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Biomedical Electronics Research Group - BERG

The Biomedical Electronics Research Group (BERG) is a small research group (approx. 10 researchers and engineers) within the BCN MedTech Unit of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies – Universitat Pompeu Fabra. The group is directed by Prof. Antoni Ivorra. BERG’s research is focused on bioelectrical phenomena and, in particular, on exploring the use of these phenomena for developing new methods and devices for biomedical applications. Currently our main research topics are in vivo electroporation, particularly for ablation and cancer treatments, and the use of volume conduction as a wireless power transfer (WPT) and communications method for injectable microstimulators and microsensors.

BERG has two electronics laboratories (30 m2 + 30 m2) with state-of-the-art equipment for the development and testing of microdevices and electronic systems. Among other specialized equipment, we have a high precision welding laser system, a wire bonding machine for die assembly, a coiling machine, high-end inspection microscopes, a rework station, a thermal imaging camera, and equipment for electronic testing (oscilloscopes, function generators, active differential probes, etc.). For prototyping, an air compressor with a silicone dispenser, a vacuum chamber, 3D printers, and a CNC machine are available. Workstations and software licenses are available for numerical modeling and for the design of electronic systems and integrated circuits. At the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) we have two wet laboratories (10 m2 + 20 m2) equipped for conventional microbiology and we have access to PRBB scientific services.

The EIC Transition and FORESEE

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition is a program that funds innovation activities to mature and validate novel technologies, and develop a business case and model to bring it to the market10. This is a highly competitive grant established under the EU Horizon Europe programme and its Pillar III – Innovative Europe.
Within the April 2023 call, BERG obtained 2.5 M€ funding to develop and validate the technology and the business strategy for FORESEE, a novel microsensing platform for remote monitoring of heart failure patients (grant agreement No 101136633). The activities will bring the implantable microsensing platform from TRL3 up to completion of TRL5. The project was selected within the 131 proposals submitted for the Open call (success rate of 10.7%)11,12.

Previous funding

The FORESEE project builds on the grounds of three innovation actions: the UPF INNOValora 2019 project (30 k€) and the European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept project Senso-eAXON (150 k€) granted to Prof. Antoni Ivorra (Grant agreement No. 963955), and the CaixaResearch Validate project IntraSenso-eAXON (70 k€) granted to Dr. Laura Becerra-Fajardo (Project Number: CI21-00191).

References

10 About the EIC Transition. Link

11 Projects selected in the Transition call April 2023. Link

12 Cut off April 2023 statistics. Link

This project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON-EIC-2023-TRANSITIONOPEN program under grant agreement No 101136633. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union and the Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.