The Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) has presented its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, a document that will set the institution’s roadmap for the next five years with the aim of continuing to promote biomedical research of excellence that generates a real impact on the health and quality of life of society.

The new plan continues VHIR’s mission as a public institution dedicated to promoting and developing research, innovation, and education at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, identifying and applying new solutions to major health challenges through clinical and translational research.

The institution’s vision is to consolidate transformative research that positions VHIR as an international benchmark. To achieve this, the new plan is based on four cross-cutting principles: internationalization, interdisciplinarity, impact, and inclusion. All of this is supported by the values that define the institution: excellence, collaboration, integrity, responsibility, and sustainability.

Four pillars to transform research

The 2026–2030 Strategic Plan is built around four major pillars:

The first is transformative research and innovation, with the objective of deploying an interdisciplinary scientific strategy aimed at generating a strong clinical and social impact while enhancing the transfer of innovative biomedical solutions.

The second is talent and excellence in education, which seeks to consolidate an inspiring, inclusive, and people-centered work environment, fostering professional development, talent attraction, and continuous learning.

The third pillar is the expansion of partnerships and the ecosystem, with the aim of strengthening VHIR’s role as a strategic node within the European research and innovation ecosystem, expanding collaboration with academic institutions, industry, society, and public policy decision-makers.

Finally, the fourth pillar focuses on adaptive operations and management, promoting a more agile, participatory, and efficient governance model, with automated processes designed to support research activity.

30 key outcomes for 2030

VHIR’s vision for 2030 is embodied in 30 key outcomes that will serve as milestones in the institution’s transformation. These goals are intended to strengthen the center’s scientific capabilities, expand its international impact, and consolidate a more innovative, dynamic, and patient-centered research ecosystem.

A participatory process

The new Strategic Plan is the result of an extensive process of collective reflection and both internal and external analysis.

On the one hand, a benchmarking exercise was carried out with leading national and European research centers to analyze different strategic aspects such as governance models, partnerships, research organization, clinical research, and innovation. This analysis combined quantitative indicators such as structure, funding, scientific output, and talent with qualitative indicators related to governance models, collaboration mechanisms, knowledge transfer, and the integration of research and clinical activity.

At the same time, the drafting process involved broad participation from the entire VHIR community through surveys, focus groups, and working meetings.

The 2026–2030 Strategic Plan is fully aligned with the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, sharing the same vision based on excellence, value creation, and improving people’s health.