News
19/12/2016
Foundation stone ceremony for Natura Bissé’s new world headquarters in Barcelona Synchrotron Park
Foundation stone ceremony for Natura Bissé’s new world headquarters in Barcelona Synchrotron Park
On December 17, Natura Bissé, a Spanish family business leader in innovation and development of high-end cosmetic products, performed the foundation stone ceremony of its new world headquarters in the Barcelona Synchrotron Park (BSP), the Parc de l’Alba’s business area. The future 13,500 sqm building will host the research center, the business and logistics departments, the production plant and an area specially devoted to training and innovation. The corresponding investment is € 15 million.
The company is present in 35 countries and is currently committed to a growth plan that includes the consolidation and the expansion in high potential cosmetic markets such as the Asian one, which already represents 14% of Natura Bissé’s turnover. The company employs 300 people and generated a € 49.7 million turnover in 2015.
With a business based on R&D added value, the future establishment of Natura Bissé’s world headquarters in BSP is great news forthe park.
The company is present in 35 countries and is currently committed to a growth plan that includes the consolidation and the expansion in high potential cosmetic markets such as the Asian one, which already represents 14% of Natura Bissé’s turnover. The company employs 300 people and generated a € 49.7 million turnover in 2015.
With a business based on R&D added value, the future establishment of Natura Bissé’s world headquarters in BSP is great news forthe park.
15/12/2016
The Bioregion of Catalonia in Nature
The Bioregion of Catalonia in Nature
The prestigious science journal Nature has included a special supplement on Catalonia and its companies and research centers with its 24 November issue. Entitled “Spotlight on Catalonia”, the publication has devoted a total of 20 pages to the BioRegion of Catalonia and its stakeholders including ALBA synchrotron and its important activity in the life sciences field.
The special includes 3 pages of editorial contents produced by the journal, analyzing the factors that have allowed the BioRegion of Catalonia to weather the financial crisis that has “hit Spain hard” and keep research “in surprisingly good shape”. The article highlights, for example, that Catalonia obtained 180 research grants from the European Research Council (ERC) between 2007 and 2015, more than the rest of Spain combined.
The article also highlights the role of the ICREA agency created by the Catalan Government in 2001 to attract researchers with internationally competitive salaries, a policy that Nature authors say has worked in key areas like genomics, photonics and supercomputing, putting buffers in place in the BioRegion before the storm arrived.
News based on the press release issued by Biocat, the organization that coordinates and promotes the health and life sciences sector in Catalonia.
Image: Biocat
The special includes 3 pages of editorial contents produced by the journal, analyzing the factors that have allowed the BioRegion of Catalonia to weather the financial crisis that has “hit Spain hard” and keep research “in surprisingly good shape”. The article highlights, for example, that Catalonia obtained 180 research grants from the European Research Council (ERC) between 2007 and 2015, more than the rest of Spain combined.
The article also highlights the role of the ICREA agency created by the Catalan Government in 2001 to attract researchers with internationally competitive salaries, a policy that Nature authors say has worked in key areas like genomics, photonics and supercomputing, putting buffers in place in the BioRegion before the storm arrived.
News based on the press release issued by Biocat, the organization that coordinates and promotes the health and life sciences sector in Catalonia.
Image: Biocat
07/12/2016
Digitus II Awarded By Barcelona Synchrotron Park As Best Business Idea Of The UAB University Research Park
Digitus II Awarded By Barcelona Synchrotron Park As Best Business Idea Of The UAB University Research Park
The Ideas Generation Program organized by PRUAB, the UAB University research park, is an original initiative supported by Barcelona Synchrotron Park that sponsors the top prize: every year, it aims at offering companies the benefit of the UAB researchers’ wealth of creativity to get proposals to their technological challenges.
Cultural industries are the focus of the 5th edition: 12 challenges from this field coming from local city councils, cultural companies and multinationals were gathered and presented to about 50 researchers in early October. From then onwards, 7 projects have emerged thanks to the help of 9 experts in coaching, entrepreneurship, innovation, management, intellectual property etc.
On December 1, the 3 best projects were rewarded by a panel of 5 experts in promotion of business ideas. Top prize (€ 2,500 and a six-month stay in the PRUAB business incubator) was awarded by Barcelona Synchrotron Park Director Mr. Pere Solà to the Digitus II project presented by Pau Ribau, Marçal Rossinyol and Juan Ignacio Toledo from the UAB Computer Vision Center (CVC). These researchers have developed a piece of software that automatically transforms any image of hand-written documents into a digitalized and indexable file.
Congratulations!
Cultural industries are the focus of the 5th edition: 12 challenges from this field coming from local city councils, cultural companies and multinationals were gathered and presented to about 50 researchers in early October. From then onwards, 7 projects have emerged thanks to the help of 9 experts in coaching, entrepreneurship, innovation, management, intellectual property etc.
On December 1, the 3 best projects were rewarded by a panel of 5 experts in promotion of business ideas. Top prize (€ 2,500 and a six-month stay in the PRUAB business incubator) was awarded by Barcelona Synchrotron Park Director Mr. Pere Solà to the Digitus II project presented by Pau Ribau, Marçal Rossinyol and Juan Ignacio Toledo from the UAB Computer Vision Center (CVC). These researchers have developed a piece of software that automatically transforms any image of hand-written documents into a digitalized and indexable file.
Congratulations!
29/11/2016
The European Commission awards the “Business & Biodiversity” label to Barcelona Synchrotron Park
The European Commission awards the “Business & Biodiversity” label to Barcelona Synchrotron Park
Parc de l’Alba that includes the so-called Barcelona Synchrotron Park (BSP) business area pays particular attention to nature conservation and ecological restoration.
