The new Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) building, known as the Central Building and operational for just over a year, has become the venue for celebrating 40 years of Catalonia’s engagement with Europe in the field of European funding, through an institutional event jointly promoted with the Department of Economy and Finance, via the Secretariat for Economic Affairs and European Funds.

Held within the framework of Europe Day, the event combined institutional commemoration with highlighting one of the most emblematic projects funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in Catalonia. It featured key representatives from European, national, and Catalan institutions, including Francesc Trillas, Secretary for Economic Affairs and European Funds of the Catalan Government, and Manuel Szapiro, Director of the European Commission Representation in Barcelona. Their joint presence underscored the importance of institutional cooperation and multilevel governance in steering European funds toward transformative projects with real impact.

“Celebrating Europe Day week in a place like VHIR is especially meaningful, as it clearly symbolizes the transformative capacity of European funds. Projects like this make visible how Europe materializes in initiatives that directly impact citizens. The new VHIR building is a clear example: it has made it possible to triple the space dedicated to research and to create an open and collaborative environment that fosters talent, innovation, and teamwork. This infrastructure strengthens the country’s research capacity and creates more opportunities to transform knowledge into real improvements in people’s health and quality of life. Lives are saved here, and the future is built,” said Francesc Trillas.

“Celebrating Europe Day and the 40th anniversary of Spain’s accession to the EU in this new VHIR building carries strong symbolism. It is a concrete example of how the more than €150 billion in regional European funds that Spain has received since 1986 directly impact citizens’ well-being, in this case through research and innovation. COVID taught us the importance of building resilient healthcare systems and top-level research. We will continue working together to protect our universal healthcare system, which is a cornerstone of the European DNA,” said Manuel Szapiro.

Representing Vall d’Hebron were Dr. Albert Salazar, Manager of Vall d’Hebron University Hospital; Dr. Begoña Benito, Director of VHIR; Montse Giménez, VHIR Manager; among other members of the management team. Jordi Badia, from BAAS Arquitectura, also attended as the architect responsible for the new research building project.

“The new VHIR building reinforces one of the key strengths of our campus: the real integration between healthcare activity and research. In an environment like Vall d’Hebron, it is essential for clinical professionals to work closely with basic and clinical researchers, as this allows us to bring research closer to patients and transform knowledge into real improvements in their health. We are fortunate to have leading teams in multiple fields, with a strong commitment to training, innovation, and technology. Initiatives such as the future innovation hub, new experimental surgery spaces, and the incorporation of a cyclotron strengthen this model and allow us to continue advancing in order to address the major challenges of modern medicine,” said Dr. Albert Salazar.

“Today is a particularly exciting day for VHIR. Being able to celebrate Europe Day in this building is the best way to show how European funds are transformed into tangible realities that directly impact research and people’s lives. This new space has not only enhanced our facilities, but has also brought about a profound change in how research is conducted, facilitating collaboration, innovation, and the development of projects with real impact on patients. Thanks to this support, we can continue to move forward in addressing future challenges, attracting talent, and developing increasingly cross-cutting research, with the ultimate goal of improving citizens’ health,” said Dr. Begoña Benito.

Meanwhile, patient associations had the opportunity to share their experiences with attendees in a roundtable alongside VHIR researchers, focusing on citizen participation in research and highlighting the value of collaboration in driving projects that improve health and quality of life.

A project that transforms health research

The new VHIR building is much more than an infrastructure: it is a space designed to enable a new way of conducting research. With a total investment of €57.6 million, including the building and equipment (as well as new specialized spaces), of which €12 million comes from ERDF funds, this facility has tripled the surface area dedicated to research, increasing from just over 5,000 m² to nearly 17,000 m².

The new infrastructure represents a qualitative leap in health research, resulting in greater research capacity, increased collaboration between teams, and more opportunities to turn scientific discoveries into real medical solutions. Thanks to European funding, professionals can now work together in an environment that promotes innovation and knowledge transfer, with open, flexible, and shared spaces that encourage interdisciplinary work—replacing the previously small and isolated laboratories.

The center conducts research in key areas such as chronic diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, neurological disorders, pediatrics, and rare diseases, with the aim of improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In the field of clinical trials, VHIR is an international benchmark, with around 700 active clinical trials and more than 800 patients recruited during 2025.

The new infrastructure also incorporates cutting-edge technologies, such as an advanced biosafety unit and a cyclotron for the production of radiopharmaceuticals, positioning Catalonia at the forefront of European biomedical research and generating new economic opportunities linked to scientific talent.

This summer, the launch of Nexus Surgical is planned, a space of 810 m² that integrates three operating rooms equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure to promote advanced training, translational research, and technological development in surgery and interventional procedures, within a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment with a 360º approach, covering everything from simulation and preclinical models to real patients in the operating room.

In the near future, the VHIR Central Building will also host an Innovation Hub, a pioneering space aimed at fostering public-private partnerships and new disruptive projects, with the goal of transferring knowledge through the creation of companies and attracting investors, as well as biotech and pharmaceutical companies interested in developing part of their activity in collaboration with VHIR research groups.

40 years of European funds transforming Catalonia

Since Spain’s accession to the European Economic Community in 1986, European funds have been a key driver of transformation, enabling infrastructures, services, and projects that are now part of everyday life.

In this context, the VHIR Central Building project exemplifies how these resources are translated into real opportunities, skilled jobs, innovation, and knowledge that reaches the healthcare system to improve quality and save lives, ultimately generating shared progress that benefits all citizens.

In addition to the €12 million in ERDF funding allocated to the construction and equipment of the new VHIR building, Next Generation funds have also provided additional financial support, particularly between 2021 and 2024. These resources are driving strategic areas such as biomedical and health research, advanced therapies, the consolidation of research talent, the strengthening of scientific infrastructures, and the development of projects in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Overall, the event highlighted how European funds contribute to strengthening the entire research ecosystem, from knowledge generation to its transfer, with a direct impact on innovation, competitiveness, and the improvement of healthcare treatments.