Miguel Ángel Benítez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Date and place of birth: 15 May 1975, Albacete (Castile-La Mancha).
Primary school: CP Antonio Machado (Albacete).
Secondary School: Virrey Morcillo High School (Albacete).
Preparatory university course: I.B. La Serna (Madrid).
Higher education:
- Degree in Mathematics from the Autonomous University of Madrid, UAM.
- Master’s degree in Management of European and International Projects from the Technical University of Madrid, UPM.
‘While I was still studying Mathematics at the University, I started working at Dragados, S.A. At first, I handled invoices, then I was in the Labour Department, where I implemented the RED system in 1998-1999, and, finally, I was transferred to the Quality and Internal Audit Department, where I stayed until 2006.
’In 2006 I was hired by UAM to manage two projects, one of them involving the establishment of the Mathematics Institute of the Community of Madrid, and the other for the SIMUMAT project in Madrid, to be completed in four years with a budget amounting to €803,000.
’In June 2007 I was appointed as Programme Coordinator at IMDEA Mathematics, a position I held until August 2008, when I was offered a job as Project Manager at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM).
’I have done several R&D+i management courses and currently I am interested in attending a project management course at the MIT.’
There were three main reasons that decided me to come to work in Bizkaia:
- The job and the task to launch a singular research centre in the Basque Country.
- Bilbao, a city I am in love with.
- Leaving a big city like Madrid.
’Bizkaia Talent helped me a lot in the process of settling in Bizkaia, especially with the procedures, which may look simple but then, when you have to deal with them, are quite complicated (registering at the town hall, OTA, ONA, home rental, etc.). Bizkaia Talent was like a one-stop window for information, assistance and support; at least this is how I saw it from the very beginning.
’Relocation is fantastic. You cannot find it in Spain outside the Basque Country and, actually, it is great because there is a single email address where you can send all your inquiries (which are many, indeed) concerning taxes, parking, etc.’
Marcelo Viegas
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Biological and Computer Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires.
- Advanced training courses at ICGEB, Trieste (Italy).
- Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from EMBL, Heidelberg (Germany).
‘After working in the field of biotechnology in a pharmaceutical firm in Buenos Aires, currently I am working at Progenika Biopharma (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park) as Project Leader and Senior Scientist.
’Bizkaia Talent helped me with my settling in Bizkaia, mainly with my transfer from Germany. They also helped me with the work permit and other legal issues. I came with my wife, and she got administrative and employment assistance too.
’I think the Harrera relocation service is excellent. While I was still in Germany, they helped me make all the necessary arrangements to have my belongings delivered. I think this service is superb, mainly when it comes to fulfilling all the legal procedures.’
Estíbaliz Olano
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1995).
- MSc in Food Biotechnology from the University of Reading, Food and Nutritional Sciences Department (UK, 1998).
- Ph.D. in Biotechnology and Nutrition from the University of Reading, School of Food Biosciences, Biotechnology Department (UK, 2001).
- Postdoctoral fellowship, University of California, Davis, Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Group (USA, 2002-2003).
- Postdoctoral fellowship, University of Reading, School of Food Biosciences, Hugh Sinclair Human Nutrition Unit (UK, 2003-2006).
- Senior Scientist at Progenika Biopharma, S.A., Diagnostics Department (2006-present).
‘In 2006 I was hired as a Senior Researcher by Progenika Biopharma, S.A. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park), joining the diagnostics team, who develop DNA-chips for the large-scale identification of DNA mutations that result in different hereditary conditions. Specifically, I am working on a DNA-chip for the differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. As project leader, I design the oligonucleotides and technical parts of the chip and perform the internal and external validation of the product.
’I was born and grew up in Bizkaia, and I studied at the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU). After obtaining my degree, I moved to England with a European grant to study English and do research. For the following ten years, I conducted research in the UK and USA.
’Some time ago, I used to think that I would never come back home because things were far from good for doctors in the field of Biotechnology here. But my family and my roots have always been in Bizkaia. About a year ago, I had the chance to join a company based in Bizkaia specialising in Biomedicine. The job implied a connection between biological research and hospital clinical practice. The company deals with interesting subjects and have recruited doctors, invested in R&D, so I thought it was a good idea to take the job, come back to Bizkaia and develop my career in my homeland.’
Bosco Olabarri
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Telecommunications engineer (ICT), Technical University of Madrid (1983-1989)
- MSc in Space Studies from the International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg (France, 1997-1998).
- Visiting Scientist at the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, Virginia (USA, 1998).
‘In 1999 I was appointed Simulations Officer at the European Space Agency (ESA) for the operation of the instruments of the XMM-NEWTON X-ray telescope. Later on, I worked for six years as a satellite operations engineer for ESA, designing and operating satellite instruments. I have seven-year experience as a software engineer in the analysis, design, development and integration of applications in various environments, the provision of technical support, and in set-up control tasks.
’Currently, I am working at the centre of SENER engineering company in Bizkaia, doing research and conducting technological and economic feasibility studies for experimental solar energy installations based on state-of-the art technology. To do so, I use SENSOL, a software programme developed by the company, and adapt it to the technology-optimising variations arising from the analysis of intermediate results.’
Currently, I am working on these technologies and projects:
- Cylindrical-parabolic collector: Andasol 1 and Andasol 2, Granada (Spain); Extresol 1, Extremadura (Spain); Almería GDV, Almería (Spain); and a plant in Arizona (USA).
- Heliostat or central power tower plants: SOLAR-3, Andalusia (Spain) and ESKOM (South Africa).
- Heliostat in beam-down collecting systems: pilot plant and demo plant for Solar Hytech (Japan) in the United Arab Emirates.
’When I began my professional career, I wanted to work in cutting-edge technological areas like the space industry but, in the early 1990s, this was not a relevant sector in Bizkaia, so I travelled to France, USA and Germany. Four years ago, for family reasons, I decided to look for a cutting-edge technology job here in Bizkaia. SENER and Bizkaia Talent helped me find a job in design projects for solar power plants.’”.
Mikel Valle
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Biology from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1992).
- Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1998).
- Doctoral dissertation at the National Biotechnology Centre, CNB-CSIC (Madrid).
‘From 1999 to 2003, I was Associate Researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of Wadsworth Center, New York Department of Health (Albany, NY, USA). In 2004, I was appointed Scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), where I stayed until 2006, when I was called to work as the Head of the Electron Microscope Lab (Lab 3) at the Structural Biology unit of CIC bioGUNE (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park).
’Currently, I am the head of a research team with several projects centred on the structure-function relation of the p53 tumour suppressor and different aspects of the functioning of bacterial ribosome.
’My research has been oriented to studying the 3D structure of biological macromolecules using the transmission electron microscope. I have published articles in international journals like Science, Nature and Cell.
’A small revolution is happening in Euskadi in the scientific sphere, and I wanted to be part of it.’
Edurne Berra Ramírez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Navarra (1989).
- Special degree from the Free University of Brussels.
- Ph.D. in Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1996).
- Basic Science Award granted by the Íñigo Álvarez de Toledo Kidney Foundation.
‘I worked as a researcher at the lab led by Doctor J. Pouysségur, belonging to the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). At present, I am doing research into hypoxia and pathological conditions at CIC bioGUNE (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park).
’I decided to come to Bizkaia when I got a job offer from CIC bioGUNE to do research into pathologies and hypoxia, whose results can be used in treatments for cancer, ischemia or glomerulonephritis.
’I got support from Bizkaia Talent at all times, and I think their job is superb because it helps attract and relocate professionals with broad experience in a wide variety of fields.’
Dr. Félix Bastida Corcuera
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Bizkaia, 1963.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY (USA).
After 18 years doing research in USA, Doctor Félix Bastida Corcuera returned to Bizkaia from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he had been working at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine/School of Sciences.
Currently, he is working at Vacunek S.L., the Neiker-Tecnalia biotech spin-off specialising in animal and veterinary biosciences. Doctor Bastida is the Managing Director of Vacunek, a company that develops products for the diagnostics, treatment and prevention of livestock diseases.
Doctor Bastida is an expert in molecular biology, proteomics, fluorescence microscopy, basic and applied research into microbiology and immunology, growth and analysis of bacterial strains, tissue culture techniques and monoclonal antibody production.