In that way, the “Business & Biodiverstiy” label awarded last month to BSP by the European Commission is encouraging news:
From the very first design, urban planning has defined a harmonious ensemble where business and residential areas share a common space with crops, watercourses and woods, including a preserved large ecological connector: among other actions, two wildlife crossings were built across the Cerdanyola-Sant Cugat road completely renovated by the park.
Green areas (50% of the 400-hectare park), which are home to wild flora and fauna, provide both a natural and healthy environment to nearby residents and BSP companies employees that can find in the park recreation areas in contact with nature.
BSP’s actions program to support its Green Infrastructure comprises 5 axes: 1) Ecological restoration; 2) Implementation of nature-based solutions; 3) Ecological management of green spaces and pending building areas; 4) Support for agriculture; 5) Healthy and pedagogical network of paths.
This EU “Business & Biodiversity” award has been possible thanks to the advice and guidance of Minuartia, a wildlife consultancy in the fields of biodiversity and wildlife management.
In that way, the “Business & Biodiverstiy” label awarded last month to BSP by the European Commission is encouraging news:
- On the one hand, it is recognition of the relevance of the actions carried out by BSP from the very beginning to date in order to improve biodiversity.
- On the other hand, this European label gives BSP an opportunity to participate to work groups to share experiences and explain at the European level what is implemented in the park. By the way, BSP participated to the annual B&B annual meeting organized in The Hague (Netherlands) last week where the Park could explain its actions program for the first time.
- Lastly, this label strengthens BSP in its commitment with nature and the territory to create jobs and improve the quality of people’s lives.
From the very first design, urban planning has defined a harmonious ensemble where business and residential areas share a common space with crops, watercourses and woods, including a preserved large ecological connector: among other actions, two wildlife crossings were built across the Cerdanyola-Sant Cugat road completely renovated by the park.
Green areas (50% of the 400-hectare park), which are home to wild flora and fauna, provide both a natural and healthy environment to nearby residents and BSP companies employees that can find in the park recreation areas in contact with nature.
BSP’s actions program to support its Green Infrastructure comprises 5 axes: 1) Ecological restoration; 2) Implementation of nature-based solutions; 3) Ecological management of green spaces and pending building areas; 4) Support for agriculture; 5) Healthy and pedagogical network of paths.
This EU “Business & Biodiversity” award has been possible thanks to the advice and guidance of Minuartia, a wildlife consultancy in the fields of biodiversity and wildlife management.
21/11/2016
Barcelona 2nd Smart City in the World
Barcelona 2nd Smart City in the World
With 600 cities represented, 590 exhibitors, 420 speakers, 17,000 visitors, Smart City Expo World Congress 2016 held in Barcelona last week is one of the most important world events in this field. This congress gives a good opportunity to mention the Global top ranking smart cities 2016 carried out by Juniper and released in last May.
According to some 40 metrics, covering technology, transport, energy, open data and economy, it was found that Singapore is a world leader in applying smart mobility policies and technology. Barcelona ranks 2nd ahead of London, San Francisco and Oslo. The Catalan capital was found to be particularly strong with regards to its energy and sustainability policies.
With its tri-generation power plant, Barcelona Synchrotron Park fully embraces this smart dynamics: the centralized production of electricity (for ALBA synchrotron) and heat and cooling distributed across the park reduces by 35% CO2 emission and saves companies money, by simplifying air conditioning systems.
According to some 40 metrics, covering technology, transport, energy, open data and economy, it was found that Singapore is a world leader in applying smart mobility policies and technology. Barcelona ranks 2nd ahead of London, San Francisco and Oslo. The Catalan capital was found to be particularly strong with regards to its energy and sustainability policies.
With its tri-generation power plant, Barcelona Synchrotron Park fully embraces this smart dynamics: the centralized production of electricity (for ALBA synchrotron) and heat and cooling distributed across the park reduces by 35% CO2 emission and saves companies money, by simplifying air conditioning systems.
15/11/2016
Barcelona Synchrotron Park Sponsors the PRUAB Ideas Generation Program
Barcelona Synchrotron Park Sponsors the PRUAB Ideas Generation Program
The Ideas Generation Program initiated by PRUAB, the UAB University research park, is an original initiative supported by Barcelona Synchrotron Park: It aims at offering companies the benefit of the UAB researchers’ wealth of creativity to get proposals to their technological challenges.
Cultural industries are the focus of this year: 12 challenges from this field coming from local city councils, cultural companies and multinationals were gathered and presented to about 50 researchers in early October. From then onwards, 7 projects have emerged thanks to the help of 9 experts in coaching, entrepreneurship, innovation, management, intellectual property etc. With this support, the 7 corresponding teams are currently working until the end of November on the design of their proposals: on December 1, these projects will be presented to a panel that will award the 3 best ones.
It should be noticed that in the last four editions focused on ICT technologies, biotechnologies, environment and aerospace sectors, respectively, 52 projects have been generated and 8 of them have been transformed into currently operative companies that could get a global amount of 900,000 euros founds.
Cultural industries are the focus of this year: 12 challenges from this field coming from local city councils, cultural companies and multinationals were gathered and presented to about 50 researchers in early October. From then onwards, 7 projects have emerged thanks to the help of 9 experts in coaching, entrepreneurship, innovation, management, intellectual property etc. With this support, the 7 corresponding teams are currently working until the end of November on the design of their proposals: on December 1, these projects will be presented to a panel that will award the 3 best ones.
It should be noticed that in the last four editions focused on ICT technologies, biotechnologies, environment and aerospace sectors, respectively, 52 projects have been generated and 8 of them have been transformed into currently operative companies that could get a global amount of 900,000 euros founds.
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