#BIOSPAIN2025 | “A key platform to connect with industry leaders, explore collaboration opportunities, and project our vision of sustainable innovation at an international level”

Biotechnology has become a strategic pillar for innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, not only in the development of new treatments but also in the optimization of production processes. In this context, pharmaceutical engineering plays a key role as a bridge between scientific progress and its industrial application. Reflecting on this intersection between biotechnology and engineering, Jordi Gibert Amat, Head of the Biotechnology Business Unit at Klinea Biotech & Pharma Engineering, shares his insights in an interview framed within BIOSPAIN 2025, to be held from October 7 to 9 in Barcelona.

Klinea, participating as a Platinum Sponsor in this edition, reinforces through its support the sector’s commitment to driving innovative solutions that accelerate the arrival of therapies to the market. Gibert Amat shares his vision on how biotechnology is transforming the pharmaceutical value chain and what challenges and opportunities it brings for specialized engineering.

AseBio. How is biotechnology transforming the design, construction, and operation of modern pharmaceutical plants?

Jordi Gibert Amat. Biotechnology is redefining the design of pharmaceutical plants by requiring more flexible, modular infrastructures adapted to complex biological processes. Modern facilities integrate single-use bioreactors, closed systems, and highly controlled environments that enable more agile and safer production. In addition, operations are being transformed by automation, real-time monitoring, and data integration, improving efficiency and traceability in the manufacturing of biotech products. It is also important to highlight the significant effort to reduce manufacturing costs to democratize access to new medicines and the need to include sustainability criteria in all designs.

AseBio. What are the main technical and regulatory challenges companies face when scaling up biotechnological processes from the lab to industrial production?

Jordi Gibert Amat. Scaling up biotech processes involves challenges such as the reproducibility of cell cultures, the control of critical parameters (pH, oxygen, temperature), and the validation of complex processes. From a regulatory standpoint, quality requirements, traceability, and compliance with standards such as GMP are especially rigorous. Moreover, the inherent variability of biological systems requires robust quality control strategies and continuous validation.

AseBio. What emerging technologies are shaping the future of pharmaceutical biotechnology?

Jordi Gibert Amat. Among the most promising technologies are precision gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9), artificial intelligence applied to drug design, 3D bioprinting, cell and gene therapies, and continuous manufacturing platforms. Microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip systems are also gaining relevance, as they allow biological processes to be modeled with greater fidelity and efficiency. Another highlight is the rise of ADCs (antibody-drug conjugates), which stand out as one of the most promising drugs for cancer treatment.

AseBio. How are digitalization and sustainability strategies influencing the operational efficiency of biotech plants?

Jordi Gibert Amat. Digitalization enables smarter management of process data, facilitating predictive maintenance, traceability, and real-time decision-making. Sustainability, on the other hand, drives the use of cleaner technologies, reductions in energy and water consumption, and the implementation of circular processes. Both strategies converge in more efficient, resilient operations aligned with ESG objectives.

AseBio. From a process engineering perspective, what innovations are key to ensuring the viability and scalability of pharmaceutical biotech products?

Jordi Gibert Amat. Key innovations include the use of single-use bioreactors, Process Analytical Technology (PAT) systems, computational process modeling (CFD, QbD), and continuous manufacturing platforms. These tools allow processes to be scaled up more quickly, safely, and cost-effectively, while maintaining product quality and meeting regulatory standards.

AseBio. Which regions or countries are currently leading the implementation of biotech solutions in the pharmaceutical industry, and why?

Jordi Gibert Amat. The United States, Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, and China are at the forefront, thanks to their investment in R&D, consolidated innovation ecosystems, and regulatory frameworks that favor technology transfer. In Europe, Spain is gaining prominence due to its scientific talent, industrial infrastructure, leadership in clinical trials, and a growing network of biotech clusters.

AseBio. What are the most important lessons learned in recent years from the large-scale integration of biotechnology in the pharmaceutical industry?

Jordi Gibert Amat. A key lesson has been the need for flexibility and resilience in supply chains—the COVID-19 pandemic truly stress-tested the system and, in many cases, led to collapse. It also highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration, digitalization as a driver of efficiency, and the need to accelerate technology transfer from research to production. The pandemic further underscored the value of modular and scalable platforms to rapidly respond to new therapeutic needs.

AseBio. What strategic objectives has the company set by participating as a Platinum Sponsor at BIOSPAIN 2025, and how do you expect this event to boost your positioning in the international biotech ecosystem?

Jordi Gibert Amat. As a Platinum Sponsor, our goal is to consolidate our position as a benchmark in engineering solutions for pharmaceutical biotechnology, strengthen strategic alliances, and showcase our capabilities in the design, construction, and operation of biotech plants. BIOSPAIN 2025 represents a key platform to connect with industry leaders, explore collaboration opportunities, and project our vision of sustainable innovation internationally.

AseBio. From your role as a main sponsor, what key themes do you consider essential to highlight or promote during BIOSPAIN 2025 to strengthen collaboration between biotechnology and pharmaceutical engineering?

Jordi Gibert Amat. We want to emphasize the convergence of biotechnology, engineering, and digitalization as a driver of industrial transformation. We will promote debate on sustainability, scalability, and quality in biotech production, as well as the need for multidisciplinary talent and collaborative frameworks that accelerate innovation. We will also foster dialogue on how engineering can facilitate global access to advanced therapies. All of this will be channeled through round tables and discussion forums, where we will encourage debate among clients, suppliers, and other key industry stakeholders.