Dr. César González Pérez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Galicia, 1967.
Higher education:
- University degree from the University of Santiago de Compostela.
César González joined the European Software Institute Foundation as Project Manager after working for six years at the Faculty of Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney (Australia).
He has professional and scientific experience in technological issues, emerging sectors, consortiums involving several companies and service-oriented architecture (SOA).
Dr. Gregorio Rivera Medellín
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: USA, 1949.
Innovalab, a research centre located in Santurtzi, Bizkaia, appointed Doctor Gregorio Rivera Medellín as General Manager. Doctor Medellín, who had been working at USA-based Entovation International Ltd., has 26-year experience in research and management in the field of advanced knowledge and innovation in USA, Mexico, Germany and Spain.
He is an expert in knowledge economy, innovation, learning communities, emerging sectors, social media, art & science, and technology.
Enrique Zuazua
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Eibar (Gipuzkoa), 1961.
Higher education:
- University degree in Mathematics from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1984). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1987). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from Pierre-and-Marie Curie University (Paris, France, 1988).
‘In the 1987-1988 academic year, I was Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country, and then I was named Professor of Mathematical Analysis at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). In 1990, I became Chair of Applied Mathematics in Complutense University of Madrid, where I was the Head of the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Applied Mathematics. I also was the Head of the Department of Mathematics at the Institute of Advanced Studies of Madrid (IMDEA) and in 2001 I held a Chair of Applied Mathematics at UAM. In 2008, I was offered the chance to return to the Basque Country to set up the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM). At present, I am the BCAM Scientific Director.
’I heard about Bizkaia Talent while I was in Madrid. I was told about their Harrera relocation service, which made all the administrative procedures easier for me when I decided to come to Bizkaia.
’We scientists coming here to build our career get enormous help from Bizkaia Talent. I lived quite close, but if I had lived farther away, they would have helped me a lot anyway. If you live in Madrid, you can easily come to Bilbao to do all the paperwork, but this takes time, so they were really helpful. Besides, my wife is a foreign national, so she had to fill in a host of forms. And there were my daughters, who needed to find a school here, and we had to find a home too. They helped me with everything.
’Relocation is very good. We scientists travel all the time and changing residence is not that easy. Arriving in a new city and dealing with all the paperwork on your own is not an easy task, so getting help from an organisation is quite something. Bizkaia Talent was different from all the similar organisations I had come across before. It has the right size and joins all efforts in a single core, which makes it more efficient. In my opinion, it is a platform that you can rely on and it should get even stronger.’
Mikel Lorente
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- University degree from Tecnun – School of Engineering of the University of Navarra (1998).
‘I was Product Engineer at American automotive company DANA Corporation. Later on, I was promoted to Project Manager. Currently, I am the Head of the Technology Area of the Auto Parts Industry Cluster Association of the Basque Country (ACICAE).
’In a publication I read about the chance to join ACICAE. I was selected and, immediately afterwards, the Cluster contacted Bizkaia Talent to help me with the procedures required to come back to the Basque Country. I was living in Barcelona when Bizkaia Talent contacted me to help me with my return home.
’I think all the support offered by Bizkaia Talent is highly valuable. First of all, they helped me find accommodation. I was working in Barcelona so I could not come and look for a new home here. Bizkaia Talent helped me a lot with this.
’My wife is American. She too got help from Bizkaia Talent, especially in connection with work issues.
’Relocation service is great. I had moved before and I can tell moving from one city to another is no easy thing. I thank Bizkaia Talent for the help they offered to both me and my wife.
’In my previous moves, it was my company that dealt with the procedures. Once I left the company, the circle was complete. Bizkaia Talent helped me start again.’
Dr. Satheesh Kumar Reddy
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: India, 1971.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India).
‘Bizkaia-based Progenika Biopharma hired Doctor Satheesh Kumar Reddy as Project Leader. He has 14-year research experience, which he got in Switzerland and India. He came to Bizkaia from the Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland).
’He conducts research into proteomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, microscopy, DNA microarrays, genotyping systems/tools, DNA-chip design and development, platelet antibodies and high-frequency antibodies.
’In 2008, Doctor Kumar was a beneficiary of the aid programme run by Bizkaia Talent.’
Anne-Gaëlle Saint-Guirons
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Pau (France), 1982.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, Region of Pau (France).
Professional career:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2005-October 2008.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2008-August 2009.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (Bilbao, Bizkaia). September 2009-present.
“‘I decided to move to Bizkaia because it was a good opportunity to work abroad while still being close to my place in southwest France. I got help from Bizkaia Talent, which gave me information on a property agent that found me a flat to rent.
’The Harrera relocation service they offer is efficient and useful. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to come to Bizkaia; in fact, I have recommended it already!’
Ximena Carrión
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Loja (Ecuador), 1975.
Higher education:
- Degree in Agricultural and Livestock Industries from the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador, 1993-1999).
- Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2005-2007).
Professional career::
- Head of the Food Technology Research Area at IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park). July 2008-present.
- Assistant researcher at the University of Burgos (Spain). October 2007-June 2008.
- Intern at the University of Burgos and the Cooperative of Poultry and Cattle Breeding of Burgos (Spain). May 2007-July 2007.
- Translator of the website www.food-info.net, published by the Dutch Food Info Foundation, whose main contributor is Wageningen University (Netherlands). May 2006-June 2007.
- Director of the School of Agriculture and Livestock Industries at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Director of the Centre for Technology and Research Transfer in the Agriculture Industry (CETTIA), Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Technical and Quality Lab Manager at CETTIA, Loja (Ecuador). February 2002-August 2005.
- Dairy Plant Manager at Ecolac, Loja (Ecuador). April 2001-March 2004.
- Professor of Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). January 2001-August 2005.
- Head of the Quality Control Lab at the cold meats manufacturer INAPESA, Loja (Ecuador). November 1999-December 2000.
‘I settled in Bizkaia in 2008, after IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. offered me a job. Bizkaia Talent assisted the company with the initial hiring procedures and contacted the big corporation unit for them.
’Regarding the Harrera relocation service, I contacted someone at Bizkaia Talent. This person gave me information on administrative procedures, made the necessary contacts and sent me all the information I needed.
’At IDOKI they are grateful for the support they got from Bizkaia Talent when hiring me.’
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Date and place of birth: 15 May 1975, Albacete (Castile-La Mancha).
Primary school: CP Antonio Machado (Albacete).
Secondary School: Virrey Morcillo High School (Albacete).
Preparatory university course: I.B. La Serna (Madrid).
Higher education:
- Degree in Mathematics from the Autonomous University of Madrid, UAM.
- Master’s degree in Management of European and International Projects from the Technical University of Madrid, UPM.
‘While I was still studying Mathematics at the University, I started working at Dragados, S.A. At first, I handled invoices, then I was in the Labour Department, where I implemented the RED system in 1998-1999, and, finally, I was transferred to the Quality and Internal Audit Department, where I stayed until 2006.
’In 2006 I was hired by UAM to manage two projects, one of them involving the establishment of the Mathematics Institute of the Community of Madrid, and the other for the SIMUMAT project in Madrid, to be completed in four years with a budget amounting to €803,000.
’In June 2007 I was appointed as Programme Coordinator at IMDEA Mathematics, a position I held until August 2008, when I was offered a job as Project Manager at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM).
’I have done several R&D+i management courses and currently I am interested in attending a project management course at the MIT.’
There were three main reasons that decided me to come to work in Bizkaia:
- The job and the task to launch a singular research centre in the Basque Country.
- Bilbao, a city I am in love with.
- Leaving a big city like Madrid.
’Bizkaia Talent helped me a lot in the process of settling in Bizkaia, especially with the procedures, which may look simple but then, when you have to deal with them, are quite complicated (registering at the town hall, OTA, ONA, home rental, etc.). Bizkaia Talent was like a one-stop window for information, assistance and support; at least this is how I saw it from the very beginning.
’Relocation is fantastic. You cannot find it in Spain outside the Basque Country and, actually, it is great because there is a single email address where you can send all your inquiries (which are many, indeed) concerning taxes, parking, etc.’
Marcelo Viegas
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Biological and Computer Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires.
- Advanced training courses at ICGEB, Trieste (Italy).
- Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from EMBL, Heidelberg (Germany).
