For five centuries, Galicia, and Santiago de Compostela in particular, have been epicentres of knowledge in Europe with an important international impact. This situation and its undeniable potential are the perfect breeding ground for the birth of the Polo Biotecnolóxico de Galicia (Galician Biotechnology Pole), an advanced manufacturing centre designed to be an enclave of reference for biotechnological entities and companies of any origin.

The project is promoted by the Galician Regional Government, the Santiago City Council, the Asociación Área Empresarial do Tambre (Tambre Business Area Association), the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and the University of Santiago, through Uninova, with the aim of promoting Galician biotechnology and making Galicia an international benchmark in the sector. Through a public-private partnership model, it will have infrastructure adapted to the needs of the sector and will be located in the da Sionlla business park in Santiago de Compostela.

The Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Polo de A Sionlla is aimed at companies and entities involved in biotechnology whose origin is in Galicia or who are drawn to the Galician ecosystem and wish to set up there. The following stand out among them: biotechnology companies that have passed the incubation phase; large corporations that want to settle and interact with the agents of the Galician biotechnology ecosystem; research or innovation centres looking for their own spaces to collaborate and provide services to companies located in the infrastructure; specialised technological suppliers that need a physical space close to their target audience; financial services that due to their proximity can provide economic support to companies in the sector or consulting firms specialised in the typology of companies installed in the Advanced Manufacturing Centre.

The key aspects of Sionlla Biotech

Access to industrial land and to infrastructure and services specially adapted to companies in the sector are key aspects of this project.

The first of the axes on which Sionlla Biotech pivots is the construction of innovative service buildings for biotech companies. This is a public-private initiative for the provision of specialised services for companies in the biotechnology sector in post-incubation phases. Among its aims are the generation of synergies and economies of scale between companies, as well as the development of a space for innovation and collaboration that will have specialised laboratories, auxiliary services to offer high-tech equipment for shared use or intersectional services such as offices, meeting rooms or events that promote the management and administration of companies.

The second axis has to do with infrastructure, with industrial spaces adapted to the requirements demanded of biotechnology companies (the design of the industrial spaces will be the responsibility of the companies that are located in the infrastructure), advanced voice and data communications systems, and areas for loading and collecting goods.

The third axis focuses on the industrial land available to biotechnology companies that want to install their production centres in A Sionlla.

The purpose of this centre is to provide biotechnology companies and institutions with a service centre that will mainly include 22 modular laboratories for research, development and innovation activities, as well as a variety of equipment and facilities for common use.

With laboratories of 65 square meters, Sionlla Biotech will have space for between 18 and 22 companies, which it will try to attract during the construction period. This is the first phase of the project. The second will seek the establishment of already consolidated companies in warehouses of at least 500 square meters.