News
21/03/2017
Barcelona Synchrotron Park Sponsors the Sixth Ideas Generation Program
Barcelona Synchrotron Park Sponsors the Sixth Ideas Generation Program
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.
This program is based on: 1) Collecting technology challenges posed by local companies from a given sector, 2) Inspiring solutions from the UAB scientific community, 3) Training researchers to help them make their proposal a reality (assessment to elaborate a business plan, create a start-up etc.), 4) Evaluating these projects by experts, 5) Rewarding the best projects.
In the last five editions focused on ICT technologies, biotechnologies, environment, aerospace and culture sectors, respectively, 60 projects have been generated and 9 of them have been transformed into currently operative companies that could get a global amount of 1 million euros founds.
Barcelona Synchrotron Park supports this initiative that helps the economic development of the local territory and sponsors the sixth program, which this year is devoted to the biotechnology industry and biomedicine. This new edition starts now and will conclude on November 30 with the awards ceremony.
This program is based on: 1) Collecting technology challenges posed by local companies from a given sector, 2) Inspiring solutions from the UAB scientific community, 3) Training researchers to help them make their proposal a reality (assessment to elaborate a business plan, create a start-up etc.), 4) Evaluating these projects by experts, 5) Rewarding the best projects.
In the last five editions focused on ICT technologies, biotechnologies, environment, aerospace and culture sectors, respectively, 60 projects have been generated and 9 of them have been transformed into currently operative companies that could get a global amount of 1 million euros founds.
Barcelona Synchrotron Park supports this initiative that helps the economic development of the local territory and sponsors the sixth program, which this year is devoted to the biotechnology industry and biomedicine. This new edition starts now and will conclude on November 30 with the awards ceremony.
16/03/2017
A new class of inhibitors against pain investigated at the ALBA synchrotron
A new class of inhibitors against pain investigated at the ALBA synchrotron
The pharmaceutical company ESTEVE (2,470 people, 916 million Euros income in 2016), the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the ALBA Synchrotron joined together to investigate the mechanism of action of new inhibitors against pain developed by the company.
Getting new information about the interactions, active site and mechanism of action of the developed drugs and the therapeutic target may help to the better understanding of the effects of the inhibitors and can provide key information to improve their properties. In that sense, the XALOC ALBA beam line offers a valuable tool for carrying out the corresponding experiments.
As a first step, the research will be carried out at the Protein Production Platform of the UAB to obtain the pure protein complexed with the inhibitors. Secondly, X-ray crystallography studies will be performed at the biolab and in ALBA.
This project is a good example of public-private collaboration that fosters the synergies and relationships between the industrial and academic sectors to advance research and innovation.
Getting new information about the interactions, active site and mechanism of action of the developed drugs and the therapeutic target may help to the better understanding of the effects of the inhibitors and can provide key information to improve their properties. In that sense, the XALOC ALBA beam line offers a valuable tool for carrying out the corresponding experiments.
As a first step, the research will be carried out at the Protein Production Platform of the UAB to obtain the pure protein complexed with the inhibitors. Secondly, X-ray crystallography studies will be performed at the biolab and in ALBA.
This project is a good example of public-private collaboration that fosters the synergies and relationships between the industrial and academic sectors to advance research and innovation.
07/03/2017
Building a University Residence in the Barcelona Synchrotron Park
Building a University Residence in the Barcelona Synchrotron Park
In terms of its higher education offer, the Vallès region of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area is home to the UAB University, one of the best universities in Spain, and the prestigious business school ESADE. These two centres receive about 45,000 students.
The Barcelona Synchrotron Park (BSP), which is next to UAB and a few minutes away from ESADE, offers a strategically located and connected space for building a new university residence that would give students the opportunity to live in a green environment close to the leisure and cultural life of Barcelona.
Outside researchers who come for short or long-term stays in one of the many UAB or ESADE research centres and people visiting the companies set up in BSP are also an important potential for a future university residence.
For more information, download here the special report about the opportunity that BSP offers to invest in a university residence.
The Barcelona Synchrotron Park (BSP), which is next to UAB and a few minutes away from ESADE, offers a strategically located and connected space for building a new university residence that would give students the opportunity to live in a green environment close to the leisure and cultural life of Barcelona.
Outside researchers who come for short or long-term stays in one of the many UAB or ESADE research centres and people visiting the companies set up in BSP are also an important potential for a future university residence.
For more information, download here the special report about the opportunity that BSP offers to invest in a university residence.
01/03/2017
How Biodiversity is Supported in the Barcelona Synchrotron Park
How Biodiversity is Supported in the Barcelona Synchrotron Park
Parc de l’Alba, which includes its business area promoted as BARCELONA SYNCHROTRON PARK (BSP), is a 340 ha park undergoing urban development that pays particular attention to nature conservation, ecological restoration and support to the biodiversity.
This commitment was awarded in 2016 by the European Commission "Business & Biodiversity" label.
Mixed uses integrate the BSP, a residential land sector and extensive green spaces (190 hectares) for the conservation of biodiversity. One of the most iconic features is the green corridor, a large area of some 140 ha.
The Parc de l’Alba’s action program designed to enhance its green infrastructure and support biodiversity can be downloaded here.