‘After working in the field of biotechnology in a pharmaceutical firm in Buenos Aires, currently I am working at Progenika Biopharma (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park) as Project Leader and Senior Scientist.
’Bizkaia Talent helped me with my settling in Bizkaia, mainly with my transfer from Germany. They also helped me with the work permit and other legal issues. I came with my wife, and she got administrative and employment assistance too.
’I think the Harrera relocation service is excellent. While I was still in Germany, they helped me make all the necessary arrangements to have my belongings delivered. I think this service is superb, mainly when it comes to fulfilling all the legal procedures.’
Estíbaliz Olano
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1995).
- MSc in Food Biotechnology from the University of Reading, Food and Nutritional Sciences Department (UK, 1998).
- Ph.D. in Biotechnology and Nutrition from the University of Reading, School of Food Biosciences, Biotechnology Department (UK, 2001).
- Postdoctoral fellowship, University of California, Davis, Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Group (USA, 2002-2003).
- Postdoctoral fellowship, University of Reading, School of Food Biosciences, Hugh Sinclair Human Nutrition Unit (UK, 2003-2006).
- Senior Scientist at Progenika Biopharma, S.A., Diagnostics Department (2006-present).
‘In 2006 I was hired as a Senior Researcher by Progenika Biopharma, S.A. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park), joining the diagnostics team, who develop DNA-chips for the large-scale identification of DNA mutations that result in different hereditary conditions. Specifically, I am working on a DNA-chip for the differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. As project leader, I design the oligonucleotides and technical parts of the chip and perform the internal and external validation of the product.
’I was born and grew up in Bizkaia, and I studied at the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU). After obtaining my degree, I moved to England with a European grant to study English and do research. For the following ten years, I conducted research in the UK and USA.
’Some time ago, I used to think that I would never come back home because things were far from good for doctors in the field of Biotechnology here. But my family and my roots have always been in Bizkaia. About a year ago, I had the chance to join a company based in Bizkaia specialising in Biomedicine. The job implied a connection between biological research and hospital clinical practice. The company deals with interesting subjects and have recruited doctors, invested in R&D, so I thought it was a good idea to take the job, come back to Bizkaia and develop my career in my homeland.’
Bosco Olabarri
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Telecommunications engineer (ICT), Technical University of Madrid (1983-1989)
- MSc in Space Studies from the International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg (France, 1997-1998).
- Visiting Scientist at the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, Virginia (USA, 1998).
‘In 1999 I was appointed Simulations Officer at the European Space Agency (ESA) for the operation of the instruments of the XMM-NEWTON X-ray telescope. Later on, I worked for six years as a satellite operations engineer for ESA, designing and operating satellite instruments. I have seven-year experience as a software engineer in the analysis, design, development and integration of applications in various environments, the provision of technical support, and in set-up control tasks.
’Currently, I am working at the centre of SENER engineering company in Bizkaia, doing research and conducting technological and economic feasibility studies for experimental solar energy installations based on state-of-the art technology. To do so, I use SENSOL, a software programme developed by the company, and adapt it to the technology-optimising variations arising from the analysis of intermediate results.’
Currently, I am working on these technologies and projects:
- Cylindrical-parabolic collector: Andasol 1 and Andasol 2, Granada (Spain); Extresol 1, Extremadura (Spain); Almería GDV, Almería (Spain); and a plant in Arizona (USA).
- Heliostat or central power tower plants: SOLAR-3, Andalusia (Spain) and ESKOM (South Africa).
- Heliostat in beam-down collecting systems: pilot plant and demo plant for Solar Hytech (Japan) in the United Arab Emirates.
’When I began my professional career, I wanted to work in cutting-edge technological areas like the space industry but, in the early 1990s, this was not a relevant sector in Bizkaia, so I travelled to France, USA and Germany. Four years ago, for family reasons, I decided to look for a cutting-edge technology job here in Bizkaia. SENER and Bizkaia Talent helped me find a job in design projects for solar power plants.’”.
Mikel Valle
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Biology from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1992).
- Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1998).
- Doctoral dissertation at the National Biotechnology Centre, CNB-CSIC (Madrid).
‘From 1999 to 2003, I was Associate Researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of Wadsworth Center, New York Department of Health (Albany, NY, USA). In 2004, I was appointed Scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), where I stayed until 2006, when I was called to work as the Head of the Electron Microscope Lab (Lab 3) at the Structural Biology unit of CIC bioGUNE (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park).
’Currently, I am the head of a research team with several projects centred on the structure-function relation of the p53 tumour suppressor and different aspects of the functioning of bacterial ribosome.
’My research has been oriented to studying the 3D structure of biological macromolecules using the transmission electron microscope. I have published articles in international journals like Science, Nature and Cell.
’A small revolution is happening in Euskadi in the scientific sphere, and I wanted to be part of it.’
Edurne Berra Ramírez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Navarra (1989).
- Special degree from the Free University of Brussels.
- Ph.D. in Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1996).
- Basic Science Award granted by the Íñigo Álvarez de Toledo Kidney Foundation.
‘I worked as a researcher at the lab led by Doctor J. Pouysségur, belonging to the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). At present, I am doing research into hypoxia and pathological conditions at CIC bioGUNE (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park).
’I decided to come to Bizkaia when I got a job offer from CIC bioGUNE to do research into pathologies and hypoxia, whose results can be used in treatments for cancer, ischemia or glomerulonephritis.
’I got support from Bizkaia Talent at all times, and I think their job is superb because it helps attract and relocate professionals with broad experience in a wide variety of fields.’
Dr. Félix Bastida Corcuera
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Bizkaia, 1963.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY (USA).
After 18 years doing research in USA, Doctor Félix Bastida Corcuera returned to Bizkaia from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he had been working at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine/School of Sciences.
Currently, he is working at Vacunek S.L., the Neiker-Tecnalia biotech spin-off specialising in animal and veterinary biosciences. Doctor Bastida is the Managing Director of Vacunek, a company that develops products for the diagnostics, treatment and prevention of livestock diseases.
Doctor Bastida is an expert in molecular biology, proteomics, fluorescence microscopy, basic and applied research into microbiology and immunology, growth and analysis of bacterial strains, tissue culture techniques and monoclonal antibody production.
Dr. César González Pérez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Galicia, 1967.
Higher education:
- University degree from the University of Santiago de Compostela.
César González joined the European Software Institute Foundation as Project Manager after working for six years at the Faculty of Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney (Australia).
He has professional and scientific experience in technological issues, emerging sectors, consortiums involving several companies and service-oriented architecture (SOA).
Dr. Gregorio Rivera Medellín
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: USA, 1949.
Innovalab, a research centre located in Santurtzi, Bizkaia, appointed Doctor Gregorio Rivera Medellín as General Manager. Doctor Medellín, who had been working at USA-based Entovation International Ltd., has 26-year experience in research and management in the field of advanced knowledge and innovation in USA, Mexico, Germany and Spain.
He is an expert in knowledge economy, innovation, learning communities, emerging sectors, social media, art & science, and technology.
Enrique Zuazua
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Eibar (Gipuzkoa), 1961.
Higher education:
- University degree in Mathematics from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1984). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1987). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from Pierre-and-Marie Curie University (Paris, France, 1988).
‘In the 1987-1988 academic year, I was Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country, and then I was named Professor of Mathematical Analysis at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). In 1990, I became Chair of Applied Mathematics in Complutense University of Madrid, where I was the Head of the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Applied Mathematics. I also was the Head of the Department of Mathematics at the Institute of Advanced Studies of Madrid (IMDEA) and in 2001 I held a Chair of Applied Mathematics at UAM. In 2008, I was offered the chance to return to the Basque Country to set up the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM). At present, I am the BCAM Scientific Director.
’I heard about Bizkaia Talent while I was in Madrid. I was told about their Harrera relocation service, which made all the administrative procedures easier for me when I decided to come to Bizkaia.
’We scientists coming here to build our career get enormous help from Bizkaia Talent. I lived quite close, but if I had lived farther away, they would have helped me a lot anyway. If you live in Madrid, you can easily come to Bilbao to do all the paperwork, but this takes time, so they were really helpful. Besides, my wife is a foreign national, so she had to fill in a host of forms. And there were my daughters, who needed to find a school here, and we had to find a home too. They helped me with everything.
