In December 2015, the UN proclaimed February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with the aim of breaking down the barriers faced by women and girls in the scientific field. In 2016, the 11 de Febrero Initiative was born in Spain, with its first edition registering nearly 350 activities organized throughout Spain. This figure practically quadrupled the following year.
The Madrid Scientific Park Foundation (FPCM) joins this celebration, which this year will host more than 2,200 activities reaching about 130,000 people, and highlights the professional experience of four women scientists who hold positions of responsibility in some of its incubated companies, to give visibility to women in science and foster girls’ interest in science, research, and technology. In the words of its general director, Pilar Gil Ibáñez, ” at the FPCM, we are committed to promoting female scientific-technological entrepreneurship. Nearly 50% of the staff in our incubated companies and in the Park itself are women, which demonstrates that the female presence in these areas is a reality that is becoming consolidated. However, only 11% of our CEOs are women, so we must continue working to reach more positions of responsibility. That’s why it’s so important to make these cases visible “.
Ana López Cudero, Technology Director at Albufera Energy Storage
#SheIsAScientistBecause she is driven by curiosity
With a degree in Chemical Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid (1999) and a PhD in Electrochemistry from the Autonomous University of Madrid (2005), Ana López is currently the Technology Director at Albufera Energy Storage. She has dedicated her career as a researcher to studying materials for electrochemical energy storage systems in various fields such as fuel cells, supercapacitors, hydrogen, and more recently, batteries. She has over 17 years of research experience and has worked on many projects in high-level national and international institutions such as CEA Liten (Grenoble, France), IMDEA Energy (Madrid, Spain), and the Institute of Electrochemistry (University of Alicante).
In 2015, she joined the R team of Albufera Energy Storage as a researcher to apply her expertise to the development and testing of new materials for batteries, also carrying out tasks of preparation and coordination of European and national projects. Since 2018, she has held the position of Technology Director, coordinating R work and the various projects in which Albufera participates. Among her main activities, she highlights the coordination of a FET-Open project from the 2017 call.
Albufera Energy Storage, a company dedicated to commercialization, consulting, and R in energy storage, is a pioneer in Aluminum technology with two patents in the Aluminum-air battery market.
Carolina Gago Olmedo, General Manager at IOT
#SheIsAScientistBecause she has the opportunity to influence the progress of the community
An Optician Optometrist with a Postgraduate degree in Optics, Optometry, and Vision from the Complutense University of Madrid, Carolina Gago stands out for her impressive professional career at IOT.
Her early years were focused on R, studying the behavior and design of progressive lenses. She had the opportunity to be part of the commercial and marketing team, eventually leading the latter globally. Currently, she holds the position of General Manager at IOT.
IOT is a company of innovation applied to the field of ophthalmic lenses. Its mission is to offer its clients, mainly laboratories, the technologies and services they need to manufacture the best lenses in the world. With an annual investment of more than 30% of its profits in R, IOT has an agile innovation cycle that allows its clients to differentiate themselves in a highly competitive environment.
Paula Almodóvar Hortelano, co-director of the RD department at Pharmactive Biotech Products
#SheIsAScientistBecause what is essential is invisible to the eyes, but not to science
Graduated in 2016 in Food Technology and Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Paula Almodóvar is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Technology and Chemical Science, specializing in analytical chemistry, taught by the National University of Distance Education.
She joined the Pharmactive team in 2016, becoming part of the R Department and actively participating in the development of new products and publication of scientific papers. Recently, she has taken on the role of co-director of this department at just 24 years old.
Pharmactive is a private company created in 2009 with the purpose of contributing to people’s well-being through the use of new functional active ingredients from botanical extracts. Innovation, research, and development are the fundamental pillars of this company.
Manuela García López, director of the Teófilo Hernando Institute for Drug RD (ITH)
#SheIsAScientistBecause she wants to understand why our brain becomes ill and degenerates in order to find solutions to cure it
Manuela García obtained her degree and doctorate in Medicine and Surgery. Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Madrid, she has over 20 years of experience in drug R Her main areas of research are the study of molecular mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases with the aim of identifying new targets and developing drugs for the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, or depression.
In addition to her position as a teacher and researcher, Manuela García is the director of the Teófilo Hernando Institute for Drug R (ITH) and secretary-trustee of the Teófilo Hernando Foundation.
The ITH integrates various activities around drug development: basic and applied research, RD programs with the pharmaceutical industry, development of clinical trials, consulting services, and postgraduate training.
