The forum Invertir en Ciencia Sí es Rentable has recognized the Galician company Centum and the Catalan biotech ecosystem Biocat for their contribution to the development of innovation in health and technology in Europe.
The Invertir en Ciencia Awards, organized by Unirisco and Xesgalicia, highlight organizations, institutions and professionals that promote scientific entrepreneurship and generate economic and social impact through knowledge.
In the Company category, the jury awarded Centum, a company specialized in aeronautical solutions based on mobile telephony systems for emergency, security and defense applications. Founded in 2010, the company has developed disruptive technology for critical missions and currently employs nearly 100 professionals. Its solutions have been deployed in more than 35 countries. In 2024, the company exceeded €20 million in revenue and forecasts growth of close to 50% in 2025.
The Technological Ecosystem award went to Biocat, which represents 8.7% of Catalonia’s GDP, employs more than 280,000 professionals and has attracted 16 multinational innovation hubs. In 2024, the ecosystem achieved a historic record in startup investment, raising €347 million.
This year’s edition also honored the Entrepreneurial Initiative of Darío Villanueva, who during his term as Rector of the University of Santiago de Compostela promoted the creation of Unirisco Galicia SCR in 2000, generating more than 40 spin-off companies focused on knowledge transfer from academia to industry.
Two Honorary Awards were also presented. The first was granted to the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, represented by its Acting Rector, Antonio López, in recognition of his strong commitment to scientific entrepreneurship within the university environment. The second honorary distinction, awarded posthumously, recognized Raúl Martín-Ruiz, who built a professional career of more than 17 years at Ysios Capital, and passed away last July.
The current edition of Invertir en Ciencia Sí es Rentable has consolidated the forum as a leading meeting point for science, investment and technology-based companies. More than 50 speakers took part in the event, addressing the role of investment in Deep Tech technologies as a driver of economic transformation and social impact, as well as the need for private capital as a lever for competitiveness, technological sovereignty and sustainable growth.
The 2026 edition concluded with the presentation of the Invertir en Ciencia Awards, recognizing:
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