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Scientist working in a laboratory

Galicia’s role in digitizing science

Galicia’s role in digitizing science

The regional government has designed a Biotechnology Consolidation Strategy

On 5 May, Francisco Conde, the Galician Minister of Economy, held a virtual meeting with representatives from the Mestrelab company, which specializes in creating software for scientific laboratories. The two sides specifically discussed the FutureLab project that counts with involvement from the regional government (Xunta) in terms of financial support through the Smart Factory programme.

In the opinion of Minister Conde, projects, such as FutureLab, were instrumental in making Galicia a pioneering and reference place on a global scale in terms of the digitization of R&D laboratories in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological and chemical industries.

Technology to cross the boundaries between research and applied science

FutureLab, which is also funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aims to incorporate modern software in the creation of a cloud environment that would unite the main actors working in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries with those working in academic research.

Furthermore, this would allow the interaction and exchange of knowledge between these parties and analytical equipment manufacturers. The sought result is the eventual creation of an integrated ecosystem in these scientific fields which operates autonomously from the restriction of geographical barriers and distances.

The data that is shared in the system can be exploited by AI while preserving confidentiality. The creators of this software are confident that this would facilitate automation in the value chain and increase predictive science.

Francisco Conde pointed out that this joint effort helps Galicia to position itself in the top positions of a decisive sector, such as biotechnology. He recalled the Biotechnology Consolidation Strategy that the Xunta is designing, with the contributions from the sector, which will be the roadmap to be followed for the next five years.

Under this strategy during the last four years, 262 million euros have already been mobilized for different biotech projects, with the hiring of 250 professionals. In addition, two incubators were created: Business Factory Medicines (BFMedicines), for the development of new drugs, and BioIncubaTech, to drive innovation in the field of health and food. A Digital Innovation Hub (DATAlife) was also set up for the digitization of SMEs and the primary, biotech and health sectors.

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