The Knowledge Industry program, promoted by the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, aims to foster a knowledge-based economic model. It incentivizes the transfer of research results from Catalonia’s research centers, creating high-skilled jobs and significantly improving innovation activities.
The grants support various phases of the valorization and transfer process, facilitating the development of products and services that improve people's lives and attracting specialized talent to Catalonia’s R&D&I system. To this end, the program includes three types of grants: Llavor, for early-stage innovative projects with potential for commercialization; Producte, aimed at prototype development and the transfer of research results; and Innovadors, supporting knowledge valorization projects carried out by researchers in external institutions.
Additionally, the program promotes an international vision of innovation, recognizing the need for global collaboration and funding to build a more connected and resourceful economy.
The two projects awarded to ICMAB fall under the Producte modality, which focuses on developing prototypes and enhancing the valorization and transfer of research results generated by Catalan research teams.
Soft Service Lab at ICMAB | ICMAB, CSIC
Project 1: BRIGHT-GUIDE – Ultrabright fluorescent agent for image-guided surgery in cancer
A research project titled “Ultrabright fluorescent agent for image-guided surgery in cancer” (BRIGHT-GUIDE) has been awarded to a team led by Mariana Köber (researcher at the Nanomol-Bio group of ICMAB-CSIC and CIBER-BBN). The project is a collaboration between the ICMAB-CSIC and a team from Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), led by Adrià Bernat (Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology - B·ARGO), with the involvement of Sergio Martínez, Head of Gynaecology at Germans Trias Hospital.
BRIGHT-GUIDE has been granted a total budget of €150,000, with €125,000 allocated to ICMAB-CSIC and €25,000 to IGTP. The funding will support preclinical testing, manufacturing, and the development of a roadmap for clinical translation and market entry.
Running from December 2, 2024, to June 1, 2026, the project aims to develop a novel ultrabright fluorescent agent for image-guided cancer surgeries, particularly in ovarian cancer. By improving tumor visibility during surgery, this technology seeks to reduce recurrence rates and enhance patient outcomes, with potential applications extending to other cancer types.
Project 2: PROMISE – Advanced manufacturing of high-energy density supercapacitors
The project “Progress on the advanced manufacture of high-energy density supercapacitors” (PROMISE) has been awarded to an ICMAB-CSIC research team led by Ángel Pérez del Pino, with the participation of Arevik Musheghyan Avetisyan (entrepreneur researcher) and Enikö György (team member), all three from the Laser Processing research group.
The project, that has received €149,500, focuses on the development of advanced nanostructured carbon-based hybrid electrodes for asymmetric supercapacitors. PROMISE aims to enhance supercapacitors energy density while preserving their high power output and durability through an innovative and sustainable fabrication technique. This approach is designed to be cost-effective, fast, and easily scalable for industrial applications, significantly improving upon traditional production methods.
The project integrates supercapacitors prototype construction with training in industrial manufacturing processes and market strategies. By leveraging Catalonia’s potential in electrochemical energy storage technologies, PROMISE seeks to contribute to regional economic and societal growth while supporting the global transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Fostering innovation
We acknowledge the funding from Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Read more:
Programa Indústria del Coneixement (AGAUR)
L'IGTP rep set ajuts del programa Indústria del Coneixement per a projectes innovadors
Statistics of the Producte 2024 call