This program is broken down into 5 core areas described in the document:
COREA AREA 1. Ecological restoration
CORE AREA 2. Application of ‘nature-based solutions’
CORE AREA 3. Ecological management of green spaces and pending building areas
CORE AREA 4. Supporting agriculture
CORE AREA 5. Healthy and educational network of paths
Contact: Consol Pérez, cperez@parcdelalba.cat
This commitment was awarded in 2016 by the European Commission "Business & Biodiversity" label.
Mixed uses integrate the BSP, a residential land sector and extensive green spaces (190 hectares) for the conservation of biodiversity. One of the most iconic features is the green corridor, a large area of some 140 ha.
The Parc de l’Alba’s action program designed to enhance its green infrastructure and support biodiversity can be downloaded here.
This program is broken down into 5 core areas described in the document:
COREA AREA 1. Ecological restoration
CORE AREA 2. Application of ‘nature-based solutions’
CORE AREA 3. Ecological management of green spaces and pending building areas
CORE AREA 4. Supporting agriculture
CORE AREA 5. Healthy and educational network of paths
Contact: Consol Pérez, cperez@parcdelalba.cat
23/02/2017
A Superconducting Electrical Generator in ICMAB
A Superconducting Electrical Generator in ICMAB
The Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) on the UAB campus, which has an agreement with the Barcelona Synchrotron Park to facilitate park companies’ access to its science and technology facilities, jointly with Gamesa Innovation and Technology, a leading Spanish technology company in the wind energy industry and the Institute of Materials Science of Aragón (ICMA-CSIC-UNIZAR), have successfully completed the first phase of development of the first medium speed superconducting generator to be used in conventional medium power wind turbines (2MW).
Remember that superconducting materials have the remarkable property to transport electricity without producing heat thanks to an absence of electrical resistance. This class of singular materials has been known by physicists for a long time but the technology transfer challenge is still there: this first prototype (see picture) as the result of four years of collaboration between the three entities is great news.
The advantages of this new type of electric generator compared to the conventional generators are diverse: it simplifies the entire mechanical structure of the wind turbine as well as the electronic system; simplifies assembly and maintenance, reduces the risk of breakdowns; the time of intervention for maintenance is extended; and, in the near future, the cost will be reduced according to the rapid evolution of superconducting materials.
The future implementation of this type of electric superconducting generator in the wind turbines opens a new perspective to the wind energy industry, making windmills more efficient and robust and reducing the costs of energy production.
Congratulations and fair winds!
Remember that superconducting materials have the remarkable property to transport electricity without producing heat thanks to an absence of electrical resistance. This class of singular materials has been known by physicists for a long time but the technology transfer challenge is still there: this first prototype (see picture) as the result of four years of collaboration between the three entities is great news.
The advantages of this new type of electric generator compared to the conventional generators are diverse: it simplifies the entire mechanical structure of the wind turbine as well as the electronic system; simplifies assembly and maintenance, reduces the risk of breakdowns; the time of intervention for maintenance is extended; and, in the near future, the cost will be reduced according to the rapid evolution of superconducting materials.
The future implementation of this type of electric superconducting generator in the wind turbines opens a new perspective to the wind energy industry, making windmills more efficient and robust and reducing the costs of energy production.
Congratulations and fair winds!
15/02/2017
Catalonia, a Gateway for China in Europe
Catalonia, a Gateway for China in Europe
“Catalonia solidifies its position as a gateway for China in Europe”. With this heading, economic journalist at La Vanguardia Catalan newspaper Luis Federico Florio wrote recently a paper (in Spanish) about the importance of the Chinese investments made in the region and highlighted its strengths: industrial know how, technology push and infrastructures.
Based on 2015 consolidated data, Chinese companies invested 160 million euros in Catalonia (60 million in existing companies and 100 million in the establishment of new firms), roughly half of the global amount of investments made in Spain. According to ACCIÓ managing director Joan Romero mentioned by Luis Federico Florio (ACCIÓ is the public agency in charge of attracting foreign investments in Catalonia), Chinese entrepreneurs see Catalonia as a gateway to enter in Europe and Latin America.
In this context, a key element is the port of Barcelona in which Hutchinson Port Holdings Chinese company operates the BEST terminal. The company has already invested 300 million euros to enlarge it and will invest up to 580 million during the 50-year concession started in 2008.
80 Chinese companies are currently operating in Catalonia and there is every indication that this number will increase in the coming years.
Based on 2015 consolidated data, Chinese companies invested 160 million euros in Catalonia (60 million in existing companies and 100 million in the establishment of new firms), roughly half of the global amount of investments made in Spain. According to ACCIÓ managing director Joan Romero mentioned by Luis Federico Florio (ACCIÓ is the public agency in charge of attracting foreign investments in Catalonia), Chinese entrepreneurs see Catalonia as a gateway to enter in Europe and Latin America.
In this context, a key element is the port of Barcelona in which Hutchinson Port Holdings Chinese company operates the BEST terminal. The company has already invested 300 million euros to enlarge it and will invest up to 580 million during the 50-year concession started in 2008.
80 Chinese companies are currently operating in Catalonia and there is every indication that this number will increase in the coming years.
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