Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EiR)
Join CRG as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence
The CRG Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EiR) Program is designed for experienced and successful entrepreneurs who are willing to:
- Launch a start-up based on technology and know-how already available at CRG; or
- Take their new technology and know-how to the next level, by leveraging CRG scientific support and infrastructure.
Pedro González
Dr. Pedro González is a young entrepreneur, with a strong scientific background both in the academic field and in the private sector.
He got his PhD in comparative genomics with the maximum qualification in 2016, as a result of a co-direction between the Ecology and Microbial Molecular group at University of Alicante and the CRG.
As a postdoc researcher, he joined the group of Toni Gabaldón at CRG, where he contributed his experience in metagenomics for building the second phase of the citizen's project “Saca la Lengua”.
In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Gonzalez has worked in the private sector, specifically at Instituto de Medicina Genómica (IMEGEN), located at the Valencia Scientific Park, where he was responsible for the setup of the Metagenomics Department since inception.
As the winner of the 2016 edition of the S2B Concept Challenge, Pedro has collaborated with the TBDO team to launch Microomics, a spin-off company of the CRG which offers professional services in the field of metagenomics analysis of living organisms and their environments. As CEO of the company, he will bring his scientific, technical and managerial experience in the field of genomics and metagenomics.
Jordi Hernández
Dr. Jordi Hernández is a young entrepreneur, with a strong expertise in stem cells and epigenetics, a scientific background in molecular biology and oncology and previous working experience in neuroscience.
He holds a Bachelor in Biotechnology from the University of Tarragona and a Master in Neuroscience from the University of Barcelona.
In 2016 he got is PhD in Biomedicine from the CRG/UPF, with a main project on the regulation of alternative splicing and its alterations in cancer, developed in the laboratory of Professor Juan Valcárcel at CRG, in collaboration with the Laboratory of Professor Manuel Serrano at the CNIO of Madrid.
Awarded with the La Caixa Impulse 2017, Jordi is currently collaborating with the TBDO team to test the efficacy of splicing modifying compounds on human tumors and establish a spin-off company for the development of new targeted alternative splicing modifying therapies.
Former Entrepreneurs In Residence
Ion Arocena
Ion Arocena is an investment management executive, with deep knowledge of the Spanish and Global Life Sciences market.
As an EiR he collaborated with the TBDO team, mining CRG innovation capital and technology portfolio in search for business opportunities in the field of microbiome research.
After his EiR experience at CRG, Ion has been appointed managing director of ASEBIO, the Spanish Bioindustry Association.
Ion studied Biotechnology in Madrid and completed his studies with an executive MBA at EOI Business School, Madrid. He worked at the Technology Transfer Office of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, offering Technology Watch services to SMEs. His next position was at Genoma España, a Government Owned Agency promoting the protection of Intellectual Property and the transfer of such results to companies. From 2006 to 2015, he was part of the funding team of Suanfarma Biotech SGECR, a venture capital firm, specialized in life science, where he was responsible for the evaluation of investment opportunities.
Xavier Bosch
Dr. Xavier Bosch Lluis is a remote sensing engineer with reputable experience in hardware and software development.
As an EiR he collaborated with the TBDO team to enhance his proprietary technology, developed in conjunction with Xavier Gallego and Nereida Rodriguez. In particular, he exploited his background in system’s engineering and his expertise in software development to develop a next generation video tracking system able to automatically detect complex animal behaviours under any environmental condition.
After his EiR experience at CRG, Xavier moved to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Xavier got his Ph.D. in telecommunications from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in 2011, working on remote sensing and digital beamforming.
As a postdoc researcher, he developed instruments in two Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) grants awarded by NASA-ESTO. The first grant consisted on building a low-altitude airborne system for Earth observation, which was successfully deployed and measured the entire US west coast for 18 days. The second grant, consisted on developing a similar system with higher frequency range for a 6U CubeSat platform.
From his previous projects, he gained a solid background on team, laboratory and research management. In addition, he developed entrepreneurial experience by co-funding a social media marketing startup based on mobile app-server interactions.
Xavier Gallego
Dr. Xavier Gallego is an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in genetics, molecular techniques and mouse behavior.
As an EiR he leveraged CRG cutting-edge know-how and infrastructure to enhance his proprietary technology: a next generation video tracking system able to automatically detect complex rodent behaviours under any environmental condition.
After his EiR experience at CRG, Xavier was appointed Innovation and Technology Transfer manager at the Fundació Parc Taulí.
