• Itziar Gómez, the non-scientific coordinator of CARDIOPATCH, introduced the project, its objectives and activities at the 7th edition of the Encounters of the Biohealth Industry, which has been held in Bilbao the 10th and 11th of October  
• The event has been organized by the Basque Health Cluster and other relevant stakeholders of the sector in the regions of Basque country, New Aquitaine and Navarre

CARDIOPATCH, a European project co-funded by the Interreg Sudoe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has been introduced at the 7th edition of the Encounters of the Biohealth Industry, which has been held in Bilbao the 10th and 11th of October. 

It has been a special opportunity to the main stakeholders that work on the innovation in the health industry from Basque Country, Navarre and New Aquitaine to meet CARDIOPATCH, its origin and its mission: contribute to minimize the negative impacts that cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and more in particular Myocardial Infarction, have in the South-West Europe regions by designing and developing a novel advanced therapy for its treatment based on Regenerative Medicine and 3D printing.

Itziar Gómez, the non-Scientific Coordinator of the project, represented CARDIOPATCH on the first day of the event and explained the keys to make a cross-border initiative like this a success. 

In addition, she shared with the attendees all the information related to the goals, the work structure or the biotechnology products that are being developed at CARDIOPATCH: a cellularized and functionalized patch, the device for the patch culture and transport and a 3D Roll-up device for its non-invasive implantation.

Finally, Itziar highlighted one of the relevant objectives of the project: the creation of an excellence network involving the main actors of the biohealth and 3D printing industries. 

This CARDIOPATCH network is open to new members and offers the chance to take advantage of the tools available at the initiative’s platform to boost networking between the stakeholders of both sectors (health and 3D printing): a search funding opportunities search tool and a synergies open lab, among others. 

To boost innovation

The 7th edition of the Encounters of the Biohealth Industry has been organized by the Basque Health Cluster in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders of the sector in the regions of Basque country, New Aquitaine and Navarre such as the associated partners of CARDIOPATCH GIPSO Cluster of Health Industries of New Aquitaine, the Nueva Aquitania-Euskadi-Navarra Eurorregión (NAEN EGTC) and Sociedad de Desarrollo de Navarra (SODENA). 

These encounters aim to create a space to boost new innovation and research projects between public and private entities of the health sector from the Basque Country, Navarre and New Aquitaine regions. Around 100 companies and agents took part in this 2022’s edition.

Led by Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), CARDIOPATCH includes partners from Spain, France and Portugal: CIMA Universidad de Navarra, via the Foundation for Applied Medical Research, Leartiker Technology Center, Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, communication agency GUK, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, the University of Montpellier (UM) - Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), GenIbet Biopharmaceuticals and the Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica.