Llars Mundet will host Europe’s most advanced centre for applied neuroscience

​​​​​The refurbishment works, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028, represent an investment of approximately €12 million. The project will be funded equally by the Provincial Council and the Government of Catalonia through ERDF funds. The Provincial Council will cover 50% of the total project cost to secure European co-financing and ensure the viability of the building’s transformation.

The rector of the UB, Joan Guàrdia, has welcomed the fact that a “leading, high-impact scientific project” such as the BCAN can finally become a reality in the former theatre at Mundet: “We all know the challenges posed by diseases affecting the brain. Catalonia needs a centre like this, which brings together institutional collaboration to provide top-level support to our scientists and to society.” 

For his part, Òscar Blasco, representative of the Barceló Balanzó Arquitectes and Scob Arquitectura i Paisatge offices, explained that the renovation project will follow the principles of neuroarchitecture: “The layout of spaces affects the brain and emotions. The architecture of BCAN aims to promote well-being, productivity, and mental health of the staff who will work here, so that they can dedicate themselves to the well-being of everyone.” 

The director of the Institute of Neurosciences of the UB (UBneuro), Jordi Alberch, stated that the realization of the project is “a dream come true”: “The brain has always been impenetrable. Now we can access it thanks to neurotechnologies. BCAN will be the key element in allowing us to establish an international presence and to study the human brain, a truly remarkable tool.” 

“This project contributes to what we call the European Health Union, which protects citizens at the local level and aims to strengthen the resilience of healthcare systems. Its ambition is to achieve the greatest possible impact socially, scientifically, and economically,” noted Manuel Szapiro, director of the European Commission Representation in Barcelona. He also noted that “Catalonia is the third region in Europe in competitive funding from the Horizon Europe programme” and that “it is a benchmark for health innovation ecosystems”. 

The Catalan Minister for Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, referred to flagship projects such as BCAN, stating that “it is not enough to generate knowledge, research must involve improvements in people’s lives.” She also highlighted the BCAN project, which is transdisciplinary and built through the combined efforts of institutions and administrations, noting that it will strengthen research in brain health, “a strategic area for the Government of Catalonia, since it impacts social cohesion and sustainability.” 

Finally, the president of the Barcelona Provincial Council, Lluïsa Moret,  referred to BCAN as a “national project with international ambition, which will bring together the best talent around a common goal: studying the magnificent tool that is the human brain.” She concluded: “The Barcelona Provincial Council serves the territory and its citizens; we have an obligation to collaborate and to guarantee the right to health through research, care and prevention.” 

Towards personalized brain medicine

The BCAN represents the Catalan research system’s most ambitious initiative to lead the transition towards personalized brain medicine and technological innovation with a significant social impact. It will act as a driving force for research, development and innovation in the field of neuroscience applied to healthcare, offering tangible solutions to the health and wellbeing challenges of the 21^st century. It will focus on areas such as mental health in adolescence and the digital age, conditions linked to neurodegeneration and ageing, and illnesses such as depression and anxiety, amongst others.

The centre will feature technological infrastructure that is unique in Spain, positioning Barcelona as a magnet for international talent and an economic driver based on neurotechnology. The BCAN will integrate disciplines such as computational neuroengineering and neuroscience, and is conceived as a highly specialized hub with state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories on an international level, with equipment available only in a very small number of research centres worldwide.

A science centre housed in a building of heritage and artistic value

The BCAN will be located in the former theatre on the Mundet Campus, a building owned by the Barcelona Provincial Council and placed at the disposal of the UB. Built in 1957, the theatre was, at the time, the largest auditorium in Barcelona, with a capacity of 1,300 people, and formed part of the cultural life of the Llars Mundet care complex.

The refurbishment project, led by Barceló Balanzó Arquitectes and Scob Arquitectura i Paisatge, will preserve the building’s original architectural structure and its distinctive features, such as the tiered seating and the spatial layout. The artworks incorporated into the building will also be preserved and restored, notably pieces by Josep Guinovart, Armand Olivé and Julio Bono. This artistic heritage will remain visible within the new project, ensuring symbolic continuity between the cultural memory of the space and its new scientific use.

The project will incorporate criteria relating to energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and functional flexibility to ensure that the facilities can be adapted to future research needs.