’Relocation is very good. We scientists travel all the time and changing residence is not that easy. Arriving in a new city and dealing with all the paperwork on your own is not an easy task, so getting help from an organisation is quite something. Bizkaia Talent was different from all the similar organisations I had come across before. It has the right size and joins all efforts in a single core, which makes it more efficient. In my opinion, it is a platform that you can rely on and it should get even stronger.’
Mikel Lorente
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- University degree from Tecnun – School of Engineering of the University of Navarra (1998).
‘I was Product Engineer at American automotive company DANA Corporation. Later on, I was promoted to Project Manager. Currently, I am the Head of the Technology Area of the Auto Parts Industry Cluster Association of the Basque Country (ACICAE).
’In a publication I read about the chance to join ACICAE. I was selected and, immediately afterwards, the Cluster contacted Bizkaia Talent to help me with the procedures required to come back to the Basque Country. I was living in Barcelona when Bizkaia Talent contacted me to help me with my return home.
’I think all the support offered by Bizkaia Talent is highly valuable. First of all, they helped me find accommodation. I was working in Barcelona so I could not come and look for a new home here. Bizkaia Talent helped me a lot with this.
’My wife is American. She too got help from Bizkaia Talent, especially in connection with work issues.
’Relocation service is great. I had moved before and I can tell moving from one city to another is no easy thing. I thank Bizkaia Talent for the help they offered to both me and my wife.
’In my previous moves, it was my company that dealt with the procedures. Once I left the company, the circle was complete. Bizkaia Talent helped me start again.’
Dr. Satheesh Kumar Reddy
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: India, 1971.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India).
‘Bizkaia-based Progenika Biopharma hired Doctor Satheesh Kumar Reddy as Project Leader. He has 14-year research experience, which he got in Switzerland and India. He came to Bizkaia from the Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland).
’He conducts research into proteomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, microscopy, DNA microarrays, genotyping systems/tools, DNA-chip design and development, platelet antibodies and high-frequency antibodies.
’In 2008, Doctor Kumar was a beneficiary of the aid programme run by Bizkaia Talent.’
Anne-Gaëlle Saint-Guirons
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Pau (France), 1982.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, Region of Pau (France).
Professional career:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2005-October 2008.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2008-August 2009.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (Bilbao, Bizkaia). September 2009-present.
“‘I decided to move to Bizkaia because it was a good opportunity to work abroad while still being close to my place in southwest France. I got help from Bizkaia Talent, which gave me information on a property agent that found me a flat to rent.
’The Harrera relocation service they offer is efficient and useful. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to come to Bizkaia; in fact, I have recommended it already!’
Ximena Carrión
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Loja (Ecuador), 1975.
Higher education:
- Degree in Agricultural and Livestock Industries from the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador, 1993-1999).
- Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2005-2007).
Professional career::
- Head of the Food Technology Research Area at IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park). July 2008-present.
- Assistant researcher at the University of Burgos (Spain). October 2007-June 2008.
- Intern at the University of Burgos and the Cooperative of Poultry and Cattle Breeding of Burgos (Spain). May 2007-July 2007.
- Translator of the website www.food-info.net, published by the Dutch Food Info Foundation, whose main contributor is Wageningen University (Netherlands). May 2006-June 2007.
- Director of the School of Agriculture and Livestock Industries at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Director of the Centre for Technology and Research Transfer in the Agriculture Industry (CETTIA), Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Technical and Quality Lab Manager at CETTIA, Loja (Ecuador). February 2002-August 2005.
- Dairy Plant Manager at Ecolac, Loja (Ecuador). April 2001-March 2004.
- Professor of Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). January 2001-August 2005.
- Head of the Quality Control Lab at the cold meats manufacturer INAPESA, Loja (Ecuador). November 1999-December 2000.
‘I settled in Bizkaia in 2008, after IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. offered me a job. Bizkaia Talent assisted the company with the initial hiring procedures and contacted the big corporation unit for them.
’Regarding the Harrera relocation service, I contacted someone at Bizkaia Talent. This person gave me information on administrative procedures, made the necessary contacts and sent me all the information I needed.
’At IDOKI they are grateful for the support they got from Bizkaia Talent when hiring me.’
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1995).
- MSc in Food Biotechnology from the University of Reading, Food and Nutritional Sciences Department (UK, 1998).
- Ph.D. in Biotechnology and Nutrition from the University of Reading, School of Food Biosciences, Biotechnology Department (UK, 2001).
- Postdoctoral fellowship, University of California, Davis, Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Group (USA, 2002-2003).
- Postdoctoral fellowship, University of Reading, School of Food Biosciences, Hugh Sinclair Human Nutrition Unit (UK, 2003-2006).
- Senior Scientist at Progenika Biopharma, S.A., Diagnostics Department (2006-present).
‘In 2006 I was hired as a Senior Researcher by Progenika Biopharma, S.A. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park), joining the diagnostics team, who develop DNA-chips for the large-scale identification of DNA mutations that result in different hereditary conditions. Specifically, I am working on a DNA-chip for the differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. As project leader, I design the oligonucleotides and technical parts of the chip and perform the internal and external validation of the product.
’I was born and grew up in Bizkaia, and I studied at the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU). After obtaining my degree, I moved to England with a European grant to study English and do research. For the following ten years, I conducted research in the UK and USA.
’Some time ago, I used to think that I would never come back home because things were far from good for doctors in the field of Biotechnology here. But my family and my roots have always been in Bizkaia. About a year ago, I had the chance to join a company based in Bizkaia specialising in Biomedicine. The job implied a connection between biological research and hospital clinical practice. The company deals with interesting subjects and have recruited doctors, invested in R&D, so I thought it was a good idea to take the job, come back to Bizkaia and develop my career in my homeland.’
Bosco Olabarri
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Telecommunications engineer (ICT), Technical University of Madrid (1983-1989)
- MSc in Space Studies from the International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg (France, 1997-1998).
- Visiting Scientist at the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, Virginia (USA, 1998).
‘In 1999 I was appointed Simulations Officer at the European Space Agency (ESA) for the operation of the instruments of the XMM-NEWTON X-ray telescope. Later on, I worked for six years as a satellite operations engineer for ESA, designing and operating satellite instruments. I have seven-year experience as a software engineer in the analysis, design, development and integration of applications in various environments, the provision of technical support, and in set-up control tasks.
’Currently, I am working at the centre of SENER engineering company in Bizkaia, doing research and conducting technological and economic feasibility studies for experimental solar energy installations based on state-of-the art technology. To do so, I use SENSOL, a software programme developed by the company, and adapt it to the technology-optimising variations arising from the analysis of intermediate results.’
Currently, I am working on these technologies and projects:
- Cylindrical-parabolic collector: Andasol 1 and Andasol 2, Granada (Spain); Extresol 1, Extremadura (Spain); Almería GDV, Almería (Spain); and a plant in Arizona (USA).
- Heliostat or central power tower plants: SOLAR-3, Andalusia (Spain) and ESKOM (South Africa).
- Heliostat in beam-down collecting systems: pilot plant and demo plant for Solar Hytech (Japan) in the United Arab Emirates.
’When I began my professional career, I wanted to work in cutting-edge technological areas like the space industry but, in the early 1990s, this was not a relevant sector in Bizkaia, so I travelled to France, USA and Germany. Four years ago, for family reasons, I decided to look for a cutting-edge technology job here in Bizkaia. SENER and Bizkaia Talent helped me find a job in design projects for solar power plants.’”.
Mikel Valle
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Biology from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1992).
- Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1998).
- Doctoral dissertation at the National Biotechnology Centre, CNB-CSIC (Madrid).
‘From 1999 to 2003, I was Associate Researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of Wadsworth Center, New York Department of Health (Albany, NY, USA). In 2004, I was appointed Scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), where I stayed until 2006, when I was called to work as the Head of the Electron Microscope Lab (Lab 3) at the Structural Biology unit of CIC bioGUNE (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park).
’Currently, I am the head of a research team with several projects centred on the structure-function relation of the p53 tumour suppressor and different aspects of the functioning of bacterial ribosome.
’My research has been oriented to studying the 3D structure of biological macromolecules using the transmission electron microscope. I have published articles in international journals like Science, Nature and Cell.
