#BIOSPAIN2025 | “BIOSPAIN is a platform to highlight our commitment to prevention, personalized medicine, and digital health”

As part of BIOSPAIN 2025, one of Europe’s leading biotechnology events, we spoke with Idoia Muñoz Lizán, General Manager of the Basque Health Cluster, which is participating this year as a Platinum Sponsor. In this interview, Muñoz discusses the Basque Country’s role on the global biotechnology stage and the strategies driving innovation, internationalization, and public-private collaboration in the healthcare sector.

The Basque biotechnology ecosystem is establishing itself as an international benchmark thanks to its ability to integrate science, industry, and clinical practice into high-impact projects. From attracting investment and talent to advancing cutting-edge therapies, precision diagnostics, and digital health, the Basque Country stands at the forefront of healthcare transformation and leverages its presence at BIOSPAIN 2025 to share its forward-looking vision with the world.

AseBio. The Basque Country is increasingly positioning itself as an international benchmark in biotechnology. What differentiating elements make the Basque ecosystem a global hub in this field?

Idoia Muñoz Lizán. The Basque Country is already a global hub in biotechnology and health, with an ecosystem that integrates leading companies, top-level research centers, hospitals, universities, and strong institutional support. Our key strength lies in networked collaboration, both locally and internationally, which allows us to share knowledge, promote joint projects, and attract talent and investment, placing us at the forefront of healthcare transformation.

AseBio. The Basque Health Cluster connects companies, research centers, and hospitals. How is this collaboration structured to generate a real impact on biomedical innovation and patient health?

Idoia Muñoz Lizán. The Basque Health Cluster acts as a node facilitating connections between all the players in the biosanitary ecosystem: companies, research centers, hospitals, universities, and public administration. Our mission is to create trusted spaces where real clinical needs are identified and aligned with the technological and industrial capabilities of our business network.

We structure this collaboration through joint R&D projects, promoted by creating meeting spaces such as multi-stakeholder dialogue tables, working groups, and open innovation dynamics. Our goal is to provide the industry with an agile path to validate its developments in clinical environments so that hospitals and patients can benefit earlier from more advanced therapies, diagnostics, and technologies.

Real impact comes when this interaction is continuous and bidirectional and, moreover, is adopted at the clinical level by the healthcare system.

AseBio. In a sector where knowledge and technology transfer is key, what mechanisms or cooperation models is the Cluster promoting to accelerate the arrival of innovation to the market?

Idoia Muñoz Lizán. At BHC we have consolidated a cooperation model that combines different levels of action to ensure that innovation reaches the market more quickly. On one hand, we promote R&D consortia where science, clinics, and industry work together on projects with a direct impact on people’s health. At the same time, we strengthen our international connections, participating in networks of bioregions and global platforms that allow us to scale solutions and open doors to new markets. Another key pillar is influencing public policy, where we play an active role in representation and advocacy to ensure that regulatory frameworks and innovation strategies favor technology transfer. We also act as a bridge between startups, investors, and large companies, facilitating the transformation of ideas into scalable and sustainable projects. Altogether, this approach allows us to accelerate the entire innovation journey, from the laboratory to society.

AseBio. The Basque Country seeks to strengthen ties with key international markets. What specific opportunities do you see for the internationalization of Basque biotechnology companies and projects?

Idoia Muñoz Lizán. The Basque Country is already fully connected to the main international networks and European bioregions, giving us privileged access to co-development, investment, and knowledge transfer opportunities. Internationalization has become a strategic focus that is expanding our reach and reinforcing our global presence.
The greatest potential lies in areas that tangibly transform health: prevention, precision diagnostics, digital health, and advanced therapies. Thanks to our international network, we not only bring innovation from the Basque Country to the world, but we also attract strategic projects and international talent here to continue growing.

AseBio. Attracting investment is crucial to scaling projects. How is the Basque network helping to draw capital, talent, and strategic projects that position the Basque Country on the global health map?

Idoia Muñoz Lizán. The Basque Country is a reliable and attractive destination for investment and talent. We offer administrative agility, a competitive tax framework, co-investment programs, non-dilutive funding, and direct government support for clinical trials and special permits. In addition, we have top-tier accelerators, laboratories, offices, and professional services. All this enables us to attract capital, talent, and strategic projects in areas such as advanced therapies, artificial intelligence in health, and innovative prevention models.

AseBio. From your perspective, what role does public-private collaboration play in consolidating the Basque Country as a reference hub in biotechnology and health?

Idoia Muñoz Lizán. It is essential: the public sector provides vision, infrastructure, and stability; the private sector brings dynamism and innovation. This alliance enables the design of more effective health policies, with a focus on prevention, and ensures that the Basque Country has a voice in international spaces where the sector’s rules are defined. At BHC, we also play a constructive advocacy role, ensuring that policies promote innovation, technology transfer, and the delivery of solutions to patients.

AseBio. As a Platinum Sponsor of BIOSPAIN 2025, what motivated you to support this event so prominently and what are your main expectations for participation?

Idoia Muñoz Lizán. As a Platinum Sponsor, we want to showcase that the Basque Country is already a global reference and support our companies so they can gain international visibility, connect with investors, and explore new business opportunities. We also aim to strengthen international alliances, drive R&D, and increase our influence on policy. BIOSPAIN is a platform to highlight our commitment to prevention, personalized medicine, and digital health.