BioSpac-ER Hub – Biomaterials and Biolectronics Hub for One Health and Space
Hosting Entity: Bologna CNR Technopole
Partners: MISTER Smart Innovation scrl (Managing Legal Entity); CNR – Area Territoriale di Ricerca di Bologna
Mission and Strategic Focus
The Hub aims to strengthen regional and European capabilities in strategic biotechnologies by design, development and validation of advanced biomaterials and bioelectronic devices for health and space applications, aligned with the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), to support research, innovation and technology transfer.
CORE PILLARS:
- Biomaterials & interfaces: Advanced materials and functional interfaces are designed, developed and validated for medical, veterinary and space environments.
- Bioelectronics & Sensing: Development and validation of bioelectronic devices and biosensors to enable precision diagnostics, personalized therapies and real-time monitoring for in vitro testing of safety and efficacy platform.
- Collaboration model: Joint R&D projects, support to EU and regional fundraising, technology transfer services, internationalisation support through Cluster networks.
IMPACT:
- Technological: increased Technology Readiness Level (TRL).
- Economic/Industrial: support to startups, SMEs and industrial partners.
- Social/Sustainability: safer medical devices, solutions for One Health and new bio-space economy.
Infrastructure
The Hub is headquartered at the Accelerator of Innovation of the CNR Research Area of Bologna.
The Hub supports the full pipeline from material and device design to prototyping, functional testing and preclinical in vitro validation, including data generation for digital twin-based approaches thanks to connection with CNR.
KEY ASSETS:
- Materials and biomaterials with property-specific design
- Cell and molecular research infrastructures for cell culture and biomolecular analysis.
- Platforms for functional cellular studies, including advanced electrophysiology and imaging techniques.
- Advanced microscopy and imaging systems for high-resolution and dynamic observation of biological processes.
- Integrated bioelectronic technologies for multidisciplinary experimental applications.
- Advanced manufacturing technologies for the development of innovative materials and devices.
- AI-based computational tools for modeling and safe-by-design material development.
OUR SERVICES
R&D and Innovation Support
- Support applied research and collaborative development from concept to validated prototype
- Support joint R&D projects with universities, research centres and industry
- Develop and test advanced biomaterials and bioelectronic devices
- Integrate experimental data with computational models
- Increase TRL through prototyping and functional validation
Facility / Lab Access
- Enable access to high-level infrastructures and equipment within CNR Area in Bologna and CNR Technopole.
Finance and Investment Support
- Assist in identifying EU, national and regional funding schemes
- Support positioning within STEP, Horizon Europe and EU4Health
Technology Transfer Services
- Accelerate industrial uptake of research results.
Internationalisation Support
- Support participation in EU programmes (Horizon Europe, EU4Health, STEP)
- Facilitate international partnerships and consortia
Science communication
- Support citizen science and public engagement initiatives
- Connect with non-profit organisations
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS
International collaborations are a core enabling factor for BioSpac-ER, providing access to complementary expertise, European and international funding programmes, and strategic positioning within STEP-related initiatives.
VALUE ADDED:
Partnerships support joint research and innovation activities, technology transfer, and international visibility. They also strengthen access to EU programmes and foster connections with global research and industrial ecosystems in health and space technologies.
KEY PARTNERSHIPS:
- BioHubs4STEP Network – Italy / EU – Innovation ecosystem
- European and International Institutions
- European SME and Digital Networks – EU – Industrial & innovation networks
INFORMATION REQUEST
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