The emerging Basque Bio-science sector is currently made up of 66 companies that employ more than 1400 people, and closed the financial year of 2006 with a turnover that surpassed 300 million euros. The core of this young and heterogeneous sector consists of more than 40 bio-companies that conduct research, market pharmaceutical and biotechnological products, diagnostic studies and bio-materials (health-care products). They are accompanied by around 20 suppliers and specialist service providers. Most companies, jobs, investment in R&D and turnover are in the area of human health.
The scientific and technological community as a whole comprises around 1500 researchers distributed into just over 200 groups. The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) accounts for around 730 researchers, the health sector for around 300 and technology and R&D centres (including co-operative research centres (CIC's) - a growing area) for around 200.
Bio-science is the most recent area in which the Basque government is moving to develop companies, within the framework of the Biobask 2010 program. Actions in the strategic line of Business Development include the creation of new biocompanies, because the creation of a new business sector concerned with Bio-science depends largely on the capacity to generate start-ups and the subsequent growth of the relevant companies.The new companies (Start-ups) complement those already established, such as the pharmaceutical manufacturers FAES FARMA and BIAL Arístegui, or BTI Implant company (Biotechnology Institute).
Biobask 2010 has set ambitious objectives, such as creating 40 new companies and raising the number of jobs in only five years, the Basque Country has already created more than the half of the companies that make up the sector, totalling 24 biocompanies, whereby the European Union has brought it into the European Council of Bioregions (CEBR), which means that the Basque Country is participating in this Council as a fully-fledged member. The second stage of the plan aims to reach the figure of 3,000 employees by 2010,besides accomplishing the objectives for start-up.
The programme includes the construction of three co-operative research centres: two of them specifically concerned with Bio-science and the other with micro technologies. Three centres is already up and running, the CIC Biogune of Zamudio, in the Technology Park of Bizkaia. The CIC Biomagune will start up in November 2006 in the Technology Park of Miramón, and the CIC Microgune, also with Head Offices in the the Technology Park of Miramón, specialises in the area of micro/nanotechnologies
CIC Biogune works in the field of health, although it can also offer support to the Food and Agriculture and environment sectors. The centre focuses on genomics, proteomics, bio-IT, metabolomics, cellular and molecular biology and pharmaceutical technologies, and has 100 researchers and technicians. The building also boasts a biotechnology incubator, and five companies in this recently created sector are already moving in.
CIC Biomagune, specialised in bio-materials for a range of applications, and will co-ordinate its activities with CIC Biogune. The laboratory in San Sebastian is headed by the chemist from Seville, Manuel Martín Lomas, as scientific director, as well as the chemist Soledad Penadés
A quarter of the budget for rolling out the Biomagune project has been allocated to a Molecular Imaging Unit, which will put the CIC of Zamudio and Miramón on the worldwide scientific map by combining the best techniques in structural biology and molecular imaging.
The Basque government has created the Biobask agency to co-ordinate the operations of companies, universities and technology centres in this new sector. This agency seeks to strengthen the scientific community, forge closer links between its players and support the creation of new companies.
