Institute for Research in Biomedicine

non-profit research institution, founded by the Government of Catalonia and the University of Barcelona - Research Performing Organisation

The organisation

The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) is an independent, non-profit research institution engaged in basic and applied biomedical science. It was founded by the Government of Catalonia and the University of Barcelona in October 2005 and is member of the CERCA research centres promoted by the former. Housed within the Barcelona Science Park on the University of Barcelona Campus, IRB Barcelona is an integral part of the “Bioregion of Catalonia”, a rich landscape of research centres of excellence.

The Institute’s missions include conducting multidisciplinary research of excellence at the unique interface between biology, chemistry and medicine, providing high-level training in the biomedical sciences to staff, students and visitors, driving innovation through active technology transfer to the benefit of society, and actively participating in an open dialogue with the public through a series of engagement and education activities.

IRB Barcelona understands the importance of creating a vision where equality, diversity and inclusion are valued by all the community, avoiding bias and stereotype threats. In order to promote this mindset five years ago, an Equality and Diversity Committee was created with the mission of influencing an organizational and cultural change with the aim to ensure that these aspects are through embedded in the daily work. Therefore, IRB Barcelona decided to participate in the Caliper in order to gain advice and support in the implementation of gender mainstreaming through a Gender Equality Plan.

The GEP library of IRB

Visit the IRB GEP page

The Research and Innovation Hub of IRB

What is the R&I Hub?

IRB has identified external key players of the regional and national innovation ecosystem, including academia and universities, industry players, ministries/government bodies, and public sector and civil society organisations to engage them in the GEP process.

Engaging interested and key external stakeholders in the GEP processes can bring gender balance and gender sensitiveness in transfer to the market of scientific research results, it motivates young girls to embrace STEM studies, and it promotes gender sensitive co-design of research and tech products.

IRB works with the external players of the Hub, to implement the collaborative GEP actions. These actions facilitate institutional change internally, but also initiate a conversation among the regional and national stakeholders, to adopt and implement gender policies in their organisations.

The R&I Hub members

The R&I Hub of IRB consists of 6 academic partners, including universities and research centres.

GEP Working Group

Our Working Group main goal is to boost institutional transformation in gender perspective, by creating accountability and strengthening the commitment of key actors of the institution at all levels.