The Government of Catalonia has approved an agreement this week to strengthen the development of the frontier research and innovation hub in precision medicine at the La Ciutadella Knowledge Hub, with the involvement of the Barcelona City Council, the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST). This agreement ensures that the building will be operational by 2028. In the initial phase, PRBB will lead the architectural development of the hub and oversee the promotion and management of other research parks. Meanwhile, BIST will collaborate with PRBB in overseeing the construction process and, once completed, will be responsible for the scientific direction of the building. The new center will be developed in collaboration with Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and will become a hub attracting researchers from around the world.

The new building dedicated to precision medicine will bring together nearly a thousand professionals, including the entire Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), half of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), and several research groups from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the latter already based within PRBB. In this way, the new hub will foster multidisciplinary research across the various projects developed. The former Mercat del Peix site will also house the new building of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE) and another building for UPF.

The Ciutadella Knowledge Hub aims to transform Ciutadella Park and its surroundings into a leading European hub for knowledge, outreach, research, and innovation. This project is led by the City Council in collaboration with the Government of Catalonia, the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Universities, UPF, the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the University of Barcelona (UB), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, and BIST.

Kick-off for the restoration of the Castle of the Three Dragons, the gateway to La Ciutadella Knowledge Hub

At the same time, during the same week, the City Council approved the project for the restoration of the facades and the energy efficiency improvement of the roof of the building. This building is part of the heritage axis of La Ciutadella Knowledge Hub, along with the Greenhouse, the Martorell Museum of Exhibitions, and the Umbracle, all of which are part of the Natural Science Museum of Barcelona. The goal is for these spaces to serve as centers for scientific outreach, fostering scientific and critical thinking among audiences of all ages. The Castle of the Three Dragons is expected to host public services, exhibition spaces, educational activities, as well as a large auditorium and a unique scientific library.

Closed to the public since 2011, the building is one of the scientific sites of the Natural Science Museum of Barcelona, housing zoological and geological collections. It serves as the central hub for scientific research and the management of these collections, as well as for the necessary services to preserve, document, and study this valuable heritage. Currently, access is restricted to scientific consultation of the collections.