Matical Innovation chooses to open a new office in Málaga, a strategic step in the 2020´s expansion plan

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The second most populated city in Andalucía and the only Spanish city in the Top 10 for the best quality of life in Europe, according to Eurobarómetro, Málaga, is positioning itself as the Silicon Valley of Spain.

The Technology Park of Andalusia (PTA) was set up in 1995 and is one of the most important technology centres in southern Europe. Predominant sectors present at PTA are Information Technology (Electronics, Information, Computing and Telecommunications) together with Engineering, Consultancy and Advisory services.

The existence of The Technology Park puts Málaga in the technological focus and positions it on an international scale.  It only shows how knowledge can be transferred across continents and what can be created in places which were traditionally known only for its tourism.

The existence of the Technology Park, together with Málaga’s exceptional quality of life, congresses and events scene, plus the easy access to other cities and countries makes the city a key digital player on an international scale.

The fact that the local digital talent is scarce, it is seductive for Matical Innovation for the 2020 expansion plan in Málaga. An extensive array of services adapted for the health research, software and data and climate change will be offered to the start-up world through the EU financing programs, mentorship programs and trainings.

Starting with March 2020, Matical Innovation opens its activity in Málaga city. The company wants to be part of the process of making Malaga the most important zone for technological excellence in Europe, a Silicon Valley that will attract companies and investors from all over the world in the field of I+D+I.

European Commission’s Coronavirus response and research actions

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IMI launches €45M coronavirus research call. The call is part of a wider strategy announced by the European Commission to contain the outbreak of COVID-19

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) launched a fast-track call for proposals to speed up the development of new drugs and diagnostics to halt the global outbreak of COVID-19.

Researchers can apply for €45 million from EU’s research programme Horizon 2020. Proposals could include accelerating the progress of drugs in development, repurposing existing drugs, addressing drug resistance or developing new diagnostic tests.

EU commissioner for research and innovation Mariya Gabriel said the call, “Will help speed up the development of treatments and diagnostics in the face of this global emergency, and increase our preparedness for future outbreaks.”

IMI executive director Pierre Meulien, said collaborative projects involving companies, universities and public bodies “have the potential to dramatically accelerate” the development of new therapies and diagnostics.

Existing IMI projects already cover research relevant to the current outbreak. For example, ZAPI (Zoonosis Anticipation and Preparedness Initiative), which aims to respond quickly to viral infections, that like COVID -19, jump from animals to humans, has done work on the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). IMI says many of the findings on potential therapeutics and vaccines could be relevant for COVID-19.

Similarly, the IMI project, COMBACTE-NET has a network of clinical and laboratory sites across Europe, which is now being mobilised to process data from COVID-19 patients and support the worldwide effort to build understanding of the virus.

In addition to the €45 million call by the IMI, the commission also announced a €10 million call for research on new and more efficient clinical management infected patients, as well as public health preparedness and response.

In total, the EU has pledged a total of €232M to help contain the coronavirus outbreak, of which €130 million is going to the World Health Organisation.

Member states are also stepping in with research investment of their own. The German government has announced a €10 million fund, calling on scientists to better understand the virus and how it is transmitted, and to advance the development of therapies and other treatments.

In the UK, the government confirmed up to £40 million will be available for research to develop a vaccine. Two UK research groups have generated novel COVID-19 vaccine constructs that are now in animal testing. However, even in the best-case scenario, health secretary Matt Hancock said a new vaccine is still “months away”.

The European Green Deal, a climate – neutral continent by 2050

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Becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 is the greatest challenge and opportunity of our times. “The European Green Deal” – a strategy paper outlining the ambition to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent.

This is the most ambitious package of measures that should enable European citizens and businesses to benefit from sustainable green transition. Measures accompanied with an initial roadmap of key policies range from ambitiously cutting emissions, to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, to preserving Europe’s natural environment.

Supported by investments in green technologies, sustainable solutions and new businesses, the Green Deal can be a new EU growth strategy. Above all, the European Green Deal sets a path for a transition that is just and socially fair. It is designed in such a way as to leave no individual or region behind in the great transformation ahead.

The Green Deal is expected to have profound consequences for European research and innovation funding. Many of the newly designed calls for proposals will likely be influenced or motivated by this strategy. Whether you work on agriculture, transport, energy systems or industrial processes, familiarizing with the relevant parts of the Green Deal communication is a good investment. It will help you understand upcoming call topics in any European calls and score extra points in the impact section of your proposal.