Spain NeuroTech, the new National Neurotechnology Centre, is set up at an event in the Park.
Last Thursday, December 22, 2022, the constitution of the Spain NeuroTech consortium, the new National Neurotechnology Center, was held in the Park. The event was attended by representatives of the three signatory institutions: the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, the Community of Madrid and the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM).
Emotional act
The signing of the Spain NeuroTech consortium took place in a brief but emotional ceremony in all its interventions. Amaya Mendikoetxea, rector of the UAM, linked the classical tradition with the development of neurosciences to put the context of the agreement. He also recalled how the new center will be located in the trimodular building, formerly owned by the Madrid Science Park. Finally, he made it clear that “excellence is not improvised and this firm has been forged for several years on both sides of the Atlantic”, in relation to the participation of various Spanish neuroscientists working in the US.
Then one of them, Rafael Yuste, from the Center for Neurotechnology at Columbia University, took the floor. The researcher, scientific advisor to Spain NeuroTech, explained the three reasons for promoting neurotechnology : humanistic, medical and economic. He also stated emphatically: “There is no center like this in the world. Spain is a little ahead in this field.”
It was then the turn of Enrique Ossorio, vice-president of the Community of Madrid, who emphasised the location of the new centre. Located on Madrid’s knowledge mile, on the UAM-CSIC Campus of Excellence, Ossorio stressed that it is “the street that houses the most scientists in the country, the epicentre of Spanish science ». And he concluded by mentioning that the Spain NeuroTech project has been designed “to promote public-private collaboration, by all and for all”.
A dream come true
The event was closed by Nadia Calviño, First Vice-President of the Government and Minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation. Calviñó began by saying that the constitution of Spain NeuroTech was “a dream come true“, precisely in the Cajal Year. He also stressed that “there arefive centres specialising in this discipline in the world and Spain is going from spectator to leading actress“.
Finally, the vice-president outlined the principles that guide the constitution of the new centre: generosity, trust, collaboration and ethics. In relation to the latter, Calviñó emphasized that the d Digitalization must be humanistic, people-centered, “that guarantees technological development with digital rights.”
After his speech, the authorities made a brief visit to the facilities of the trimodular building, followed by a Spanish wine in the hall of the Madrid Science Park.
Video of the event
The full recording of the event can be seen here:
Press review
Spain joins the world forefront of neuroscientific research – COPE
The National Neurotechnology Centre takes shape after the signing of the agreement – Europa Press