’A small revolution is happening in Euskadi in the scientific sphere, and I wanted to be part of it.’
Edurne Berra Ramírez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Navarra (1989).
- Special degree from the Free University of Brussels.
- Ph.D. in Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1996).
- Basic Science Award granted by the Íñigo Álvarez de Toledo Kidney Foundation.
‘I worked as a researcher at the lab led by Doctor J. Pouysségur, belonging to the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). At present, I am doing research into hypoxia and pathological conditions at CIC bioGUNE (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park).
’I decided to come to Bizkaia when I got a job offer from CIC bioGUNE to do research into pathologies and hypoxia, whose results can be used in treatments for cancer, ischemia or glomerulonephritis.
’I got support from Bizkaia Talent at all times, and I think their job is superb because it helps attract and relocate professionals with broad experience in a wide variety of fields.’
Dr. Félix Bastida Corcuera
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Bizkaia, 1963.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY (USA).
After 18 years doing research in USA, Doctor Félix Bastida Corcuera returned to Bizkaia from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he had been working at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine/School of Sciences.
Currently, he is working at Vacunek S.L., the Neiker-Tecnalia biotech spin-off specialising in animal and veterinary biosciences. Doctor Bastida is the Managing Director of Vacunek, a company that develops products for the diagnostics, treatment and prevention of livestock diseases.
Doctor Bastida is an expert in molecular biology, proteomics, fluorescence microscopy, basic and applied research into microbiology and immunology, growth and analysis of bacterial strains, tissue culture techniques and monoclonal antibody production.
Dr. César González Pérez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Galicia, 1967.
Higher education:
- University degree from the University of Santiago de Compostela.
César González joined the European Software Institute Foundation as Project Manager after working for six years at the Faculty of Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney (Australia).
He has professional and scientific experience in technological issues, emerging sectors, consortiums involving several companies and service-oriented architecture (SOA).
Dr. Gregorio Rivera Medellín
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: USA, 1949.
Innovalab, a research centre located in Santurtzi, Bizkaia, appointed Doctor Gregorio Rivera Medellín as General Manager. Doctor Medellín, who had been working at USA-based Entovation International Ltd., has 26-year experience in research and management in the field of advanced knowledge and innovation in USA, Mexico, Germany and Spain.
He is an expert in knowledge economy, innovation, learning communities, emerging sectors, social media, art & science, and technology.
Enrique Zuazua
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Eibar (Gipuzkoa), 1961.
Higher education:
- University degree in Mathematics from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1984). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1987). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from Pierre-and-Marie Curie University (Paris, France, 1988).
‘In the 1987-1988 academic year, I was Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country, and then I was named Professor of Mathematical Analysis at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). In 1990, I became Chair of Applied Mathematics in Complutense University of Madrid, where I was the Head of the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Applied Mathematics. I also was the Head of the Department of Mathematics at the Institute of Advanced Studies of Madrid (IMDEA) and in 2001 I held a Chair of Applied Mathematics at UAM. In 2008, I was offered the chance to return to the Basque Country to set up the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM). At present, I am the BCAM Scientific Director.
’I heard about Bizkaia Talent while I was in Madrid. I was told about their Harrera relocation service, which made all the administrative procedures easier for me when I decided to come to Bizkaia.
’We scientists coming here to build our career get enormous help from Bizkaia Talent. I lived quite close, but if I had lived farther away, they would have helped me a lot anyway. If you live in Madrid, you can easily come to Bilbao to do all the paperwork, but this takes time, so they were really helpful. Besides, my wife is a foreign national, so she had to fill in a host of forms. And there were my daughters, who needed to find a school here, and we had to find a home too. They helped me with everything.
’Relocation is very good. We scientists travel all the time and changing residence is not that easy. Arriving in a new city and dealing with all the paperwork on your own is not an easy task, so getting help from an organisation is quite something. Bizkaia Talent was different from all the similar organisations I had come across before. It has the right size and joins all efforts in a single core, which makes it more efficient. In my opinion, it is a platform that you can rely on and it should get even stronger.’
Mikel Lorente
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- University degree from Tecnun – School of Engineering of the University of Navarra (1998).
‘I was Product Engineer at American automotive company DANA Corporation. Later on, I was promoted to Project Manager. Currently, I am the Head of the Technology Area of the Auto Parts Industry Cluster Association of the Basque Country (ACICAE).
’In a publication I read about the chance to join ACICAE. I was selected and, immediately afterwards, the Cluster contacted Bizkaia Talent to help me with the procedures required to come back to the Basque Country. I was living in Barcelona when Bizkaia Talent contacted me to help me with my return home.
’I think all the support offered by Bizkaia Talent is highly valuable. First of all, they helped me find accommodation. I was working in Barcelona so I could not come and look for a new home here. Bizkaia Talent helped me a lot with this.
’My wife is American. She too got help from Bizkaia Talent, especially in connection with work issues.
’Relocation service is great. I had moved before and I can tell moving from one city to another is no easy thing. I thank Bizkaia Talent for the help they offered to both me and my wife.
’In my previous moves, it was my company that dealt with the procedures. Once I left the company, the circle was complete. Bizkaia Talent helped me start again.’
Dr. Satheesh Kumar Reddy
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: India, 1971.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India).
‘Bizkaia-based Progenika Biopharma hired Doctor Satheesh Kumar Reddy as Project Leader. He has 14-year research experience, which he got in Switzerland and India. He came to Bizkaia from the Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland).
’He conducts research into proteomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, microscopy, DNA microarrays, genotyping systems/tools, DNA-chip design and development, platelet antibodies and high-frequency antibodies.
’In 2008, Doctor Kumar was a beneficiary of the aid programme run by Bizkaia Talent.’
Anne-Gaëlle Saint-Guirons
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Pau (France), 1982.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, Region of Pau (France).
Professional career:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2005-October 2008.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2008-August 2009.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (Bilbao, Bizkaia). September 2009-present.
“‘I decided to move to Bizkaia because it was a good opportunity to work abroad while still being close to my place in southwest France. I got help from Bizkaia Talent, which gave me information on a property agent that found me a flat to rent.
’The Harrera relocation service they offer is efficient and useful. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to come to Bizkaia; in fact, I have recommended it already!’
Ximena Carrión
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Loja (Ecuador), 1975.
Higher education:
- Degree in Agricultural and Livestock Industries from the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador, 1993-1999).
- Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2005-2007).
Professional career::
- Head of the Food Technology Research Area at IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park). July 2008-present.
- Assistant researcher at the University of Burgos (Spain). October 2007-June 2008.
- Intern at the University of Burgos and the Cooperative of Poultry and Cattle Breeding of Burgos (Spain). May 2007-July 2007.
- Translator of the website www.food-info.net, published by the Dutch Food Info Foundation, whose main contributor is Wageningen University (Netherlands). May 2006-June 2007.
- Director of the School of Agriculture and Livestock Industries at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Director of the Centre for Technology and Research Transfer in the Agriculture Industry (CETTIA), Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Technical and Quality Lab Manager at CETTIA, Loja (Ecuador). February 2002-August 2005.
- Dairy Plant Manager at Ecolac, Loja (Ecuador). April 2001-March 2004.
- Professor of Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). January 2001-August 2005.
- Head of the Quality Control Lab at the cold meats manufacturer INAPESA, Loja (Ecuador). November 1999-December 2000.
‘I settled in Bizkaia in 2008, after IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. offered me a job. Bizkaia Talent assisted the company with the initial hiring procedures and contacted the big corporation unit for them.
’Regarding the Harrera relocation service, I contacted someone at Bizkaia Talent. This person gave me information on administrative procedures, made the necessary contacts and sent me all the information I needed.
’At IDOKI they are grateful for the support they got from Bizkaia Talent when hiring me.’
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Biology from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1992).
- Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1998).
- Doctoral dissertation at the National Biotechnology Centre, CNB-CSIC (Madrid).
‘From 1999 to 2003, I was Associate Researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of Wadsworth Center, New York Department of Health (Albany, NY, USA). In 2004, I was appointed Scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), where I stayed until 2006, when I was called to work as the Head of the Electron Microscope Lab (Lab 3) at the Structural Biology unit of CIC bioGUNE (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park).
