Coinciding with your visit, to the towns of Zamudio and Vitoria, to know the facilities and projects of the companies, SYNGOI Technologies and I+MED, Dr. Raquel Yotti, Commissioner of the PERTE for Avant-Garde Health of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, has taken stock of the investments made in the Basque Country in research, innovation and digitalization in health since the beginning of the program, which represent more than 99 million euros of public investment to which more than 13 million private investment is mobilized, thus exceeding 112 million euros.
The investments include research and innovation projects led by public research centers, major projects for the digital transformation of the healthcare system, and actions aimed at strengthening the innovative business fabric.
In his visit to the company SYNGOI, dedicated to the manufacture of synthetic DNA, he highlighted the strategic importance of the RAPID-VAC project financed by the PERTE Salud de Vanguardia through the Center for Technological Development and Innovation, of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and led by the Aragonese company CERTEST, together with the companies Nostrum Biodiscovery SL, Polypeptide Therapeutic Solutions SL, Syngoi Technologies SL and Virnostica SL.
The objective of the RAPID-VAC project is to create an autonomous national platform to develop and produce RNA vaccines against new microorganisms or bioterrorist threats, reducing reaction times and avoiding external dependence. RNA vaccines, like some of those used against COVID-19, work by introducing into the body a temporary genetic instruction that teaches cells to produce a harmless protein from the virus, allowing the immune system to recognize it and generate defenses without using the live virus. The RAPID-VAC project will allow the development in Spain of all the capacities to react quickly to produce a vaccine industrially against a possible pathogen. This project is funded through a call specifically aimed at strengthening security and defense, being a clear example that being prepared for health-related threats is also a critical element in our defense.
The visit of the Commissioner to the Basque Country has also allowed her to know the activity and expansion plans of the I+MED company that develops products in the field of nanotechnologies around biomaterials for controlled release of active substances for personalized medicine. During the visit he was able to learn about the company’s plans to increase production capacities, open an R&D center and a talent training hub.