I+Med starts work on the first Biomedical Institute of Nanohydrogels on the Vitoria Gasteiz Campus

The Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, laid the first stone of the new building promoted by I+Med S.Coop., the first of its kind in the world.

With an investment of 20 million euros and the initial creation of 60 new highly qualified jobs, the Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, has laid the first stone of the first Biomedical Institute of Intelligent Nanohydrogels (IIBNI) in the world, promoted by I+Med S.Coop.

The site chosen for the creation of the institute was the Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus of the Basque Technology Parks, which will also be the new headquarters of the I+Med cooperative, the driving force behind the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

In addition to the Lehendakari, the ceremony to lay the first stone was attended by the deputy general of Alava, Ramiro González, the mayor of the city, Gorka Urtaran, and the councillors Arantxa Tapia and Gotzone Sagurdui, who were welcomed by Manu Muñoz, the director of I+Med.

The aim of the new institute is to consolidate this co-operative as a world leader in artificial intelligence-based medicine. It is currently focusing its work on developing nanohydrogels, in other words, nanoparticles capable of delivering drugs to target cells or organs, thereby increasing their effectiveness.

During his speech, the Lehendakari thanked the cooperative for the “effort and ambition” that this project represents, and encouraged them to continue investing in science and research “because we will be investing to a large extent in our future”, as well as assuring that the Basque Country is working to offer “an ecosystem” in which entrepreneurs can develop their ideas. We are working,” he said, “and we are doing so through collaboration between institutions and with private initiative, so that the Basque Country is always a good place to start up a new project”.