’Currently, I am the head of a research team with several projects centred on the structure-function relation of the p53 tumour suppressor and different aspects of the functioning of bacterial ribosome.
’My research has been oriented to studying the 3D structure of biological macromolecules using the transmission electron microscope. I have published articles in international journals like Science, Nature and Cell.
’A small revolution is happening in Euskadi in the scientific sphere, and I wanted to be part of it.’
Edurne Berra Ramírez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Navarra (1989).
- Special degree from the Free University of Brussels.
- Ph.D. in Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1996).
- Basic Science Award granted by the Íñigo Álvarez de Toledo Kidney Foundation.
‘I worked as a researcher at the lab led by Doctor J. Pouysségur, belonging to the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). At present, I am doing research into hypoxia and pathological conditions at CIC bioGUNE (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park).
’I decided to come to Bizkaia when I got a job offer from CIC bioGUNE to do research into pathologies and hypoxia, whose results can be used in treatments for cancer, ischemia or glomerulonephritis.
’I got support from Bizkaia Talent at all times, and I think their job is superb because it helps attract and relocate professionals with broad experience in a wide variety of fields.’
Dr. Félix Bastida Corcuera
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Bizkaia, 1963.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY (USA).
After 18 years doing research in USA, Doctor Félix Bastida Corcuera returned to Bizkaia from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he had been working at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine/School of Sciences.
Currently, he is working at Vacunek S.L., the Neiker-Tecnalia biotech spin-off specialising in animal and veterinary biosciences. Doctor Bastida is the Managing Director of Vacunek, a company that develops products for the diagnostics, treatment and prevention of livestock diseases.
Doctor Bastida is an expert in molecular biology, proteomics, fluorescence microscopy, basic and applied research into microbiology and immunology, growth and analysis of bacterial strains, tissue culture techniques and monoclonal antibody production.
Dr. César González Pérez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Galicia, 1967.
Higher education:
- University degree from the University of Santiago de Compostela.
César González joined the European Software Institute Foundation as Project Manager after working for six years at the Faculty of Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney (Australia).
He has professional and scientific experience in technological issues, emerging sectors, consortiums involving several companies and service-oriented architecture (SOA).
Dr. Gregorio Rivera Medellín
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: USA, 1949.
Innovalab, a research centre located in Santurtzi, Bizkaia, appointed Doctor Gregorio Rivera Medellín as General Manager. Doctor Medellín, who had been working at USA-based Entovation International Ltd., has 26-year experience in research and management in the field of advanced knowledge and innovation in USA, Mexico, Germany and Spain.
He is an expert in knowledge economy, innovation, learning communities, emerging sectors, social media, art & science, and technology.
Enrique Zuazua
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Eibar (Gipuzkoa), 1961.
Higher education:
- University degree in Mathematics from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1984). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1987). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from Pierre-and-Marie Curie University (Paris, France, 1988).
‘In the 1987-1988 academic year, I was Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country, and then I was named Professor of Mathematical Analysis at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). In 1990, I became Chair of Applied Mathematics in Complutense University of Madrid, where I was the Head of the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Applied Mathematics. I also was the Head of the Department of Mathematics at the Institute of Advanced Studies of Madrid (IMDEA) and in 2001 I held a Chair of Applied Mathematics at UAM. In 2008, I was offered the chance to return to the Basque Country to set up the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM). At present, I am the BCAM Scientific Director.
’I heard about Bizkaia Talent while I was in Madrid. I was told about their Harrera relocation service, which made all the administrative procedures easier for me when I decided to come to Bizkaia.
’We scientists coming here to build our career get enormous help from Bizkaia Talent. I lived quite close, but if I had lived farther away, they would have helped me a lot anyway. If you live in Madrid, you can easily come to Bilbao to do all the paperwork, but this takes time, so they were really helpful. Besides, my wife is a foreign national, so she had to fill in a host of forms. And there were my daughters, who needed to find a school here, and we had to find a home too. They helped me with everything.
’Relocation is very good. We scientists travel all the time and changing residence is not that easy. Arriving in a new city and dealing with all the paperwork on your own is not an easy task, so getting help from an organisation is quite something. Bizkaia Talent was different from all the similar organisations I had come across before. It has the right size and joins all efforts in a single core, which makes it more efficient. In my opinion, it is a platform that you can rely on and it should get even stronger.’
Mikel Lorente
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- University degree from Tecnun – School of Engineering of the University of Navarra (1998).
‘I was Product Engineer at American automotive company DANA Corporation. Later on, I was promoted to Project Manager. Currently, I am the Head of the Technology Area of the Auto Parts Industry Cluster Association of the Basque Country (ACICAE).
’In a publication I read about the chance to join ACICAE. I was selected and, immediately afterwards, the Cluster contacted Bizkaia Talent to help me with the procedures required to come back to the Basque Country. I was living in Barcelona when Bizkaia Talent contacted me to help me with my return home.
’I think all the support offered by Bizkaia Talent is highly valuable. First of all, they helped me find accommodation. I was working in Barcelona so I could not come and look for a new home here. Bizkaia Talent helped me a lot with this.
’My wife is American. She too got help from Bizkaia Talent, especially in connection with work issues.
’Relocation service is great. I had moved before and I can tell moving from one city to another is no easy thing. I thank Bizkaia Talent for the help they offered to both me and my wife.
’In my previous moves, it was my company that dealt with the procedures. Once I left the company, the circle was complete. Bizkaia Talent helped me start again.’
Dr. Satheesh Kumar Reddy
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: India, 1971.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India).
‘Bizkaia-based Progenika Biopharma hired Doctor Satheesh Kumar Reddy as Project Leader. He has 14-year research experience, which he got in Switzerland and India. He came to Bizkaia from the Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland).
’He conducts research into proteomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, microscopy, DNA microarrays, genotyping systems/tools, DNA-chip design and development, platelet antibodies and high-frequency antibodies.
’In 2008, Doctor Kumar was a beneficiary of the aid programme run by Bizkaia Talent.’
Anne-Gaëlle Saint-Guirons
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Pau (France), 1982.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, Region of Pau (France).
Professional career:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2005-October 2008.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2008-August 2009.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (Bilbao, Bizkaia). September 2009-present.
“‘I decided to move to Bizkaia because it was a good opportunity to work abroad while still being close to my place in southwest France. I got help from Bizkaia Talent, which gave me information on a property agent that found me a flat to rent.
’The Harrera relocation service they offer is efficient and useful. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to come to Bizkaia; in fact, I have recommended it already!’
Ximena Carrión
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Loja (Ecuador), 1975.
Higher education:
- Degree in Agricultural and Livestock Industries from the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador, 1993-1999).
- Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2005-2007).
Professional career::
- Head of the Food Technology Research Area at IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park). July 2008-present.
- Assistant researcher at the University of Burgos (Spain). October 2007-June 2008.
- Intern at the University of Burgos and the Cooperative of Poultry and Cattle Breeding of Burgos (Spain). May 2007-July 2007.
- Translator of the website www.food-info.net, published by the Dutch Food Info Foundation, whose main contributor is Wageningen University (Netherlands). May 2006-June 2007.
- Director of the School of Agriculture and Livestock Industries at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Director of the Centre for Technology and Research Transfer in the Agriculture Industry (CETTIA), Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Technical and Quality Lab Manager at CETTIA, Loja (Ecuador). February 2002-August 2005.
- Dairy Plant Manager at Ecolac, Loja (Ecuador). April 2001-March 2004.
- Professor of Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). January 2001-August 2005.
- Head of the Quality Control Lab at the cold meats manufacturer INAPESA, Loja (Ecuador). November 1999-December 2000.
‘I settled in Bizkaia in 2008, after IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. offered me a job. Bizkaia Talent assisted the company with the initial hiring procedures and contacted the big corporation unit for them.
’Regarding the Harrera relocation service, I contacted someone at Bizkaia Talent. This person gave me information on administrative procedures, made the necessary contacts and sent me all the information I needed.
’At IDOKI they are grateful for the support they got from Bizkaia Talent when hiring me.’
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Bizkaia, 1963.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY (USA).
After 18 years doing research in USA, Doctor Félix Bastida Corcuera returned to Bizkaia from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he had been working at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine/School of Sciences.
