R&D&I Networks in Catalonia Unite to Transform Research into Impact
The 11 R&D&I networks of the Generalitat de Catalunya have met at CosmoCaixa with the support of the Department of Research and Universities in a conference focused on how to transform research into impact.
Inauguration and institutional welcome
The meeting was opened by Javier Selva , Director General of Knowledge Transfer and Society, who presented the new period of the Networks 2026-2029, with a total of 12.5 million euros and more participating networks. Laura Arribas , Director of the Consulting Unit of Eurecat, stressed the importance of the support of the networks to promote research projects. For his part, Nadal Bayà , Head of the Knowledge Transfer area of ??AGAUR, highlighted that the networks have amplified the impact of research, connected multidisciplinary teams and allowed to detect social challenges with measurable responses. He also noted that the networks have evolved towards strategies of acceleration, training and creation of a transversal ecosystem.
Round table 1: Networks as a transfer tool
The first round table was attended by XaRFA (Lua Po Vicente), H2CAT (Dolores González Candela), X4HPC (Anna Escoda) and i4KIDS / i4KIDS-Europe (Lluis Cassou), moderated by ICERCA (Roger Cabezas) . During the session, the importance of giving visibility and continuity to emerging projects was highlighted, as well as promoting collaboration between networks and offering common spaces to exchange knowledge and experiences.
Round table 2: Team and hybrid researcher-entrepreneur profile
The second round table brought together Xartec Salut (Anna Castilló Pérez), Xarxa RDI-IA (Victor Rotellar), Xarxa X_AgriTech (Agustín Fonts Cavestany) and BlueNetCat (Pablo Bou Mira). The need for hybrid profiles and solid teams, as well as close and personalized support to promote research projects and ensure that the knowledge generated can be translated into applicable innovation, was highlighted.
Round table 3: Non-technology transfer mechanisms
The third round table featured XarSMART (Pablo Estañol), TECSAM (Judit López Luque) and AccessCat (Carme Pratdesaba Orri), moderated by Toni Bassaganyas Bars. This session highlighted the challenge of non-technological transfer, co-creation with users and the need for indicators adapted to measure social impact and training, highlighting how these mechanisms can contribute to generating relevant results for society.
R&D&I networks, impact engine
R&D&I networks have proven to be essential instruments to accelerate transfer and generate social and technological impact. This type of events facilitates the exchange of knowledge, the creation of synergies between networks and the identification of new challenges and opportunities in research and innovation. In addition, they highlight the importance of strengthening collaboration between institutions, companies and research teams, creating a more resilient ecosystem capable of transforming scientific projects into tangible solutions for society.
