Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)

Bioengineering for medicine and health

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) combines science and engineering to advance healthy aging, future medicine, and regenerative therapies. With two decades of work, it has become a leading center for biomedical innovation in Spain.

Research areas

IBEC's research is organized into specialized groups, including:

• Bacterial infections and antimicrobial therapies
• Biointegrated materials and engineering
• Biomaterials for neural regeneration and regenerative therapies
• Biomedical signal processing and interpretation
• Biomimetic systems for cell engineering
• Biosensors for bioengineering
• Cellular and molecular mechanobiology
• Integrative cell and tissue dynamics
• Microenvironments for medicine
• Molecular and cellular neurobiology
• Molecular bionics
• Molecular imaging for precision medicine
• Nanobioengineering, nano-malaria, nanoprobes, and nanoswitches
• Nanoscale bioelectrical characterization
• Pluripotency for organ regeneration
• Protein phase transitions in health and disease
• Quasi-living materials
• Signal and information processing for sensing systems
• Intelligent nanobio devices
• Space biotechnology
• Targeted therapeutics and nanodevices

Technology transfer and innovation

IBEC works to turn research results into practical applications, offering innovations to industry and hospitals. Its capabilities include market-oriented technology transfer, licensing, spin-off creation, industrial and clinical collaborations, and an open-innovation platform. A dedicated technology-transfer team supports this work, and the institute participates in thematic networks and joint units.

Facilities and services

The center has advanced scientific facilities, including BioSpace, ChemSpace, MicroFabSpace, Microscopy, Characterization, BioImaging, and a high-throughput analytical platform. A service price list is available for external users.

Training and research careers

IBEC hosts master's students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and senior scientists, and offers opportunities for principal investigators and visiting scholars on sabbatical. It has a doctoral student committee and a doctoral excellence certificate, as well as professional and personal development programs.

Open science and public engagement

The institute supports open and inclusive science and science education. Its outreach work includes the IMAB and Science & Art initiatives, the Frontiers program, and Bioengineering in the Territory.

Recognition and affiliations

IBEC is a CERCA center and has received recognition for its research. It earned green-lab certification, becoming the first center in Spain to do so. It is also among Spain's leading research centers in the Horizon Europe program.

Location and contact

Phone: +34 934 039 706. Email: info@ibecbarcelona.eu and vleigh@ibecbarcelona.eu. Website: ibecbarcelona.eu. Social media: X (@IBECBarcelona), LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.