15Nov
Press release
TECNALIA designs the first pre-fabricated modular balcony for built-up housing
- The setting up of this laboratory represents a milestone in the promotion of the Basque Pharma Labs 4.0 project, with which TECNALIA and the UPV/EHU aspire to become one of the European leaders in pharmaceutical development.
- It was opened today and presided by the President of the Basque Country, Iñigo Urkullu, the Deputy General of Alava, Ramiro González; the rector of the UPV/EHU, Nekane Balluerka, and the Chairman of TECNALIA, Emiliano López Atxurra
Miñano, 12th November 2018. The European pharmaceutical market foresees turnover of 260 billion euros in 2022, with an annual increase of 3.2%. By then, according to the consultancy firm Evaluate, the national market will represent at least 16.9 billion euros and will be the fifth most important country in the sector in Europe, where it is worth highlighting the leading position of the Basque Country, which has an optimum healthcare, technological and educational sector to drive the pharmaceutical industry at an international level.
Such is the case of the TECNALIA research and technological development centre and the University of the Basque Country that today, with the promotion and support of the Provincial Council of Alava; they have opened the first laboratory 4.0 in the Basque Country for the pharmaceutical industry, located on the Alava Technology Park. The event was presided by the President of the Basque Country, Iñigo Urkullu, the Deputy General of Alava, Ramiro González; the rector of the UPV/EHU, Nekane Balluerka, and the Chairman of TECNALIA, Emiliano López Atxurra.
These new facilities, which have been added to the existing laboratories located in the Pharmacy Faculty of the UPV/EHU, have involved investment of around 1.5 million euros, covering a surface area of more than 500 square metres and are equipped with state-of-the-art technology for the development of new drugs, in compliance with the most demanding international standards.
A project that looks toward Europe
The setting up of this laboratory represents the culmination of the Basque Pharma Labs 4.0 project, on which TECNALIA and the UPV/EHU have been working for 20 years in order to become one of the European leaders in advanced services for the pharmaceutical industry and a benchmark in drug R&D. They will also act as a bridge between the university and the pharmaceutical industry in terms of the research and development of new drugs, offering innovative solutions that enable companies to increase their competitiveness, seeking business profitability and sustainability, and generating GDP and qualified jobs.
The activities of the Basque Pharma Labs 4.0 focus on galenic and analytical development, manufacture of pilot batches for R&D projects and the training of professionals in the sector, which is of particular relevance and interest for the business fabric, which is calling for qualified professionals. The aim of this project is also to introduce the Industry 4.0 philosophy into the fields of pharmaceutical development, which will allow for more personalised therapies and the quality control and safety of the drugs throughout their value chain. To do so, they have a team of over 50 people, providing a service to more than 30 clients, which has increased its turnover by more than 52% over the past three years.
As a result of the collaboration between TECNALIA and the UPV/EHU, this project aims to become the launch pad for the sector in the Basque Country, creating new, highly qualified jobs in the forthcoming years, acting as an instrument for the development of the existing pharmaceutical industry in the immediate environment, attracting new pharmaceutical companies to Alava and the Basque Country, and working as a support tool for the public administrations and the rest of the healthcare research institutes.
About TECNALIA
TECNALIA is a benchmark Research and Technological Development Centre for Europe; with 1,400 experts from 30 different nationalities, focusing on transforming technology into GDP to improve People's quality of life, by creating business opportunities for Companies.
About UPV/EHU
The University of the Basque Country is ranked among the Top 500 universities in the world, according to the Shanghai ranking. It has over 43,000 graduate and post-graduate students, and employs more than 7,400 people in higher education, research and transfer. It is the main research agent in the Basque Country.
