Over two intensive days, Navarra Health Cluster led a learning expedition to Catalonia’s health ecosystem — one of the most dynamic and collaborative in Europe. The initiative brought together our member organisations CEIN, Creo Medical, the University of Navarra Incubator and Ysium Medical Innovation, with the aim of gaining first-hand insight into the innovation models, technology transfer strategies and public-private collaborations that are driving the region’s health sector forward.
A benchmark in innovation and collaboration
The mission began with participation in Connection Day 2025 on 16 September, the major networking event organised by Catalonia.Health, which brought together more than 300 professionals from leading companies, hospitals, technology centres and universities within Catalonia’s health sector. The meeting served to identify synergies, share experiences and open up new opportunities for cooperation between the health ecosystems of Navarra and Catalonia.
Visits to key spaces within the Catalan health ecosystem
The following day, the NHC team also had the opportunity to visit the Barcelona Science Park, guided by its director María Terrades Palomar, where they learned about innovative projects in biotechnology, advanced therapies and health-sector startups.
The expedition then travelled to the Advanced Therapies Platform at Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, where Alessandra Magnani and Julio Castaño Cardoso presented the pioneering work being carried out in the fields of personalised medicine and paediatric research.
These visits made it possible to discover cutting-edge projects and collaboration models that showcase Catalonia’s ability to integrate science, business and healthcare within a single ecosystem.
A bridge between Navarra and Catalonia
This mission, carried out in collaboration with Catalonia.Health, strengthens the ties between Navarra and Catalonia and opens up new avenues to continue fostering health innovation.
In addition, it is part of a new Navarra Health Cluster service aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of its member organisations by facilitating access to new markets, strategic partnerships and first-hand knowledge of other leading ecosystems.
From NHC, we would like to express our sincere thanks to Catalonia.Health for their warm welcome and for the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into their network of companies, institutions and projects.