Xavier got his PhD in behavioral neuroscience from the University of Barcelona (Spain) in 2008, while working at the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) under the supervision of Dr. Mara Dierssen. During his PhD he studied the pathogenic mechanisms involved in the comorbidity between drug abuse and anxiety disorders.
In 2010, Xavier joined Dr. Ehringer's laboratory at the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado (Boulder, USA), where he led two different projects and gained experience in molecular and human genetics.
Victor Llorente
Victor Llorente is an experienced consultant and entrepreneur, with a significant record of advising high growth commercial businesses in the IT and eHealth sectors.
As an EiR he collaborated with the TBDO team at the CRG, looking for business opportunities based on innovative technologies in the software and medical sectors.
After his EiR experience at CRG, Victor joined Dow Jones as a technical Program Manager.
Victor studied Computer Engineering at Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and complemented his studies with an Executive MBA at Instituto de Empresa, Madrid.
In 2000 he joined Accenture as a technology consultant and security expert for the Health and Life Sciences Group. In 2008 he funded Sabirmedical, a Barcelona-based start-up focused on the development of innovative patient monitoring solutions. Appointed General Manager by the investors, he was also fully responsible for the company operations and for defining the business plan and financial strategy, successfully rising over 7M€ in business angels and VC funding.
Cristian Martí
Cristian Martí is a successful technology entrepreneur.
As an EiR he collaborated with the TBDO team at the CRG, looking for business opportunities in the digital health market, where genetics and software play an important role.
After his EiR experience at CRG, Cristian launched methinks, a startup based in Barcelona that believes in software as a way to improve health care.
Cristian studied Industrial Engineering in Barcelona. Later he complemented his studies with a two year full-time MBA at IESE, Barcelona, with an exchange program in Columbia Business School, New York.
In 2000, he raised 1.5M € to found Intelogistica, an internet based company focused on marketplace for freight transportation. Two years later, he turn around the business model, focusing in Fleet Management solutions, mainly locating commercial vehicles by GPS. As CEO of his company, Cristian led in 2005 the acquisition of a software company and later on, in 2010, the merge of a Spanish competitor, thus creating Coordina, the Spanish leader in Fleet Management, with sales in Spain, Mexico, Chile and Germany.
In 2013, the company, with consolidated sales over 6.5M€ and employing more than 80 people globally, was successfully sold to TomTom, the European leader in Fleet Management. In the following two years Cristian led the integration of the company into TomTom. In these two years the branch in Barcelona doubled its office space and became the second most important office of TomTom Telematics for software development and one of the three most important offices globally.
Jordi Riulas
Jordi Riulas has a solid entrepreneurial career in different technological ventures.
As an EiR he collaborated with the TBDO team at the CRG analysing emerging business opportunities in the biotech market, particularly in genetics.
After his EiR experience at CRG, Jordi joined Capital Cell as an Angel Investor.
Jordi graduated in Telecommunications engineering at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, with a master in mobile communication.
In 1995 he co-founded Knosos, an engineering and consulting company specialized in GPS mobility technologies, where he worked as software developer, hardware engineer and project manager and where he developed business, commercial and operation strategies. In 2007 Knosos was sold to Amper Group. After the acquisition he maintained a commercial management role until 2009.
In 2006 he co-created Micronav, a spin-off company of Knosos focused on track and trace services based on Internet and GPS technologies. In 2010, Micronav was merged into Intelogistica, thus creating Coordina, the Spanish leader in Fleet Management. In the merger, Jordi maintained a shareholder position and supported the new company with product strategic management and organization design. In 2013 Coordina was sold to TomTom Telematics. After the acquisition he maintained a technological product manager and business consultant role until 2015.
Nereida Rodriguez
Dr. Nereida Rodriguez Alvarez is an experienced telecommunications engineer, specialized in remote sensing techniques to retrieve geophysical parameters.
As an EiR she collaborated with the TBDO department to enhance her proprietary technology, developed in conjunction with Xavier Gallego and Xavier Bosch. In particular, she exploited her mathematical background and her expertise in remote sensing to develop a next generation video tracking system able to automatically detect complex animal behaviors under any environmental condition.
Nereida got her Ph.D. in remote sensing from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in 2011. During her PhD, she developed skills for both hardware and algorithms development for reflectometry techniques.
As a postdoc researcher, she developed new algorithms for wind speed retrievals during tropical cyclones in the CYGNSS mission, a NASA Earth Venture mission consisting of 8 nanosatellites to be launched in 2016.
From her previous projects, she gained entrepreneurial experience in a business venture to remotely measure soil moisture from an aircraft and by co-founding a social media marketing startup based on mobile app-server interactions.
More info
In case of doubt, please do not hesitate to contact your TBDO manager.