Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia is an interdisciplinary research centre focused on bioengineering and nanomedicine and based in Barcelona. The institute currently has 15 research groups and 200 researchers and staff from 18 different countries. IBEC’s patrons and founders are the Generalitat de Catalunya, the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).

IBEC’s mission is to conduct high quality research that, while creating knowledge, contributes to a better quality of life, improves health and creates wealth. The institute establishes close links with international research centres, universities, hospitals and industry to exchange talent and develop and execute projects.

IBEC's groups and their activities are organised into six research programmes:

• Cellular Biotechnology
Microbial biotechnology, health biotechnology, processes of production of biomolecules, neurobiotechnology, axonal regeneration, prion biology, regeneration of complex structures, biotechnology of cell reprogramming and directed differentiation of stem cells.
• Biomechanics and cellular biophysics
Mechanical properties at the cellular and molecular level, cellular biophysics.
• Nanobiotechnology
Nanostructures and surface functionalization, hybrid nanostructures, microfluidics, biosensors, bio-chips, lab-on-a-chip, microarrays and biomimetic systems, nanoscale bioelectricity; nanophotonics, single molecule fluorescence techniques, and superresolution optical nanoscopy.
• Biomaterials, implants and tissue engineering
Development of materials and structures for biocompatible replacement, tissue formation and technologies for repairing or replacing tissues and organs.
• Medical signals and instrumentation
Biomedical signal processing, control and monitoring systems for both treatment and prevention fields.
• Robotics and biomedical imaging
Support systems for minimally invasive surgery and surgical assistance. Obtaining and processing biomedical images at the level of organs, tissues and cells or biomolecules.

IBEC also includes the Laboratory of Nanobioengineering Research. This multidisciplinary centre was created in 2003 by the Centre de Referència de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (CREBEC, Catalan Reference Centre for Bioengineering). Promoted by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia), this centre aimed to coordinate the multidisciplinary research activities in biomedical engineering carried out in Catalonia. The CREBEC was composed of different divisions from the Centre de Recerca en Enginyeria Biomèdica (CREB, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC, Technical University of Catalonia), and the Centre de Recerca en Bioelectrònica i Nanobiociència (CBEN, Research Centre on Bioelectronics and Nanobioscience) of the Universitat de Barcelona (UB, University of Barcelona).

The location of IBEC in the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB) benefits a highly stimulating research in a biomedical environment in which the laboratory can work with entities from the public and private sectors that have shown interest in the biomedical applications of nanotechnologies. In addition, IBEC has access to powerful technological facilities, including the Nanotechnology Platform, which offers services in nanofabrication, nanomanipulation, and nanocharacterization.