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”.
The 12 regional clusters that make up the Spanish Health and Biosciences Clusters Alliance (ACESABIO) met this Monday with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities, Juan Cruz Cigudosa, the Director General for Industrial Strategy and SMEs of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Jordi García, and the Secretary General for Digital Health, Alfredo González, to inform them of the creation of the largest Spanish health alliance that unites the needs of the 1,050 Spanish organizations they represent. Among them, ACESABIO advocates being a valid representative 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, he highlights the potential of triangulating opportunities between the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and turning the health sector into an economic engine.
ACESABIO articulates a collaboration between 12 regional health and bioscience clusters representing 10 Spanish regions: Arahealth (Aragón), Basque Health Cluster (Basque Country), BIOIB (Balearic Islands), Bioga (Galicia), Bioval (Valencian Community), CataloniaBio & HealthTech (Catalonia), el Cluster Sociosanitario de Extremadura, Cluster Saúde de Galicia (Galicia), Navarra Health Cluster (Community of Navarra), Cluster SIVI (Castile and Leon), Ticbiomed (Region of Murcia) y WeMind Cluster (Catalonia).
It brings together 1,050 entities, a unique level of representation in the sector, with a strong business focus since 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 billion and direct employment generation of 378,000 jobs, ACESABIO is a major player reflecting the entire value chain of the healthcare and biosciences sector.
Covering everything from research and development to the marketing and distribution of products and services, the alliance, which was officially formed at the end of 2023, is positioned at all stages 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 benchmark for the entire 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 underline ACESABIO’s crucial role in promoting the Spanish industrial transformation, favoring cooperation between the various agents of the health ecosystem, which allows achieving greater territorial cohesion 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 the competencies required by industry and business. Objectives in line with the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2024-2027, support program for Innovative Business Groups (AEI) and the Digital Health Strategy of the National Health System.
According to Carlos Lapuerta, Arahealth’s manager and representative and coordinator of the Alliance, “the reception by the three ministries recognizes ACESABIO as a first level interlocutor for the promotion of R&D&I in a “quadruple helix” format, in a structure based on collaboration to achieve excellence in the services developed by the clusters for the final benefit of its members”.
