Aretian’s insights featured in Biocat’s new report on the life sciences and health sector in Catalonia

Ramon Gras Alomà, the founder and CEO of Aretian Urban Analytics and Design, recently contributed to the Biocat Catalonia Conference. Biocat’s annual conference hosts the publication of the Bioregion report, the reference publication of the Life Sciences innovation ecosystem in Catalonia. Ramon Gras presented the different analyses and recommendations that the Aretian team prepared during the last three months in a joint project with Biocat stemming from the Barcelona Metropolitan Region City Digital Twin (CDT). Specifically, Aretian developed an in-depth study of the Life Sciences ecosystem within the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, highlighting the ecosystem’s unique strengths, its 5 main weaknesses as of today, and pointing out the main 5 initiatives that can strengthen the bioregion’s potential as a global leader, including the Esplugues - Porta de Barcelona Innovation District, the Biopole around the Hospitalet de Llobregat, the 22@ Innovation District, the Badalona i Les tres Xemeneies Innovation District and the Barcelona Besòs Innovation District. Aretian also analyzed the innovation structure of the business scene in the Metropolitan Area, and proposes specific avenues for scenario planning to reach the goals of the urban environment. Lastly, Aretian evaluated, by means of novel methodologies such as network theory, the research network of the region, and identified the core knowledge domains able to constitute world class applied research hubs in the coming years. The Aretian analyses also highlight the top 50 innovative companies and the top 25 startups of the nascent ecosystem.

You can watch the presentation of Ramon Gras here:

Biocat’s annual Report is the reference publication on the life sciences and health sector in Catalonia, which Biocat has been publishing since 2009. The 2024 document represents the 10th edition of the Report, establishing itself as a strategic instrument for analyzing the evolution of the ecosystem, identifying trends, and facilitating decision-making by institutions, companies, and professionals. The Report is based on data from the Biocat Directory (Catalonia Health & Life Sciences Data Platform), which includes information on more than 1,900 companies and entities active in life sciences and health innovation in Catalonia. The last chapter of the report is the result of the collaboration of Biocat with Aretian Urban Analytics and Design, and focuses on urban analysis and data-based design, providing a perspective on the territorial dynamics of the health ecosystem in Barcelona.

Watch the teaser here:

You can also download the Biocat Report here.

Aretian’s research, as showcased in the book “City Science: Performance Follows Form”, presents an extended study of 100 urban environments and metropolitan areas throughout the World, across the 5 different continents. This study replicates in a three-dimensional manner the morphological features of cities and metropolitan areas, as well as the economic and human systems that inhabit them. This research allows us to compare and contrast - in terms of urban performance - not only the quality of the architectural and urban design characteristics and civil engineering infrastructures, but also the impact that those systems have on the quality of life of citizens. This book answers some of the most crucial questions in modern urbanism such as: to what extent are cities able to provide 15-minute city standards? How are cities able to provide and shape a prosperous knowledge economy? As well as a good and efficient intermodal mobility and transportation system? Among other important urban topics. 

You can buy the book here.

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