APPLIED RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (ARTS)

Research areas:

Generation of on-demand polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for basic research, diagnosis and therapeutic treatments.

Genetic engineering of proteins and monoclonal antibodies: Recombinant Proteins, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), VHH single domain (nano) antibodies, Bispecific Antibodies, Chimerisation, Humanisation, Fusion Proteins, Antibody fragments (Fab, scFv), Phage Display Libraries and Biosimilars.

In vitro cell models to study efficacy, safety, mechanism of action, screening, synergies, bioanalytics, metabolomics, etc. of drugs, cosmetic health products, regenerative products and food supplements.

In vivo animal models to study efficacy, biodistribution, preclinical toxicology and maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pre-PK, histology, etc. (oncology, inflammation, dermatology, sports, cell and tissue regeneration, angiogenesis).

In vivo animal models for microbiome, dysbiosis and human microbiota transplant studies. Collaboration in the development of probiotics and prebiotics for nutrition and treatment of diseases.

Design of biogenome tools for the validation of therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers: siRNA, DNA hairpins, array analysis, etc.

We focus on therapy and diagnosis in areas and sectors such as oncology, inflammation, dermatology, sports, cell and tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, etc., with activities in:

Analysis of the therapeutic efficacy of new drugs, whether chemical, biological, cellular or genetic (at a molecular, biochemical, immunochemical and cellular level, and in laboratory animals).

Drug targeting and drug delivery projects for the improvement of drugs and other therapeutic applications.

Development of new biological drugs (monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins) and their improvement (chimerisation, humanisation, biosimilars, conjugation).

Identification, validation and characterisation of new therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.

Reprofiling of drugs on the market and in clinical trials.

Development of new and innovative tools for the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of the evolution of diseases and their treatment (monoclonal antibodies, ELISA kits, immunohistological kits).

Development of devices for outpatient use (lateral flow devices, biosensors). Our diagnostic solutions and specific biosensors are applicable in various industries such as healthcare, sports medicine, veterinary medicine, food and the environment.

Bioanalytical and metabolomics services for in vitro and in vivo studies, using high-resolution analytical techniques (chromatography combined with mass spectrometry).

Research areas:

Energy conversion and storage technologies. Design, assembly and characterisation, control and integration of energy devices and systems (solar, energy storage, bioelectrochemical systems, conversion of energy vectors).

Smart systems. Sensors, optical/electrochemical biosensors, printed electronic components, industrial Internet of Things and communications.

Robotics / advanced manufacturing processes. Collaborative robotics, mobile robotics, and automation.

Additive manufacturing/3D printing. Design and engineering of advanced industrial applications, development of process parameters and post-processing strategies/systems

Design and development of product and process supported by industrial design tools, simulation and multiphysics modelling.

Our activities improve industrial competitiveness, bringing knowledge and technology to a digital and sustainable industry. We provide technological innovation in industries such as energy, transport, and manufacturing, with an impact on new products, production processes and/or business models.
The activity focuses on:

Technological research.

Industrial design and development.

A multidisciplinary team made up of physicists, chemists, electrochemists and engineers means that we can develop innovative projects from different perspectives and that we have laboratories specially designed for these activities.

Electronics lab
Robotics lab
Energy lab
Device manufacturing, assembly and printing equipment
Solar simulation and electrochemical characterisation equipment
Composite characterisation and processing equipment
CAD/CAE/CAM design tools
Multiphysics simulation software
Accelerated ageing life cycle and pre-approval testing

Innovative technologies and strategies for sustainable and safe production, the efficient management of natural resources and the optimal treatment and recovery of residual flows.

Water treatment and reuse. Industrial, municipal and process wastewater, separation and purification technologies (membrane processes, product recovery), biotechnologies (bioelectrochemical systems, nature-based solutions), oxidative and disinfection technologies (advanced oxidation processes, electrochemical processes).

Waste/by-product treatment and recovery. Urban, biomass, mixed or complex industrial, conditioning technologies, transformation from waste to product (hydrolysis/extraction, bioconversion), primary raw material recovery, energy recovery (anaerobic digestion, thermal processes, bioelectrochemical systems).

Treatment and control of air quality. Indoor/outdoor air, chemical and microbiological control, dispersion models, photocatalysis technologies, filtration, adsorption, nature-based solutions.

Soil restoration and agronomy. Soil phytoremediation, bioremediation, use of organic amendments, food provision, smart cities.

Biotechnologies and bioeconomics. Bioprocesses and biocatalysis for sustainable production, enzymes as active ingredients, new natural active ingredients, new microbial consortia for industrial or environmental applications, agrobiotechnology.

Sustainable production. Combination of technology, sustainability and competitiveness through business models based on the circular economy, industrial symbiosis strategies and process efficiency, ecodesign and ecoinnovation.

Quantification of environmental, economic and social benefits: Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of products, services and processes.

Ecological labeling for products and services, environmental communication strategies, social responsibility, social innovation, awareness and citizen participation.

