In the current context of health crisis caused by the coronavirus, the biotechnology and biomedical cluster of the Balearic Islands, BIOIB, reiterates its demand that the government continues to increase the number of tests (PCR and antibody) that are performed, using all available capacity and expanding it significantly for mass testing, according to the persistent recommendations of the WHO.
Diagnostic methods allow us to obtain an accurate picture of the situation, a more precise idea of the extent of the pandemic and the seroprevalence in the population; information that can be very useful to better understand the real incidence, mortality and speed of virus transmission, facilitating current decision-making by the authorities in a rapid and appropriate manner and preparing us for a second wave. The only way to make reasoned decisions is based on reliable information.
Although tests are being carried out, they are still not being done on a massive scale, despite the insistence of the WHO at the global level and our recommendations to the regional government since the beginning of the crisis. Although we believe that the priorities are elsewhere, every day of delay in this matter means multiplying the negative effects of the pandemic in our region.
We are an autonomous community highly dependent on the service sector. This makes us a rich community in good times, but weakens us more than others in every crisis and the effect is even greater in an unprecedented situation like the current one. Therefore, despite recognizing the importance of the tourism sector, we believe that we have to build (not replace) on the current production model and definitely bet on economic diversification. While here we continue to discuss such basic aspects as the real importance of R&D&I and what is the bet we make, other countries are an order of magnitude ahead of us, and although we all suffer from global crises, in our territory they are deeper and more prolonged in time.
In the years that we have been a cluster, we have always been recognized for the importance of our work, as well as the relevance of research and innovation. However, in spite of the different governments that have been in place, R&D intensity relative to GDP has never moved from 0.3-0.4%.
Root of the future Plan for Economic and Social Reactivation and Transformation of the Balearic Islands, from BIOIB we propose a great political pact, supported by all political forces, 20 years ahead, in which, starting from the current situation, we place investment in R & D to 2% of GDP within 20 years, with systematic and protected investment growth of 10% per year. This task goes far beyond a legislature or political color, and only a real commitment will allow us to build a diversified social and economic model. This plan must involve companies, training and research centers and Public Administration.
Some of BIOIB’s bets are:
– Real access to credit for innovative companies.
– Promote education in science and technology, in order to generate specialized human talent (high-level technicians, doctors).
– To promote the entrepreneurial culture in the higher education area of the University (UIB).
– Promote business R&D as a driver of economic diversification and the production model.
– A clear cluster policy on the part of the Government of the Balearic Islands, giving priority to the consolidation of existing business clusters, as a necessary step prior to the creation of new ones.
– In the end, to create an INNOVATIVE ECOSYSTEM, which allows to keep the talent generated by the educational centers here and also to be a tractor agent of human talent from abroad.
BIOIB
BIOIB, the biotechnology and biomedical cluster of the Balearic Islands, was born in 2010 as an initiative of the Government of the Balearic Islands and the Balearic Association of Biotechnology Companies, formed by companies in which technological innovation plays a key role in their competitive strategy.
It currently has 19 members and brings together all the actors of the triple helix, which includes the Administration, public and private hospitals, the University of the Balearic Islands and other institutions that generate knowledge and interface, as well as the business fabric of the biotechnology and biomedical sectors.