The second edition of the BIST Catalysers program, an innovation and entrepreneurship initiative for members of the BIST Community, supported by the Banc Sabadell Foundation, officially launched today, October 14th, at ICN2. This edition welcomes 18 new fellows: three senior researchers, seven postdoctoral researchers, four PhD students, and four research managers. The opening event took place at the ICN2 Seminar Hall, open to the entire BIST Community, bringing together the new participants with the innovation and technology transfer teams from BIST research centers.
Dr. Elena Sancho, a senior researcher at IRB Barcelona and a member of the Banc Sabadell Foundation's Board of Trustees, encouraged the new Catalysers to embrace the challenges of entrepreneurship. "We are scientists, we train in very good labs, but when we enter the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the rules of the game change," she stressed. "Be ambitious, be prepared to leave your comfort zone," she advised.
The event featured an inspiring talk by Dr. Mateusz Biesaga, CTO and co-founder of Nuage Therapeutics, a spin-off from IRB Barcelona established in 2021 and backed by investors including Asabys and BStartup. Drawing on his experience as a scientist turned entrepreneur, Biesaga shared valuable insights into transforming scientific discoveries into business opportunities, from selecting a lead research program and defining a business model to securing funding and building a strong team. "Success is built by people. Surround yourself with exceptional individuals, and remember to celebrate milestones," he recommended.
The welcome session also included a dynamic "Meet the Catalysers" activity, facilitated by Dr. Iolanda Marchueta, one of the program's lecturers. Fellows introduced themselves through an ice-breaking exercise designed to foster connections within the new cohort.
Building on the success of its first edition (October 2025 - July 2026), the BIST Catalysers program returns with enhanced training to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and strengthen innovation skills across the BIST Community. The second edition introduces new training sessions focusing on two areas identified for further development: non-dilutive funding and oral presentation skills, as explained by Dr. Berta Gumí, Head of Strategic Programmes at the BIST core team and program leader.
Through specialized training, interaction with innovation experts and entrepreneurs, and opportunities to build cross-disciplinary and inter-institutional networks, BIST Catalysers aims to equip fellows with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to become catalysts for innovation. As in the first edition, the program will feature expert-led roundtable discussions open to the entire BIST Community.
