Scientific and Technological Centers UB: 30 years of technology serving research and innovation

The Scientific and Technological Centers of the University of Barcelona (CCiTUB) reached their first thirty years of activity over which they have become widely known in both the national and international fields of research, innovation, and transfer. At the moment, the team in CCiTUB is formed by a hundred and sixty experts and administration staff, and eighty of tem are doctors, distributed in thirty-eight units, six of which are located in the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), among which there is the Barcelona Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory (LRB), listed in the Map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infraestructures (ICTS).

Over their years of history, CCiTUB have worked for more than 1,350 companies –public and private ones- of about 20,000 users; and they serve all lecturers and researchers of the University of Barcelona.

“CCiTUB are part of the undoubtful progress of research in our house, and have contributed to it in a determining way. Today, after thirty years, they are an unseparatedbly part of this institution’s DNA, leading in research in Catalonia and Spain”, highlighted the rector of the UB, Joan Elias, during the ceremony to commemorate this day, which was held on May 15 in the Paranimph of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Clinic Campus), with the attendance of many representatives of institutions and companies.

Josep M. Bricall, former rector of the UB when the Serveis Cientifictècnics (scientific-technical services, SCT) –the seeds of the current CCiTUB-, defined the centers as “an essential piece” of the research carried out at the UB.

Moreover, the current director of CCiTUB, José Ramón Seoane, highlighted that the “creation of CCiTUB was an innovative idea at that time”, an idea based on “focused” technology to work for companies and research. He also put emphasis on the high expertize and quality which are honoured both by the “scientific and regulatory fields”. In his speech he announced the creation of the Equality Committee in CCiTUB to “work on equality and parity”.

Expertize and model facilities

The main objective of the Scientific and Technological Centers of the University of Barcelona (CCiTUB) is to promote a culture of innovation by transferring knowledge and technology.

At the moment, the team in CCiTUB is formed by a hundred and sixty experts and administration staff, and eighty of tem are doctors, distributed in thirty-eight units which are located in four campuses (Barcelona Knowledge Campus, Clinic Campus, Bellvitge Health Sciences Campus, and Mundet Campus). These cover a total of more than 12,000 square meters.

Over these thirty years, CCiTUB achieved a strong reputation regarding the level of expertize of its technicians, the quality of the services they offer and the response time, as shown in satisfaction surveys for the users, which are conducted regularly.

State-of-the-art instrumental technology

The technical units of CCiTUB have state-of-the-art instrumental technology in continuous renovation, at the service of the scientific and industrial community. These are integrated in European and international networks supporting research, such as Eurobioimaging, and they collaborate in courses and seminars strengthening the training aspects of the University of Barcelona. Also, they provide specialized advise on the fields of chemistry, bioscience and materials and are deeply involved in science dissemination in order to bring new technologies closer to society and future university students. The evolution of their technological offering has been notable; they offer a wide range of services and work with a high number of clients from private and public organizations.

Currently, CCITUB have located the Science Units of Barcelona the Units of Cytometry, Cryomicroscopy, Genomics , Polymorphism and Calorimetry, Separation techniques (HPLC, MS, HRMS, CE and OEA) and the Barcelona Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory (LRB), listed in the Map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infraestructures (ICTS), and have recently got, with a part from the FEDER fund, a radiofrequency unit which will enable advanced nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, such as simultaneous experiments in the same sample.