Antoni Plasència Opens 21st Edition of Science Week in Catalonia

Today, ISGlobal’s Director, Dr. Antoni Plasència, opened the 21st Science Week in Catalonia with a talk in the Parliament of Catalonia entitled Scientific patronage: global experiences, local challenges. With a programme of events from 11 to 20 November, Science Week is organised by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRi) with the support of the Catalan Ministry of Business and Knowledge and the collaboration of “la Caixa” Foundation, Gas Natural Fenosa, and Esteve.

In his opening speech, Dr Plasència—the Director of ISGlobal—talked about how the economic recession has led to the creation of public-private partnerships, forcing institutions to seek new funding models. “In this new context, scientific patronage is no longer just a possible option, it has become a key component in any sustainable funding model for biomedical research. It is not a question of replacing governments, but rather of developing a third way with more involvement on the part of civil society” he explained.

Among the obstacles hindering the creation of robust patronage in our country, Dr. Plasència cited the lack of philanthropic culture, a tax system that does not offer attractive incentives, and the fact that researchers lack the necessary skills to communicate the importance and potential returns of their research. “However,” he continued “the situation today offers certain opportunities, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, which represent a call to the private sector to adapt its policies to a sustainable economy that prioritises innovation for global development.”

The other speakers at the inaugural session were Ms. Carme Forcadell (President of the Parliament), Mr. Arcadi Navarro (Secretary for Universities and Research at the Ministry of Business and Knowledge) and Dr. Antoni Esteve (President of FCRi). The inaugural session was followed by one of the main events in the Science Week programme: a half-day symposium the subject of patronage and research funding organized by the FCRi and the Parliament’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology.

The Science Week programme includes more than one hundred events aimed at showcasing and raising awareness of scientific and technological knowledge throughout Catalonia. In addition to the inaugural conference, ISGlobal will also participate in the programme with a workshop for 60 students from Valldaura school, who will visit the ISGlobal Campus Mar in the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park and take part in an activity designed to explore environmental determinants of health. This workshop forms part of Escolab, an initiative ISGlobal has been collaborating with for many years.