The President of the Government of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, stressed this afternoon that “our country’s health sciences research is one of the driving forces behind progress, growth and the generation of opportunities”. And he declared that “Catalonia is one of the most important biomedical research centres in Europe”.

The head of the Executive was speaking at the close of the commemorative events to mark the 75th anniversary of the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, which took place today at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park. The event, which was also attended by the Minister for Research and Universities, Joaquim Nadal, and for Health, Manel Balcells, included the presentation of the book 75 anys investigant per la salut de les persones [75 years of Human Health Research], published to mark the anniversary.

Pere Aragonès highlighted that this research centre, opened in 1948 by Alexander Fleming, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, “is a very clear demonstration of the virtuous circle of joint work between hospitals of the highest level, committed universities, innovative research centres, an outstanding industry and productive fabric in the health and pharmaceutical fields, and a contribution and commitment from the institutions”.

The head of the Government expressed his gratitude to the more than 700 researchers and professionals who, he said, make the Hospital del Mar Research Institute “a benchmark for Catalonia and Europe in the field of medical research”.