Almirall and Barcelona Supercomputing Center expand their collaboration to accelerate innovation in medical dermatology
The strategic framework agreement deepens the long-standing partnership, leveraging Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing to identify new opportunities of collaboration in the discovery of new therapies for skin diseases.
Almirall, S.A. (ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology, have announced an expanded collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC – CNS). This new framework agreement strengthens their partnership, aiming to accelerate research and development in medical dermatology by applying advanced supercomputing, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Artificial Intelligence.
The collaboration is a testament to Almirall’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of science to address the needs of patients with skin conditions. It builds on previous successful R&D joint projects and is framed within the broader research collaboration between BSC and Almirall. The partnership is a key pillar of Almirall’s innovation strategy, which focuses on leveraging cutting-edge technology and collaborative ecosystems to develop novel treatments.
As part of the enhanced partnership, Almirall will join ‘BSC Connects’, a strategic initiative launched by BSC designed to bridge advanced scientific knowledge with industry leaders. Participation in this program will provide Almirall with access to personalized training, cutting-edge technologies, and tailored support for co-developing innovative R&D projects throughout 2026. This will enable Almirall to further integrate disruptive technologies throughout its R&D pipeline and development processes, ultimately benefiting patients.
The partnership empowers professionals from both institutions to tackle research and dermatological challenges. By capitalizing on the scientific talent of BSC and Almirall, the BSC Connect collaboration framework will drive the identification of innovative technologies with high-impact potential and provide an opportunity to establish direct collaboration on scientific topics of mutual interest, ranging from genomics to digital twins and drug design.
“Our passion for medical dermatology drives us to constantly seek innovative solutions that can make a real difference in patients’ lives” stated Dr. Karl Ziegelbauer, Chief Scientific Officer at Almirall. “Strengthening our collaboration with a world-class institution like BSC is a crucial step in our journey. By combining their expertise in supercomputing and AI with our deep understanding of dermatology, we are creating a powerful synergy to accelerate the development of the next generation of skin treatments. This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision of being at the forefront of science and technology to transform patients’ lives and represents a key pillar in accelerating our ability to discover and develop innovative therapies.”
BSC is a leading international research center and a key player in the European supercomputing infrastructure. The ‘BSC Connects’ initiative aims to create a vibrant ecosystem where strategic partners from industry and academia can collaborate to tackle complex challenges and drive technological advancement.
As Mateo Valero, Director of BSC, stated “This agreement with Almirall, within the framework of the BSC Connects program, is an example of how supercomputing and artificial intelligence can be placed at the service of industry to generate a real impact on people's health. BSC and Almirall share a vision of collaboration rooted in a broader research partnership and the use of technology as a driver of innovation. Together we can contribute to advancing the field of medical dermatology by providing tools and capabilities that make a real difference.”