Bayer's Expertise Hub in Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona) has added a new research and development project to its structure which, in practice, means creating a new R&D area and hiring 82 professionals who have joined over the past year. This news confirms the importance of this hub of excellence within the Bayer organisation worldwide.

The new R&D division will support the R&D efforts of Bayer's global sites in both the Healthcare and Agriculture divisions. Having eminently scientific profiles, the new team will support clinical trials and the management of drug safety and quality processes. At the same time, it will contribute to data automation to improve accuracy and decision-making in agriculture.

Contribution of value from Spain
Bayer's CEO for Spain and Portugal, Jordi Sánchez, considers that the new project “confirms our power in developing innovation for the whole world and completes our value contribution from Spain. Our firm commitment in this regard continues with new investments every year, which exceeded 130 million euros in 2023. However, this would not be possible without collaborating with public and private institutions in the country and with a favourable, flourishing ecosystem which allows us to continue to contribute to the creation of employment and economic development.”

Bayer's San Joan Despí site was set up in 2001 to provide accounting services. Since then, it has been incorporating new areas of development and has specialised in applying artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, traceability and process agility.

Skilled employment
Over the past five years, the centre has increased its workforce by 75%, from 471 to 822 employees, and with a strong emphasis on scientific profiles. The creation of the new R&D project complements its contribution to developing innovation in health and agriculture, which are two key areas of the company and where Spain is already a global benchmark.

Another highlight of the Expertise Hub is its contribution to Bayer's transformation and digitalisation. With a team comprising over 50 nationalities, and providing an international, gender, age and cultural diversity perspective to project development, it serves more than 11 countries in Europe and the Middle East, in addition to the German company’s global structure.

^{Photo: Bayer}