Montserrat Vendrell appointed new director general of the Barcelona Science Park

Montserrat Vendrell joined the Barcelona Science Park —the first science park in Spain— during the park´s first stage of development when she held the positions of scientific director (1997-2005) and deputy director general (2005-2007). Throughout her professional career at PCB, Ms Vendrell was responsible for project management and implementation and her tasks ranged from strategic planning, implementation of science and technology services, and the design and management of the biocubator. She was also in charge of the Park´s international relations, particularly regarding biotechnology and biomedicine networks.

Montserrat Vendrell will undertake a dual role as PCBʼs director general and CEO of Biocat, the cluster organisation that promotes biotechnology and biomedicine in Catalonia, a position she has held since 2007. “The Park is a tool to promote innovation in the field of life sciences and, therefore, its mission and strategy are fully in line with the objectives of Biocat, which are the promotion and growth of this sector in Catalonia", points out Montserrat Vendrell. "A single management body allows the undertaking of large scale economies and ensures the incorporation of PCB in the overall development strategy of the BioRegion of Catalonia. Both these projects are plural endeavours, the success of which strives in bringing our goals and objectives together and to create synergies among the different stakeholders”.

Montserrat Vendrell's appointment coincides with the beginning of the works to adapt the new Biocat's facilities at PCB, where the organization plans to move in the second half of the year. New Biocat's headquarters —part of a collaboration agreement signed between Biocat and PCB some months ago— will allow the organization to take profit of synergies emerged from PCB's science and businees environment.

Montserrat Vendrell (Barcelona, 1964) holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Barcelona (1991), a masterʼs degree in Science Communication from the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, 1997) and an Executive Degree in General Management from IESE Business School (PDG-2007). After a period of over 10 yearsʼ experience in biomedical research as postdoctoral researcher at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology (Hoffmann LaRoche, New Jersey, US, 1992-1995) and at the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (Spanish Research Council, 1987-1991; 1995-1997), she joined the Barcelona Science Park (1997-2007).

In 2004, Vendrell fostered the creation of a working group, composed by different stakeholders from the bioscience sector, the Government of Catalonia, and the Barcelona City Council, which developed the strategic plan of the future biocluster organisation in Catalonia, Biocat, which was founded in 2006. Since April 2007, Montserrat Vendrell is CEO of this organisation that coordinates and promotes the BioRegió de Catalunya —the cluster of biotechnology, biomedicine, and innovative medical technologies in Catalonia, that presently comprises 512 companies, 56 research centres, 17 university hospitals, 11 science and technology parks and 11 universities, as well as two large research infrastructure facilities and several platforms networks that support the transfer of knowledge and innovation.

Since March 2012, Vendrell is also Chair of the Council of European Bioregions (CEBR), the first European network of bioregions, created in 2006, and composed of about one hundred members, including Biocat.

The rector, Dr Dídac Ramírez thanked Salvador Maluquer for his work as director general of the Barcelona Science Park during his term from 19 March 2012 until 14 January 2014.