Managing Director of INiBICA (Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz, Southern Spain)
Julio is the Managing Director of the Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA), Southern Spain. He is responsible for implementing a five year strategy that aims to enhance the capabilities and capacities of this budding research institute to help clinicians and translational researchers create a positive impact on Spain’s National Health System, as well as promote competitiveness and growth in the region by fostering new business relationships and driving diversification of existing lines. At INiBICA, Julio oversees the identification and strategic management of the intellectual property arising from the institute, mainly new therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tools, medical devices, and software.
Julio has considerable experience of innovation and knowledge transfer in both the biotech and medtech sectors. He has worked with big pharma, biotech spin-offs, healthcare centres, and consultancy firms, specializing in IP management, business development, and strategic partnerships. Prior to INiBICA, Julio has held roles at Manchester Innovation Factory, Highlight Therapeutics, and Cambridge Enterprise. At Cambridge he managed the University’s Research Tools portfolio, negotiating over 100 licensing deals and consultancy contracts, implementing new business processes and improving the post-deal management, and helping expand capabilities on software dissemination and commercialisation.
Julio has an academic background in Biotechnology and holds a PhD in nanomedicine research from the NorthWest Centre for Advanced Drug Delivery (NoWCADD) at The University of Manchester, funded through a collaboration with AstraZeneca's Pharmaceutical Technology and Development (PT&D) and Pharmaceutical Sciences departments. He was awarded an Honorary Research Fellowship from The University of Manchester in 2018, and completed his ILM Level 5 Certification in Leadership and Management in the same year.
Julio has been involved with ASTP since 2020 and is a member of RedTransfer since 2021.