The Madrid Science Park has been the chosen venue for the latest #caféBiotec of the association of biotechnology communicators.
The breakfast, which has been framed within the activities scheduled for Science Week, has reflected on the talent and training that a good science communicator should have in general, and especially in the biotechnology sector.
The debate, moderated by Jaime del Barrio, senior advisor at Ernst & Young and founding partner of aCb, opened with presentations from the three invited speakers: Fernando Menéndez, president of the Association of Biotechnologists of Madrid; Jorge Barbat, Headhunter expert in health professionals and founder of Heidrick & Struggles; and Martín Hernández‐Palacios, director of the Aliter business school.
Together they have outlined the ideal profile of the communications director that every biotech company should incorporate into its staff if it wants to progress:
Fernando has described the role of communication in a research center as a clear necessity. He did not hesitate to state that “scientists who best disseminate their work obtain more funding for their project and, therefore, ensure the viability of their research”.
For his part, Jorge has outlined the figure of the science communicator in the new paradigm with a more technological society that seeks “omnichannel” information: The good communications director must be a person “who has the ability to present a technical message adapted to each stakeholder of an institution“.
Martín closed the interventions by reminding of the importance of complementing university education in scientific branches with other disciplines such as law or economics, to present a complete and attractive curriculum for the Industry.
The attendees had their moment in the spotlight with questions and comments that finished shaping the figure of the biotech disseminator and communicator: An “orchestra man” capable of understanding the importance of a scientific publication but also of the market, managing social networks and mastering the methodologies of proper institutional, product, or crisis communication management.
The meeting was made possible thanks to the collaboration that the Enterprise Europe Network provides, through its internationalization and promotion services, to scientific startups and spin-offs.
