The IBEC, a new institution to collaborate with the BMF

The two institutions have signed an agreement for the joint promotion of their respective activities in the field of biomedicine. This collaboration aims to create technical and scientific opportunities which may be applied in priority areas of scientific collaboration.

The Director of the Barcelona Macula Foundation, Dr. Jordi Monés, is “very satisfied with the agreement between the two institutions as it further boosts the research undertaken by the BMF in recent years to combat blindness”.

The agreement aims to establish a framework of permanent relations between the IBEC and the Barcelona Macula Foundation so as to improve the scientific, technological and healthcare impact of their activities, together with the general regulation of the studies and research projects which both institutions jointly perform.

Among other activities, the collaboration establishes the exchange of research, scientific and technical personnel, participation in joint projects, shared undertaking of innovative healthcare interventions and joint participation in science projects.

Dr. Josep Samitier, Associate Director of the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia, says “this type of agreement between internationally prestigious research centres like the BMF and the IBEC enables the general regulation of joint studies and research projects and the creation of synergies which may result in significant progress in the fields of healthcare which are of great interest, such as ophthalmology”.

IBEC is a non-profit private foundation created in late December 2005 by the Government of Catalonia’s Department for Innovation, Universities and Business and Department of Health, by the University of Barcelona (UB) and by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). The aim of the IBEC is to undertake quality research which, in addition to creating knowledge, contributes to a higher quality of life, improves health and creates wealth. The Institute has close ties to international research centres, universities and companies for the exchange of talent and implementation of projects.

This agreement adds to those signed recently by the BMF with the Catalan Institute of  Nanotechnology (ICN) and the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO).