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Off the Wire Press Releases The collaboration will identify joint high-impact projects in biomedical research, innovative therapy development, and scientific acceleration Oct. 30, 2026 — The Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) and AstraZeneca have signed a strategic collaboration agreement aimed at accelerating the application of supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analytics in biomedical research, the development of innovative therapies, and clinical trials. The agreement, signed by Mateo Valero, Director of BSC, and Dr. César Velasco, Enterprise Innovation Director, Madrid & Barcelona, at AstraZeneca, is part of the BSC Connects program, an initiative focused on bridging cutting-edge scientific knowledge with key industry challenges. Through this partnership, both organizations will identify joint high-impact projects to tackle complex health challenges using advanced technologies. Through this collaboration, teams from the AstraZeneca Global Hub in Barcelona will work directly with BSC researchers, sharing expertise in artificial intelligence and computational sciences, and collaborating on the use of the center’s supercomputing infrastructure, including MareNostrum 5, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe. Professionals from both entities will address health and research challenges by leveraging the scientific and technological talent of BSC and the AstraZeneca Hub to accelerate the development of new treatments in high-impact areas. In doing so, the AstraZeneca Global Hub in Barcelona continues to consolidate its presence locally and internationally, driving a wide range of impactful projects in collaboration with leading scientific and healthcare institutions. AI and Supercomputing as Catalysts for Biomedical Research This agreement with BSC will allow both organizations to work together to identify challenges across different teams within the AstraZeneca Hub in Barcelona and connect them with the BSC ecosystem. The collaboration will enable the analysis of highly complex data volumes and the execution of advanced simulations, expanding the boundaries of biomedical research where the intricacy of biological processes requires immense computational capacity. These capabilities will prove key in supporting decision-making and streamlining processes across the entire lifecycle, from early-stage research to operational planning and optimization. Areas of collaboration include exploring quantum-enhanced AI and machine learning solutions to tackle complex challenges in biological modeling, predictive analytics, and R&D for rare diseases. Additionally, the partnership will explore advanced technologies to accelerate and improve clinical trial site selection and patient recruitment. The program also promotes the exchange of knowledge and technologies between both institutions, focusing on cardiovascular health, respiratory diseases, oncology, and rare diseases, with the aim of establishing joint research lines with scientists from the BSC Life Sciences Department, led by Alfonso Valencia. As Mateo Valero, Director of Barcelona Supercomputing Center, noted: “At BSC, we work to bring supercomputing and artificial intelligence from frontier research into real-world solutions that address society’s greatest challenges. This agreement with AstraZeneca, within the framework of BSC Connects, reinforces our commitment to knowledge transfer and technology development in service of industry challenges—in this case within the biomedical field—accelerating clinical trials and moving toward more precise, efficient medicine with a direct impact on human health.” According to Dr. César Velasco, Enterprise Innovation Director, Madrid & Barcelona, at AstraZeneca: “At AstraZeneca, we believe in the power of talent and technology as key drivers of biomedical research. Supercomputing and artificial intelligence open a new horizon of possibilities to anticipate scenarios, shorten timelines, and broaden the scope of innovation from early stages through to clinical practice. This collaboration with Barcelona Supercomputing Center represents a decisive step in our commitment to driving a new generation of innovative treatments so that they reach more patients, faster”. BSC Connects: Bringing BSC Knowledge Closer to Business BSC Connects is BSC’s corporate immersion program designed to promote public-private partnerships and accelerate knowledge transfer between science and industry. The initiative enables companies and institutions to access BSC’s scientific expertise, technology, and supercomputing capabilities, offering specialized training, use-case development, collaboration opportunities in European projects, and strategic networking within its innovation community. The program provides a structured approach ranging from the identification of technological challenges to the evaluation and optimization of results. It includes joint communication actions, the promotion of use cases, and participation in international events and forums, serving as a bridge between BSC’s scientific talent and the innovation ecosystem to facilitate high-impact strategic projects. Source: BSC-CNS
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