To propel projects linked to the field of deep tech originating from Catalan universities and research centers so that they become innovative spin-offs. With this objective, the Government has launched a public-private fund endowed with 55 million euros, which aims to be a catalyst for science, technology, and engineering-based transfer projects that are in an initial development phase.
The fund, which aims to act as a bridge between universities and research centers with national and international funds, will have 30 million from the Generalitat, while the European Investment Fund (EIF) will contribute 15 million more. Through resources mobilized by the fund's managing entity, Grow Venture Partners, the private sector will add ten million more to the initiative, which sees the light under the name of Advanced Technology Investment Fund (Fita).
With deep tech as its framework, the fund is aimed at multiple sectors, which include artificial intelligence, quantum photonics, semiconductors, supercomputing, batteries, robotics, sustainable materials, and energy.
The fund reserves 5% of its financing for advanced projects that are still in the academic field and are expected to soon make the leap and become a companyThe companies that benefit from the fund will be part of its portfolio for five to seven years, with a maximum of ten. Following this strategy, until 2028, 65% of the fund will be invested to boost new projects, while the rest will be allocated to monitoring and promoting companies that require it. In addition, the fund reserves 5% of financing for advanced projects that are still in the academic sphere, and that plan to make the leap and become companies in the coming months.
Thus, the fund aims to generate a "leap forward" in knowledge transfer, highlighted the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, when presenting the initiative together with ministers Roger Torrent, Natàlia Mas and Joaquim Nadal, in addition to the head of the EIF Investment Office, Alessandro Tappi, and Grow Venture Partners partner Francisco Badia.
This new fund also aims to guarantee "the necessary support" so that the spin-offs result in patents and businesses that generate a positive impact on citizens, according to Aragonès. In this area, Tappi pointed out that Catalonia should have more patents, taking into account the number of projects it develops linked to innovation, something that the new fund also proposes to solve.
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