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-Spokespersons of the recently created Alliance of Spanish Health and Biosciences Clusters, which unites 12 regional entities, informed Government representatives on Monday of the creation of the alliance and its vision to “turn the health sector into an economic engine”.
Madrid, May 13 – The 12 regional clusters that make up the Alliance of Spanish Health and Biosciences Clusters (ACESABIO) met this Monday with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities, Juan Cruz Cigudosa, the Director General of Industrial Strategy and SMEs of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Jordi García Brustenga, and the Secretary General of Digital Health, Alfredo González, to inform them of the creation of the largest Spanish alliance in health that unites the needs of the 1,050 Spanish entities they represent. Among them, ACESABIO advocates being valid representatives of the entire value chain and therefore a paradigm of public-private collaboration, shows its objectives of promoting territorial cohesion, as a meeting point and collaboration of the different Spanish regions and its ability to promote the Spanish industrial transformation, to be cutting-edge, innovative and competitive on a global scale. As a key point, it highlights the potential to triangulate opportunities between the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and to turn the health sector into an economic engine.
From left to right starting from the top row: Jesús Agüero (BIOVAL), Montse Fernández (SIVI Cluster), Carlos Lapuerta (AraHealth), Laura Corcuera (Navarra Health Cluster), Iván Rarís Filgueira (Cluster Saúde de Galicia, CSG), Javier Selva (CataloniaBio & HealthTech), Myriam Martín (TicBioMed), Loli Pereiro (BIOGA), Zara Pons (BIOIB), Idoia Muñoz (Basque Health Cluster), Marta Sánchez (WeMind).
The Alliance of Spanish Health and Biosciences Clusters (ACESABIO) articulates a collaboration between 12 regional health and bioscience clusters representing 10 Spanish regions: Arahealth (Aragon), Basque Health Cluster (Basque Country), BIOIB (Balearic Islands), Bioga (Galicia), Bioval (Valencian Community), CataloniaBio & HealthTech (Catalonia), the Sociosanitary Cluster of Extremadura, Cluster Saúde de Galicia (Galicia), Navarra Health Cluster (Comunidad Foral de Navarra), Cluster SIVI (Castilla y León), Ticbiomed (Region of Murcia) and WeMind Cluster (Catalonia).
It brings together 1,050 entities, a unique level of representativeness in the sector, with a strong business focus as 73% of the entities are SMEs, 197 of which are startups (18% of the total number of entities), 15% corporations, 12% knowledge centers, third sector entities and patient associations in the field of health in Spain. With an aggregate turnover of more than 27,000 M€ and a direct employment generation of 378,000 jobs, ACESABIO is an important player that reflects the entire value chain of the health and biosciences sector.
Covering everything from research and development to the marketing and distribution of products and services, the alliance, which was officially constituted at the end of 2023, is positioned at every stage of the process. This complete and particularized representation in each region, but coordinated by ACESABIO, allows it to understand the needs and challenges at each stage and in each territory, facilitating effective collaboration between companies, research institutions, public entities, the third sector and patient associations. Moreover, by being a reference in the whole chain, it can drive innovation in a holistic manner and promote synergies between the different actors.
It works actively to improve the competitiveness of its member companies, so that the business fabric generates new solutions that help to improve people’s health, and advocates the promotion of demand-driven innovation management. This approach contributes to economic growth with the aim of making healthcare an essential and strategic sector in Spanish industry. Despite the current uncertain economic situation, studies show that Spain stands out in innovation, has been the leader in 2023 in patent applications in Europe, leads the capacity to attract competitive funds in innovation and demonstrates a high investment in R&D&I.
Today’s meeting with the three public administrations provided an opportunity to highlight ACESABIO’s crucial role in fostering Spain’s industrial transformation, favoring cooperation between the various agents in the health ecosystem, which enables greater territorial cohesion to be achieved at the national level. It works in the generation of knowledge and technology transfer, and also intensifies the quality of talent in scientific areas due to greater access to highly trained professionals with competencies required by industry and companies. Objectives in line with the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2024-2027, program to support Innovative Business Groups (AEI) and the National Health System’s Digital Health Strategy and Strategy.
According to Idoia Muñoz, director of the Basque Health Cluster (BHC), ACESABIO emerges as a key player in promoting research, development and innovation in the field of health. This alliance, characterized by a collaborative approach, reflects the quality and efficiency of the services offered by the clusters. ACESABIO represents an exceptional opportunity to strengthen ties with other regions and industry participants, with the aim of driving scientific progress, innovation and competitiveness in the field of healthcare.
As part of this commitment, Idoia Muñoz visited the Ministries of Industry, Health and Science, Innovation and Universities on Monday, May 13, together with the other directors of the national clusters members of the Alliance, where meetings were held to share the challenges, opportunities and goals of the health sector.
