The second edition of BIST Catalysers officially launched on 14 October, welcoming 18 new fellows from the BIST Community: three senior researchers, seven postdoctoral researchers, four PhD students and four research managers. The programme began with a kick-off event at the ICN2 Seminar Hall, open to the entire BIST Community, bringing together the new fellows and members of the innovation and technology transfer teams from BIST Community research centres.

Among the participants are two postdoctoral researchers from ICN2, Dr Roger Gómez Herrera (Nanostructured Functional Materials Group) and Dr Rosa Maria González Gil (Novel Energy-Oriented Materials Group). They will take part in the programme to further develop their innovation and entrepreneurship skills and explore opportunities to translate scientific research into real-world impact.

Opening the event on behalf of the Banc Sabadell Foundation, Dr Elena Sancho, senior researcher at IRB Barcelona and member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, encouraged the new Catalysers to embrace the challenges of entrepreneurship. “We are all scientists, we train in very good labs… however, when we enter the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the rules of the game change,” she stressed. “Be ambitious, be prepared to leave your comfort zone,” she advised the fellows.

The event featured an inspiring talk by Dr Mateusz Biesaga, CTO and co-founder of Nuage Therapeutics, a spin-off of IRB Barcelona established in 2021, backed by investors including Asabys and BStartup.

Drawing on his experience as a scientist turned entrepreneur, Biesaga shared valuable insights into the challenges of transforming scientific discoveries into business opportunities, from selecting a lead research programme and defining a business model to securing funding and building a strong team. “Success is built by people. Surround yourself with exceptional people, and remember to celebrate milestones,” he advised the new Catalysers.

The kick-off event also included a lively “Meet the Catalysers” session, facilitated by Dr Iolanda Marchueta, one of the BIST Catalysers programme lecturers, during which the fellows introduced themselves through an ice-breaking activity designed to foster connections within the new cohort.

Dr. Elena Sancho (left photo) and Dr. Mateuz Biesaga (right photo)

Catalysing disruptive innovation

Building on the success of its first edition, which ran from October 2025 to July 2026, BIST Catalysers returns with an enhanced training programme aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and strengthening innovation skills across the BIST Community.

As Dr Berta Gumí, Head of Strategic Programmes at BIST core team and leader of the BIST Catalysers programme, explained during the kick-off event, the second edition introduces new training sessions focusing on two areas identified for further development during the first edition: non-dilutive funding and oral presentation skills.

Through specialised training, interactions with innovation experts and entrepreneurs, and opportunities to build connections across disciplines and institutions, BIST Catalysers aims to equip its fellows with the skills, knowledge and networks needed to become catalysts for innovation within their research centres and beyond. As in the first edition, the programme will also feature expert-led roundtable discussions open to the entire BIST Community.

Source: BIST news.