Safe technologies, products and processes for the environment and human health. Identification and monitoring of properties as well as the quantification of emerging contaminants (nanomaterials, microplastics, metals, chemicals and other materials of organic and inorganic origin). Risk analysis for human and environmental health throughout the life cycle of the products. Monitoring of product/additive/pollutant transformations throughout the life cycle in biological and environmental environments (biodegradability, ageing, mechanical stress, etc.). Support for industrial innovation by developing safety and sustainability criteria for its application and integration from the design stages (SSbD) of new products and processes.

Research areas:

Safe technologies, products and processes for the environment and human health. Identification and monitoring of properties as well as the quantification of emerging contaminants (nanomaterials, microplastics, metals, chemicals and other materials of organic and inorganic origin). Risk analysis for human and environmental health throughout the life cycle of the products. Monitoring of product/additive/pollutant transformations throughout the life cycle in biological and environmental environments (biodegradability, ageing, mechanical stress, etc.).
Support for industrial innovation by developing safety and sustainability criteria for its application and integration from the design stages (SSbD) of new products and processes.

Raw Materials. Study and synthesis of polymers and biopolymers, resins, organic compounds, surfactants and oils. Synthesis of micro and nanocapsules. Synthesis and surface modification of metallic nanomaterials, ceramics, nanofibres and carbonaceous structures. Study and modification of surfactants, oils and greases. Synthesis of organic molecules by conventional techniques and by flow chemistry.

Design and formulation. Formulation of paints, inks and functional coatings. Asphalt, concrete and cement mixing processes. Formulation of detergents and cosmetic products. Development of polymer composites (nanocomposites, biocomposites) by extrusion and reactive extrusion. Electrospinning of nanofibres, nanomesh and hollow fibres. Formulation of cutting fluids, coolants, lubricants and greases.

Processing and application. Transformation of polymers using conventional techniques (injection, extrusion blow moulding and injection blow moulding). Spinning processes. Plasma treatments and application of coatings and paints (spray, spin coating, padding, scraper). Ink printing (screen printing, inkjet, pad printing). Washing processes in textiles and on surfaces. Application of tribochemical products on metal surfaces. Sol-gel treatments and application of nanofibres by electrospinning on substrates.

Validation. Material characterisation (mechanical, impact, barrier, antimicrobial, hardness, scratch resistance, adherence, fire resistance), validation tests on detergents and cleaning products, formulation stability studies, lubricity, corrosion and foaming studies for tribochemicals, consumer tests, olfactory evaluations and ecolabelling. Accelerated ageing tests.

Global and optimised projects for the development of new materials, aimed at key industries such as transport, aeronautics, energy, textiles, detergency, cosmetics, packaging and the environment.

Flow Chemistry.

Chemical recycling of polycondensation polymers.

CONNECTED TO KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS

Cognizant that intellectual property is universal and can be generated and developed anywhere in the world, Leitat firmly believes in and promotes the concept of open innovation as a form of partnership to provide an effective response to the technological challenges posed by our customers.

ORGANISATIONS AND PLATFORMS

  • NATIONAL: 75
  • INTERNATIONAL: 44

ASEBIO

Spanish Association of Biotechnology Companies

SecPhO

Southern European Cluster of Photonics and Optics

AER Automatización

Spanish Association of Robotics and Automation

FEDIT

Spanish Federation of Technological Centres

CLÚSTER MAV

Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia

FOTONICA 21    

Spanish Technological Platform of Photonics

FOTOPLAT

Spanish technology platform for photovoltaics

HISPAROB       

Spanish Robotics Technology Platform

MANU-KET      

Manufacturing Technology Platform Advanced MANU-KET

MATERPLAT     

Spanish Technology Platform of Advanced Materials and Nanomaterials

NANOMED

Spanish platform for nanomedicine

PLANETIC

Spanish technology platform for systems with integrated intelligence (embedded systems)

PTE – HPC

Spanish technology platform for hydrogen and fuel cells

PTEPA

Spanish technology platform for fishing and aquaculture

PTF4LS

Technological platform Food For Life Spain

SUSCHEM-ES

The Spanish Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry

ARTEMIS

ARTEMIS Industry Association

BIC

Biobased Industries Consortium

CLEANSKY        

Clean Sky Joint Undertaking

EARPA

European Automotive Research Partners Association

EARTO

European Association of Research and Technological Organization

EFFRA

European Factories of the Future Research Association

EMIRI AISBL

Energy Materials Industrial Research Initiative

EU ROBOTICS

European Robotics Coordination Action

NANOSAFETY CLUSTER

European Nanosafety Cluster

SETAC

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

SPIRE

Sustainable Process Industry through Resource and Energy Efficiency

TEXTRANET

European Association of Textile Research Organizations

VANGUARD

Vanguard Initiative

VISION2020

Vision2020: The Horizon Network

WAITRO

World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations

AM PLATFORM

Additive Manufacturing Platform

EPoSS

European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration

ETP NANOMEDICINE

The European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine

EUMAT

European Technology Platform on Advanced Engineering Materials and Technologies

NET!WORKS

eMobility European Technology Platform

PHOTONICS 21

European Technology Platform for photonics

SUSCHEM

European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry

Textile ETP

European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing

WSSTP

Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform