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In an interview with ConSalud.es, Ángel Lanas, scientific director of the Aragon Health Research Institute, explains the perspectives on health clusters and their impact on biomedical research in Spain
The clusters Health organizations are groupings or geographic concentrations of companies, research centers, academic institutions and health organizations that collaborate closely in a specific environment related to health and biomedical sciences. These clusters have as their main objective encourage innovation, research and development in the health sector, promoting synergies between different actors to improve competitiveness, efficiency and economic and social impact in the pharmaceutical industry.
«Health clusters are an essential element in the growth of the health sector, since their own dynamics, bringing together all the agents of the sector, both private and public, facilitate contacts and collaborations with the different regional governments. "It must facilitate the growth of the sector by going where the capabilities of the environment are better aligned with the interest of companies," he explains. Angel Lanas, scientific director of the Health Research Institute of Aragon (IIS Aragón).
One of the main benefits that clusters provide is the creation of an ecosystem conducive to research and development (R&D). By bringing together key players under one roof, facilitates the exchange of knowledge, resources and experience, which accelerates the generation of new therapies, medical devices and health technologies. This multidisciplinary collaboration not only drives innovation, but also strengthens the ability to respond to emerging health challenges.
«Promoting the business sector of the bio-sanitary environment and health is an opportunity that should not be missed»
«Promote the business sector of the biosanitary environment and health in regions like ours in Aragon, which has large university hospitals and health institutes, in addition to the University of Zaragoza With its enormous potential in different areas, it is an opportunity that should not be missed,” explains Lanas. “However, formulas must be sought that favor the joint exploration of opportunities".
Health clusters in Spain face important challenges which include the effective integration of different actors, the attraction and retention of qualified talent, obtaining sustainable financing and regulatory compliance. Overcoming these barriers is crucial to maintaining competitiveness, promoting innovation and consolidating the leadership of Spain in the health sector internationally. “In this sense, research institutes and clusters are ideal tools that we should not waste,” explains the scientific director of IIS Aragón.
With a renewed focus on Multidisciplinary integration, the attraction of specialized talent and the search for sustainable financing, it is anticipated that these groups will continue to be engines of innovation, contributing not only to the improvement of public health, but also to the strengthening of economic competitiveness of the country in the international arena.
“I have seen a clear growth in them”
For his part, Lanas has an optimistic vision. “I have seen a clear growth in them and how the different regional governments (not to forget that Health is completely transferred to the communities) are promoting the landing of the biomedical companies in their territories.”
In Spain, the innovation integration and technology in health research is marking a significant path towards substantial advances and efficiency in the sector. In recent years, there has been a growing push towards the digitalization of processes, the implementation of Artificial Intelligence and the use of big data in biomedical research.
«In health it is clear that innovation and technological incorporation in healthcare are crucial for progress and the transfer of knowledge to the patient, which is the ultimate goal of all our work,” highlights the expert. “In Spain we are progressing, but we are not at the forefront and again we incorporate innovations later than in other surrounding countries. To this we must add that, in my opinion, the inequalities between communities "They are evident and, therefore, they do not reach all citizens equally."
