Through the publication and dissemination of this special issue dedicated to the Continuous Chemical Processes Unit, we would like to present the facility, the equipment and instruments that comprise it, the various services that we can offer to industry, and the excellent personnel without whom the project would not be a reality.
We are dedicating the publication of issue #38 of our Newsletter to a special feature dedicated entirely to presenting the IQS Continuous Chemical Processes Unit which is now fully operational.
We are pleased to share this innovative project that is now a reality with all of you. The idea of building a unit to study continuous chemical processes and provide services to companies arose a few years ago, coinciding with the development of new advanced manufacturing technologies in fine chemistry.
The concerns the chemical industrial sector faces – working with safer, faster, and cleaner reactions – has led to a change in production systems, going from batch to continuous processes.
Therefore, it involves an infrastructure designed to respond to industry's needs and is aligned with the RIS3CAT strategy, which considers fine chemicals a very important area in within the scope of the healthcare industry sector. A large part of the fine chemistry industry sector can be found in Catalonia, especially in the Barcelona area, including producers of active pharmaceutical ingredients, surfactants, pigments, colorants, aromas and fragrances, plant protection products, biocides, and more. IQS's commitment to our industrial environment and the desire to potentially carry on the partnerships that have connected us for years were the main reasons that led us to decide that the creation of this new unit would be an action that focused most on innovation and modernization in the industrial chemistry sector.
Through the publication and dissemination of this special issue dedicated to the Continuous Chemical Processes Unit, we would like to present the facility, the equipment and instruments that comprise it, the various services that we can offer to industry, and the excellent personnel without whom the project would not be a reality.
The Continuous Chemical Processes Unit is one of the units located within the new Process Transfer and Integrative Technologies Centre (CTPTI). It is 1,150 m2 building that, in addition to the Continuous Chemical Processes Unit (Flow Chem Unit), also includes a Nanotechnology Laboratory, an Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Laboratory, and a Bioprocess Pilot Plant.
The construction and equipping of the CTPTI has been co-financed by European Regional Development Funds, granted by the Government of Catalonia's Ministry of Business and Knowledge through the General Research Directorate (File 2015 FEDER S-05). This grant forms part of the call for grants to select unique institutional projects to construct, acquire, equip, and/or substantially expand buildings for R&D infrastructure that make it possible to produce excellent research, attract talent, and develop knowledge transfer and valuation activities, which can be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
In addition, some of the equipment in the Continuous Chemical Processes Unit was supported by the Ansoleaga de Santiago family. We would like to thank the family not only for the financial contribution, but also for their commitment to IQS in its teaching and research mission.
IQS has a solid track record in fundamental and applied research activities, technological development, technology valuation, and knowledge and technology transfer to our industrial partners. This is our way of contributing to Catalan competitiveness and internationalization. We firmly believe that synergies and connections between business and the university are essential for the growth of Catalonia's economy.
We hope you find this special issue interesting.
Dr Núria Vallmitjana
Director of IQS Tech Transfer