Montserrat Vendrell takes over as general manager of Barcelona Science Park
She will take up this new position while remaining in her current post as CEO of Biocat
Montserrat Vendrell has been nominated general manager of the Barcelona Science Park (PCB). The Barcelona Science Park Foundation Board of Trustees approved the nomination at the behest of Rector of the University of Barcelona Dídac Ramírez. Vendrell will take over management of the PCB while remaining in her current post at the helm of Biocat, the organization that promotes and dynamizes the life sciences sector in Catalonia.
Montserrat Vendrell has been linked to the Barcelona Science Park, the first in Spain, since it was created, acting as scientific director (1997-2005) and later deputy general manager (2005-2007). Over her time at the PCB, she was responsible for various executive and project-management tasks, including strategic planning, execution of scientific and technological services, design and management of the bioincubator, and the Park’s relations abroad, particularly through networks associated with biomedicine and biotechnology.
The new general manager of the PCB will, at the same time, also continue on in her post as CEO of Biocat, the organization that drives the Catalan biocluster, which Vendrell has held since 2007. “The Park is a nation-building tool to foster innovation in the life sciences arena and, thus, its mission and strategy are fully aligned with the aims of Biocat, which are none other than to promote and grow this sector in Catalonia,” explained Montserrat Vendrell. “Joint management will allow for economies of scale and ensure the PCB is fully included in the development strategy for the BioRegion of Catalonia. They are both pluralistic projects, the success of which lies in generating a critical mass and synergies among the various stakeholders involved.”
The appointment of Montserrat Vendrell coincides with the beginning of the works on the new premises of Biocat at the PCB, where Biocat plans to relocate during the second half of this year. The relocation of Biocat was dediced months ago by an agreement between Biocat and the PCB, and it will bring them mutual benefit through synergies at the vibrant scientific and entrepreneurial environment that the PCB provides.
Montserrat Vendrell (Barcelona, 1964) holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Barcelona (1991), a Master in Science Communication from Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, 1997) and an executive degree in General Management from the IESE Business School (PDG-2007). After more than ten years in biomedical research as a postdoctoral fellow at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology (Hoffmann LaRoche, New Jersey, US, 1992-1995) and the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC, 1987-1991; 1995-97), she joined the Barcelona Science Park (1997-2007).
In 2004, Vendrell spearheaded the creation of a workgroup, made up of different stakeholders in the life sciences sector, the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council, in order to develop a strategic plan for the future organization of the biocluster in Catalonia, Biocat, which was formally constituted in 2006. Since April 2007, Montserrat Vendrell has held the position of CEO of this organization that coordinates and promotes the BioRegion of Catalonia, the biotechnology, biomedicine and innovative medical technology cluster in Catalonia, which is currently made up of 512 companies, 56 research centers, 17 university hospitals, 16 science and technology parks, 11 universities, two large research facilities and many different platforms and networks to support the transfer of knowledge and innovation.
Since March 2012, Vendrell has also presided over the Council of European Bioregions (CEBR), the first network of European bioregions created in 2006 with nearly one hundred members including Biocat.