Currently, he is working at Vacunek S.L., the Neiker-Tecnalia biotech spin-off specialising in animal and veterinary biosciences. Doctor Bastida is the Managing Director of Vacunek, a company that develops products for the diagnostics, treatment and prevention of livestock diseases.
Doctor Bastida is an expert in molecular biology, proteomics, fluorescence microscopy, basic and applied research into microbiology and immunology, growth and analysis of bacterial strains, tissue culture techniques and monoclonal antibody production.
Dr. César González Pérez
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Galicia, 1967.
Higher education:
- University degree from the University of Santiago de Compostela.
César González joined the European Software Institute Foundation as Project Manager after working for six years at the Faculty of Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney (Australia).
He has professional and scientific experience in technological issues, emerging sectors, consortiums involving several companies and service-oriented architecture (SOA).
Dr. Gregorio Rivera Medellín
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: USA, 1949.
Innovalab, a research centre located in Santurtzi, Bizkaia, appointed Doctor Gregorio Rivera Medellín as General Manager. Doctor Medellín, who had been working at USA-based Entovation International Ltd., has 26-year experience in research and management in the field of advanced knowledge and innovation in USA, Mexico, Germany and Spain.
He is an expert in knowledge economy, innovation, learning communities, emerging sectors, social media, art & science, and technology.
Enrique Zuazua
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Eibar (Gipuzkoa), 1961.
Higher education:
- University degree in Mathematics from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1984). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1987). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from Pierre-and-Marie Curie University (Paris, France, 1988).
‘In the 1987-1988 academic year, I was Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country, and then I was named Professor of Mathematical Analysis at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). In 1990, I became Chair of Applied Mathematics in Complutense University of Madrid, where I was the Head of the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Applied Mathematics. I also was the Head of the Department of Mathematics at the Institute of Advanced Studies of Madrid (IMDEA) and in 2001 I held a Chair of Applied Mathematics at UAM. In 2008, I was offered the chance to return to the Basque Country to set up the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM). At present, I am the BCAM Scientific Director.
’I heard about Bizkaia Talent while I was in Madrid. I was told about their Harrera relocation service, which made all the administrative procedures easier for me when I decided to come to Bizkaia.
’We scientists coming here to build our career get enormous help from Bizkaia Talent. I lived quite close, but if I had lived farther away, they would have helped me a lot anyway. If you live in Madrid, you can easily come to Bilbao to do all the paperwork, but this takes time, so they were really helpful. Besides, my wife is a foreign national, so she had to fill in a host of forms. And there were my daughters, who needed to find a school here, and we had to find a home too. They helped me with everything.
’Relocation is very good. We scientists travel all the time and changing residence is not that easy. Arriving in a new city and dealing with all the paperwork on your own is not an easy task, so getting help from an organisation is quite something. Bizkaia Talent was different from all the similar organisations I had come across before. It has the right size and joins all efforts in a single core, which makes it more efficient. In my opinion, it is a platform that you can rely on and it should get even stronger.’
Mikel Lorente
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- University degree from Tecnun – School of Engineering of the University of Navarra (1998).
‘I was Product Engineer at American automotive company DANA Corporation. Later on, I was promoted to Project Manager. Currently, I am the Head of the Technology Area of the Auto Parts Industry Cluster Association of the Basque Country (ACICAE).
’In a publication I read about the chance to join ACICAE. I was selected and, immediately afterwards, the Cluster contacted Bizkaia Talent to help me with the procedures required to come back to the Basque Country. I was living in Barcelona when Bizkaia Talent contacted me to help me with my return home.
’I think all the support offered by Bizkaia Talent is highly valuable. First of all, they helped me find accommodation. I was working in Barcelona so I could not come and look for a new home here. Bizkaia Talent helped me a lot with this.
’My wife is American. She too got help from Bizkaia Talent, especially in connection with work issues.
’Relocation service is great. I had moved before and I can tell moving from one city to another is no easy thing. I thank Bizkaia Talent for the help they offered to both me and my wife.
’In my previous moves, it was my company that dealt with the procedures. Once I left the company, the circle was complete. Bizkaia Talent helped me start again.’
Dr. Satheesh Kumar Reddy
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: India, 1971.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India).
‘Bizkaia-based Progenika Biopharma hired Doctor Satheesh Kumar Reddy as Project Leader. He has 14-year research experience, which he got in Switzerland and India. He came to Bizkaia from the Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland).
’He conducts research into proteomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, microscopy, DNA microarrays, genotyping systems/tools, DNA-chip design and development, platelet antibodies and high-frequency antibodies.
’In 2008, Doctor Kumar was a beneficiary of the aid programme run by Bizkaia Talent.’
Anne-Gaëlle Saint-Guirons
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Pau (France), 1982.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, Region of Pau (France).
Professional career:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2005-October 2008.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2008-August 2009.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (Bilbao, Bizkaia). September 2009-present.
“‘I decided to move to Bizkaia because it was a good opportunity to work abroad while still being close to my place in southwest France. I got help from Bizkaia Talent, which gave me information on a property agent that found me a flat to rent.
’The Harrera relocation service they offer is efficient and useful. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to come to Bizkaia; in fact, I have recommended it already!’
Ximena Carrión
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Loja (Ecuador), 1975.
Higher education:
- Degree in Agricultural and Livestock Industries from the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador, 1993-1999).
- Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2005-2007).
Professional career::
- Head of the Food Technology Research Area at IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park). July 2008-present.
- Assistant researcher at the University of Burgos (Spain). October 2007-June 2008.
- Intern at the University of Burgos and the Cooperative of Poultry and Cattle Breeding of Burgos (Spain). May 2007-July 2007.
- Translator of the website www.food-info.net, published by the Dutch Food Info Foundation, whose main contributor is Wageningen University (Netherlands). May 2006-June 2007.
- Director of the School of Agriculture and Livestock Industries at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Director of the Centre for Technology and Research Transfer in the Agriculture Industry (CETTIA), Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Technical and Quality Lab Manager at CETTIA, Loja (Ecuador). February 2002-August 2005.
- Dairy Plant Manager at Ecolac, Loja (Ecuador). April 2001-March 2004.
- Professor of Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). January 2001-August 2005.
- Head of the Quality Control Lab at the cold meats manufacturer INAPESA, Loja (Ecuador). November 1999-December 2000.
‘I settled in Bizkaia in 2008, after IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. offered me a job. Bizkaia Talent assisted the company with the initial hiring procedures and contacted the big corporation unit for them.
’Regarding the Harrera relocation service, I contacted someone at Bizkaia Talent. This person gave me information on administrative procedures, made the necessary contacts and sent me all the information I needed.
’At IDOKI they are grateful for the support they got from Bizkaia Talent when hiring me.’
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Eibar (Gipuzkoa), 1961.
Higher education:
- University degree in Mathematics from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1984). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (1987). Extraordinary Award from the School of Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. from Pierre-and-Marie Curie University (Paris, France, 1988).
‘In the 1987-1988 academic year, I was Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country, and then I was named Professor of Mathematical Analysis at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). In 1990, I became Chair of Applied Mathematics in Complutense University of Madrid, where I was the Head of the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Applied Mathematics. I also was the Head of the Department of Mathematics at the Institute of Advanced Studies of Madrid (IMDEA) and in 2001 I held a Chair of Applied Mathematics at UAM. In 2008, I was offered the chance to return to the Basque Country to set up the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM). At present, I am the BCAM Scientific Director.
’I heard about Bizkaia Talent while I was in Madrid. I was told about their Harrera relocation service, which made all the administrative procedures easier for me when I decided to come to Bizkaia.
’We scientists coming here to build our career get enormous help from Bizkaia Talent. I lived quite close, but if I had lived farther away, they would have helped me a lot anyway. If you live in Madrid, you can easily come to Bilbao to do all the paperwork, but this takes time, so they were really helpful. Besides, my wife is a foreign national, so she had to fill in a host of forms. And there were my daughters, who needed to find a school here, and we had to find a home too. They helped me with everything.
’Relocation is very good. We scientists travel all the time and changing residence is not that easy. Arriving in a new city and dealing with all the paperwork on your own is not an easy task, so getting help from an organisation is quite something. Bizkaia Talent was different from all the similar organisations I had come across before. It has the right size and joins all efforts in a single core, which makes it more efficient. In my opinion, it is a platform that you can rely on and it should get even stronger.’
