The Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC, www.ibecbarcelona.eu/) is a leading-edge multidisciplinary research centre based in Barcelona that conducts excellent interdisciplinary research at the frontiers of engineering and life sciences in order to generate new knowledge by putting together fields like nanomedicine, biophysics, biotechnology, tissue engineering and the applications of health information technology. Within this framework, IBEC launched the Programme in Bioengineering Excellence Scientific Training (BEST). The programme aims to attracting international experienced researchers in the areas of Nanomedicine, Cell Engineering and ICT for Health, the three research Flagships at the Institute.
The BEST Postdoctoral Programme provides exceptional training opportunities for up to 24 (in 2 calls of 12 positions per call) high-potential fellows, with a 2-year contract at IBEC and funded interdisciplinary and intersectoral placements at world-class research centres, hospitals and companies within IBECs global network of collaborating institutions. In April 2015, IBEC was awarded the ‘Human Resources Excellence in Research’ from the European Commission, in recognition of its commitment to continuously improving its HR policies in line with The European Charter of Researchers and The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code). In line with this recognition, IBEC sets up an international, transparent, equal-opportunities recruitment procedure to select the most qualified researchers for the BEST programme.
The BEST Programme represents a unique opportunity to widen the candidate's perspectives in biomedical engineering. The programme boosts their scientific creativity, through the exposure to other techniques, approaches and mutual inspiration from colleagues with diverse backgrounds. Nonetheless, it also broadens their career choices, thanks to the mobility experiences that they enjoy within the IBEC network.
The motivation to launch the programme came from the scarce number of international postdoctoral researchers at IBEC. The increase and enhancement of postdoctoral trainees at IBEC is one of the fundamental goals under the training/attracting talent axis at the IBECs´ Strategic Plan and the BEST programme and, at the same time, it is an asset for the regional and national partnering organisations, and in a more generic way, biomedical engineering companies and research labs, who could benefit ultimately from their attraction to the Catalan/Spanish ecosystem. The BEST Programme has allowed to leverage the postdoctoral community at IBEC, both in quality and quantity.
The training opportunities offered to the fellows will guarantee not only the acquisition of cutting-edge skills at other top academic institutions, but also shape the participants as “facilitators” in the private-public collaborating arena, and acutely aware of the “final users” input and feedback (clinical sector). The BEST programme contributes to enhance the high-skilled human resources in the area of convergence of key enabling technologies (KETs) such as nanotechnology, industrial biotechnology and advanced materials, to provide solutions for the medical technologies sector. The area of convergence of diverse KETs is remarked as one of the priorities within the Smart Specialization strategy for the region of Catalonia, along with the innovation for the health technologies industrial sectors. At the regional level, the excellent trained BEST fellows benefit from and contribute to improve the rich research and innovation environment existing in Catalonia.
At the same time, thanks to its training at the highest global standards and the international dimension of their career at national and international level the BEST fellows are prepared to make significant contributions the new economy based on knowledge and innovation.
