BIOSPAIN 2026

Since the launch of the BioBasque strategy in 2002, Euskadi has invested in consolidating an innovation ecosystem which supports the growth of the health and life sciences industry. Under the overarching strategy of clusters as models for growth of sophisticated sectors, a sustained institutional support and the public-private collaboration have leveraged the development of a growing industry currently comprised of more than 300 companies (including specialised suppliers) that account for more than 8% of the direct employment in the Basque Country. The industry is also supported and accompanied by the Basque Network of Science, Technology and Innovation, composed of a rich tissue of organisations (Universities, BERC, Cooperativa Research Centres-CIC, Technology Centres gathered in BRTA, and Health Research Institutes among others) which provides skilled capabilities and contribute to generate deeptech start ups.


Since 2015, the industry has experienced very significant growth in the number of companies (60%), and particularly in terms of turnover (187%) and employment (151%). Most of this growth has been endogenous; even today, the generation of innovative and tech companies in the health/life sciences area remains strong (first in Spain, in number of companies per capita). However, in the recent past, the region is becoming an attractive location for companies, and people, that decide to relocate or establish operations and grow their business here.


This session will explore the factors that make the Basque Country attractive, from different points of view including international companies, investors, and researchers, as well as the Basque Health Cluster and the health public administration.

Eikonoklastes Therapeu cs, TBC 

Advanced Therapies and Next-Gen Biotech Platforms to Deliver Global Health Impact
Given the relative strength of the Basque Country in industrial biotechnology capabilities—particularly in advanced manufacturing, regenerative medicine, and translational research—this proposal envisions a coherent set of 2–3 interconnected BIOSPAIN 2026 sessions exploring advanced therapies and next-generation biotech platforms from complementary perspectives. Rather than a single discussion, the aim is to reflect the breadth and maturity of the regional ecosystem by distributing expertise across multiple formats, including thematic panels and moderated discussions.
These sessions would collectively examine how scientific innovation, industrial scale-up, and clinical translation converge to enable global impact in advanced therapies. While each session would address a distinct angle—from platform technologies and manufacturing infrastructure to translational science and clinical application—they would be designed to offer a unified narrative around the Basque Country’s role as a European hub for advanced biomedicine.
Across the proposed sessions, participation would include leading voices from biotechnology companies, industrial-scale manufacturing organizations, and academic and translational research institutions:
The session provides a review of platform technologies and genome engineering, industrialization and manufacturing of gene and cell therapies, and translational research and clinical integration, depending on final program design.
Overall, this proposal aims to showcase the Basque Country’s distinctive positioning at the intersection of industrial capability, scientific excellence, and translational innovation, illustrating how regional strengths can be leveraged to drive global health impact in advanced therapies through coordinated, multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Quantum technologies are rapidly evolving from theoretical promise to practical tools across biomedicine and biotechnology. Early applications in drug discovery, molecular simulation, quantum enhanced imaging, and secure data infrastructures are already underway, supported by hybrid quantum–classical approaches and pioneering industrial collaborations. This panel will bring together experts from quantum computing, biotechnology, diagnostics, and cybersecurity to explore near term opportunities and realistic pathways for adoption.
Participants will gain insights into emerging use cases, regulatory considerations, and strategic actions enabling biotech and health organizations to prepare for the quantum decade ahead.

Introduction: Why Quantum for Biotech Now? (5 min)

Block 1 – Quantum Computing in Biomedicine: Molecules, Models and Precision Medicine (20 min)

Block 2 – Quantum Sensing, Imaging and Diagnostics: The Next Frontier (20 min)

Block 3 – Quantum Biotech Industrial Collaborations and Biomanufacturing (20 min)

1. Mujer TBC, Multiverse Computing
2. Javier Aizpurua, Scientific director, BasQ-Basque Quantum Strategy TBC