last research position was not in Spain (2010)

•New model of research centres•Scientific leadership + Int. Comm. Reviews•Professional research management: Minimize red tape!• Proactive policy regarding tech transfer•29 institutes (2011) vs 12 in 2002

•CENIT•CIBER

….And their effects

THANKS for your attention! asanz@ibecbarcelona.eu

•31 ERCs granted to ICREA fellows (58 in Cat; 1.8% of all ERC grants)•14 spin off companies from CERCA institutes; 4 sponsored by ICREA researchers.

•Number of start-up companies have grown > 20% annually•2000 employees (2009)