In the context of the current health crisis caused by the coronavirus, the biotechnological and biomedical cluster of the Balearic Islands, BIOIB, reiterates its demand that the government continue to increase the number of tests performed (PCR and antibodies), using all the available capacity and expanding it significantly in order to conduct mass tests, in line with the persistent WHO recommendations.
Diagnostic methods provide an accurate picture of
the situation, a more exact idea of the extent of the pandemic and
seroprevalence in the population; information that can be very useful to better
understand the real incidence, mortality and speed of the virus infection,
facilitating the current decision-making process of the authorities, quickly
and appropriately, and preparing us for a second wave. The only way to make
rational decisions is to rely on reliable information.
Although tests are being carried out, they are not
being done on a massive scale yet, despite the insistence of the WHO at global
level and our recommendations to the regional government since the beginning of
the crisis. Although we might think that the priorities are elsewhere, each day
of delay in this matter means multiplying the negative effects of the pandemic
in our region.
We are in an autonomous community highly dependent
on the services sector. This makes us a prosperous community in times of
prosperity, but it weakens us more than others in the face of each crisis and
the effect is even greater in an unprecedented situation like the current one.
Therefore, while recognizing the importance of the tourism sector, we believe
that we must build (not replace) on the current production model and promote
the economic diversification. While here we continue to discuss about such
basic aspects as the real importance of R & D & I and what our
commitment is, other countries are an order of magnitude ahead of us, and
despite we are all suffering from global crises, in our territory are deeper
and last longer in time.
Over the years we have worked as a cluster, the
importance of our task has always been recognized, as well as the relevance of
research and innovation. In spite this and despite the different governments
that we have had, the intensity in R&D relative to GDP has never moved from
0.3-0.4%.
As a result of the future Plan for the Economic
and Social Transformation and reactivation of the Balearic Islands, from BIOIB
we propose a great political pact, supported by all political forces, 20 years
from now, in which, based on the current situation, we place the investment in
R&D at 2% of GDP in 20 years, with systematic and protected growth of 10%
annual investment. This task goes far beyond one legislature or political color, and only a real
commitment will allow us to build a diversified social and economic model. This
plan should involve companies, training and research centers and the public
administration.
Some of BIOIB’s proposals are:
- Innovative companies to have real access to credit.
- Promote science and technology education, in order to generate specialized human talent (high-level technicians, doctors).
- To promote the entrepreneurial culture in the teaching field of the University (UIB).
- Promote entrepreneurial R&D as an engine for economic diversification and the productive model.
- A clear clusters policy by the Government of the Balearic Islands, giving priority to the consolidation of the existing ones, as a necessary step prior to the creation of new ones.
- Finally, to create an INNOVATIVE ECOSYSTEM, which allows the talent generated by knowledge generation centers to be maintained here and is also a driving force for human talent from abroad.
BIOIB
BIOIB, the biotechnological 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,
made up of companies in which technological innovation plays a key role within
its 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
knowledge-generating and interface institutions, as well as the business fabric
of the biotechnological and biomedical sector.