Mikel Lorente
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Higher education:
- University degree from Tecnun – School of Engineering of the University of Navarra (1998).
‘I was Product Engineer at American automotive company DANA Corporation. Later on, I was promoted to Project Manager. Currently, I am the Head of the Technology Area of the Auto Parts Industry Cluster Association of the Basque Country (ACICAE).
’In a publication I read about the chance to join ACICAE. I was selected and, immediately afterwards, the Cluster contacted Bizkaia Talent to help me with the procedures required to come back to the Basque Country. I was living in Barcelona when Bizkaia Talent contacted me to help me with my return home.
’I think all the support offered by Bizkaia Talent is highly valuable. First of all, they helped me find accommodation. I was working in Barcelona so I could not come and look for a new home here. Bizkaia Talent helped me a lot with this.
’My wife is American. She too got help from Bizkaia Talent, especially in connection with work issues.
’Relocation service is great. I had moved before and I can tell moving from one city to another is no easy thing. I thank Bizkaia Talent for the help they offered to both me and my wife.
’In my previous moves, it was my company that dealt with the procedures. Once I left the company, the circle was complete. Bizkaia Talent helped me start again.’
Dr. Satheesh Kumar Reddy
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: India, 1971.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India).
‘Bizkaia-based Progenika Biopharma hired Doctor Satheesh Kumar Reddy as Project Leader. He has 14-year research experience, which he got in Switzerland and India. He came to Bizkaia from the Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland).
’He conducts research into proteomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, microscopy, DNA microarrays, genotyping systems/tools, DNA-chip design and development, platelet antibodies and high-frequency antibodies.
’In 2008, Doctor Kumar was a beneficiary of the aid programme run by Bizkaia Talent.’
Anne-Gaëlle Saint-Guirons
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Pau (France), 1982.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, Region of Pau (France).
Professional career:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2005-October 2008.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2008-August 2009.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (Bilbao, Bizkaia). September 2009-present.
“‘I decided to move to Bizkaia because it was a good opportunity to work abroad while still being close to my place in southwest France. I got help from Bizkaia Talent, which gave me information on a property agent that found me a flat to rent.
’The Harrera relocation service they offer is efficient and useful. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to come to Bizkaia; in fact, I have recommended it already!’
Ximena Carrión
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Loja (Ecuador), 1975.
Higher education:
- Degree in Agricultural and Livestock Industries from the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador, 1993-1999).
- Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2005-2007).
Professional career::
- Head of the Food Technology Research Area at IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park). July 2008-present.
- Assistant researcher at the University of Burgos (Spain). October 2007-June 2008.
- Intern at the University of Burgos and the Cooperative of Poultry and Cattle Breeding of Burgos (Spain). May 2007-July 2007.
- Translator of the website www.food-info.net, published by the Dutch Food Info Foundation, whose main contributor is Wageningen University (Netherlands). May 2006-June 2007.
- Director of the School of Agriculture and Livestock Industries at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Director of the Centre for Technology and Research Transfer in the Agriculture Industry (CETTIA), Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Technical and Quality Lab Manager at CETTIA, Loja (Ecuador). February 2002-August 2005.
- Dairy Plant Manager at Ecolac, Loja (Ecuador). April 2001-March 2004.
- Professor of Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). January 2001-August 2005.
- Head of the Quality Control Lab at the cold meats manufacturer INAPESA, Loja (Ecuador). November 1999-December 2000.
‘I settled in Bizkaia in 2008, after IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. offered me a job. Bizkaia Talent assisted the company with the initial hiring procedures and contacted the big corporation unit for them.
’Regarding the Harrera relocation service, I contacted someone at Bizkaia Talent. This person gave me information on administrative procedures, made the necessary contacts and sent me all the information I needed.
’At IDOKI they are grateful for the support they got from Bizkaia Talent when hiring me.’
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: India, 1971.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India).
‘Bizkaia-based Progenika Biopharma hired Doctor Satheesh Kumar Reddy as Project Leader. He has 14-year research experience, which he got in Switzerland and India. He came to Bizkaia from the Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland).
’He conducts research into proteomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, microscopy, DNA microarrays, genotyping systems/tools, DNA-chip design and development, platelet antibodies and high-frequency antibodies.
’In 2008, Doctor Kumar was a beneficiary of the aid programme run by Bizkaia Talent.’
Anne-Gaëlle Saint-Guirons
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth:: Pau (France), 1982.
Higher education:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, Region of Pau (France).
Professional career:
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2005-October 2008.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pau (France). October 2008-August 2009.
- Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Mathematics at the Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (Bilbao, Bizkaia). September 2009-present.
“‘I decided to move to Bizkaia because it was a good opportunity to work abroad while still being close to my place in southwest France. I got help from Bizkaia Talent, which gave me information on a property agent that found me a flat to rent.
’The Harrera relocation service they offer is efficient and useful. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to come to Bizkaia; in fact, I have recommended it already!’
Ximena Carrión
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Loja (Ecuador), 1975.
Higher education:
- Degree in Agricultural and Livestock Industries from the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador, 1993-1999).
- Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2005-2007).
Professional career::
- Head of the Food Technology Research Area at IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park). July 2008-present.
- Assistant researcher at the University of Burgos (Spain). October 2007-June 2008.
- Intern at the University of Burgos and the Cooperative of Poultry and Cattle Breeding of Burgos (Spain). May 2007-July 2007.
- Translator of the website www.food-info.net, published by the Dutch Food Info Foundation, whose main contributor is Wageningen University (Netherlands). May 2006-June 2007.
- Director of the School of Agriculture and Livestock Industries at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Director of the Centre for Technology and Research Transfer in the Agriculture Industry (CETTIA), Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Technical and Quality Lab Manager at CETTIA, Loja (Ecuador). February 2002-August 2005.
- Dairy Plant Manager at Ecolac, Loja (Ecuador). April 2001-March 2004.
- Professor of Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). January 2001-August 2005.
- Head of the Quality Control Lab at the cold meats manufacturer INAPESA, Loja (Ecuador). November 1999-December 2000.
‘I settled in Bizkaia in 2008, after IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. offered me a job. Bizkaia Talent assisted the company with the initial hiring procedures and contacted the big corporation unit for them.
’Regarding the Harrera relocation service, I contacted someone at Bizkaia Talent. This person gave me information on administrative procedures, made the necessary contacts and sent me all the information I needed.
’At IDOKI they are grateful for the support they got from Bizkaia Talent when hiring me.’
Academic, research and entrepreneurial landmarks
Place and year of birth: Loja (Ecuador), 1975.
Higher education:
- Degree in Agricultural and Livestock Industries from the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador, 1993-1999).
- Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University (Netherlands, 2005-2007).
Professional career::
- Head of the Food Technology Research Area at IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. (Bizkaia Science and Technology Park). July 2008-present.
- Assistant researcher at the University of Burgos (Spain). October 2007-June 2008.
- Intern at the University of Burgos and the Cooperative of Poultry and Cattle Breeding of Burgos (Spain). May 2007-July 2007.
- Translator of the website www.food-info.net, published by the Dutch Food Info Foundation, whose main contributor is Wageningen University (Netherlands). May 2006-June 2007.
- Director of the School of Agriculture and Livestock Industries at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Director of the Centre for Technology and Research Transfer in the Agriculture Industry (CETTIA), Loja (Ecuador). March 2004-August 2005.
- Technical and Quality Lab Manager at CETTIA, Loja (Ecuador). February 2002-August 2005.
- Dairy Plant Manager at Ecolac, Loja (Ecuador). April 2001-March 2004.
- Professor of Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the Technical University of Loja (Ecuador). January 2001-August 2005.
- Head of the Quality Control Lab at the cold meats manufacturer INAPESA, Loja (Ecuador). November 1999-December 2000.
‘I settled in Bizkaia in 2008, after IDOKI SCF Technologies S.L. offered me a job. Bizkaia Talent assisted the company with the initial hiring procedures and contacted the big corporation unit for them.
’Regarding the Harrera relocation service, I contacted someone at Bizkaia Talent. This person gave me information on administrative procedures, made the necessary contacts and sent me all the information I needed.
’At IDOKI they are grateful for the support they got from Bizkaia Talent when hiring me.’
