On 18 June, the BIST Catalysers fellows gathered with KTT and Innovation professionals, laboratory colleagues, and representatives from BIST and the Banc Sabadell Foundation to celebrate the completion of the first edition of the programme.
The BIST Catalysers fellows with the institutional representatives of BIST and Banc Sabadell Foundation
Since October 2025, four senior researchers and group leaders, seven postdoctoral researchers, four PhD students and two research managers from across the BIST Community have combined their research and management responsibilities with training in innovation, business and entrepreneurship in science. As the first cohort of BIST Catalysers fellows, they met once again on 18 June to officially bring the programme’s inaugural edition to a close.
Due to flight disruptions that affected a planned visit in May, the fellows still have one important activity ahead of them: a study trip to Ghent, Belgium, where they will learn first-hand from the experiences of VIB and imec in technology transfer and business development. The visit is now scheduled for July.
BIST Catalysers is a programme designed by knowledge transfer and innovation professionals from across the BIST Community to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, encourage comfort with risk, and empower scientists and other professionals to recognise and develop innovation opportunities. The programme was made possible thanks to the support of the Banc Sabadell Foundation, which will also support a second edition starting in October 2026.
The closing ceremony took place at the BStartup Hub, a new Banc Sabadell space dedicated to startups, scale-ups and investors in the heart of Barcelona.
The event, hosted by Dr Berta Gumí, Head of Strategic Programmes at BIST, was opened by Sonia Mulero, Director of the Banc Sabadell Foundation, and Dr Eduard Vallory, Director of BIST. Both highlighted the strong sense of community that developed among the fellows, organisers and trainers throughout the programme. “You have been learning and creating community at the same time,” said Vallory.
E. Vallory, B.Gumí, and S. Mulero welcoming participants to the event (from left to right panel)
Three projects, three pitches
During the final weeks of the programme, the fellows were divided into three multidisciplinary teams. Each team worked on an existing innovation project proposed by one of the participants, developing a value proposition and preparing an investment-style pitch. The three pitches were presented during the closing event.
Dr Gabriela Dias, a Brazilian chemist at ICIQ, presented one of these projects. Called ioChem-BD, it originated in the laboratory of Prof. Carlos Bo and has already reached TRL 9. Dias and her fellow Catalysers participants worked together to refine the project’s value proposition and business case as part of the programme.
ioChem-BD is a database platform that helps computational chemistry laboratories manage the large volumes of data they generate every day. The platform aims to reduce storage costs, facilitate data sharing and support data-driven research.
As Dias explained, the original proof of concept dates back to 2014, and the team is now preparing the creation of a spin-off company.
Dias also highlighted the value of developing the pitch alongside colleagues who were not directly involved in the project. “It makes you realise that some things that seem obvious to you are not necessarily obvious to others,” she explained. According to Dias, one of the greatest challenges is learning how to clearly communicate both the technology and the problem it solves.
Other projects presented during the event were Nephra Breath, by Dr Piotr Chiochon (ICN2), and PSC-4-CF, by ICREA Research Professor César Rodríguez-Emmenegger (IBEC).
Catalysing a desire path — and a career path
Dr Juan Carlos Núñez Rodríguez is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Prof. Toni Gabaldon at IRB Barcelona and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. His research focuses on understanding how multidrug-resistant pathogenic fungi acquire resistance and how this process can be therapeutically addressed. He is already exploring the possibility of founding a spin-off company to develop new treatments for multidrug-resistant candidiasis, a disease responsible for nearly one million deaths every year.
Reflecting on the programme, he said: “Taking part in Catalysers meant changing my mindset. We met speakers with extensive experience who helped me identify both the strengths of the project and the areas that still need further development.”
During the closing ceremony, Núñez delivered a talk entitled Catalysing a Desire Path, in which he explained how the programme has influenced his own professional journey. He will soon join the Innovation Unit at IRB Barcelona.
G. Dias (left) and J.C Nuñez Rodriguez (right)
Celebrating the journey and preparing the next edition
The event also featured a round-table discussion moderated by Dr Fernando Bravo, Head of KTT and Industrial Projects at ICIQ, together with three Catalysers fellows. They reflected on the programme’s strengths and proposed improvements for the second edition.
The participants also encouraged the organisers to create opportunities for alumni to remain connected after the programme. “We want to be active BIST Catalysers alumni,” said the PhD student at IRB Barcelona, Luis Nieto.
“The trainers were very approachable, probably because we were a relatively small group, and we always felt comfortable asking questions,” explained Dr Roser Zaurín, researcher at the CRG. “I also really enjoyed the diversity of profiles within the cohort and the opportunity to visit other BIST Community centres.”
The next edition of BIST Catalysers will begin in October 2026. “I encourage anyone who might be interested to contact their KTT or Innovation office and learn more about the programme,” said Berta Gumí before inviting participants to continue the celebration over lunch and conversation.
See more photos of the Catalysers closing event
