The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) will promote the ‘Creation of new IBEC spaces for the Bioengineering for Sustainability Research Programme’ (BESOS-IBEC) project thanks to a Singular Institutional Grant. This grant is promoted by the Department of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has been awarded an “Ayuda Singular Institucional” (Singular Institutional Grant) by the Department of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia, which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The grant will fund the project ‘Creation of new IBEC spaces for the BioEngineering for SUStainability Research Programme‘ (BESOS-IBEC).
With a total budget of €3,390,545.41 and a grant of €1,695,272.71, the project’s main objective is to create new scientific spaces at the Diagonal-Besòs Campus of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). These spaces will promote a pioneering bioengineering programme aimed at sustainability. The new 1,535.7 m² facilities will include laboratories, cell culture rooms, microscopy spaces, and office areas designed to encourage collaboration and multidisciplinary research.
Through this initiative, IBEC will establish a new research focus on developing biodegradable and sustainable materials and applications for the circular economy and global health. The project will also promote bio-inspired manufacturing techniques, bioconversion strategies, and resilient systems to make industry more efficient, by integrating bio-inspired engineering principles at all scales, from cellular to ecological.
Additionally, BESOS-IBEC will foster synergies between IBEC’s research staff and other on-campus centres, including the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) and the Barcelona Centre for Research in Multiscale Science and Engineering (CRnE). This collaboration will strengthen the Catalan scientific ecosystem and contribute to innovations with social and environmental impact, in line with the RIS3CAT 2030 Strategy and European objectives for a green, digital and fair transition.
This grant is a significant milestone for IBEC, reinforcing its dedication to excellence and knowledge transfer. The goal is to establish a premier bioengineering and sustainability hub, fostering new scientific, technological, and economic opportunities for the country.
