The Barcelona Science Park (PCB) has refinanced an overdue debt of 36.7 million that it had with the Ministry of Science and Innovation, postponing its maturity by 25 years, which ensures its financial stability and economic viability.
The Park, which Maria Terrades has directed since 2018, now maintains a debt of 75 million euros, of which 39 are with the ministry and 36 with the Generalitat, after having reduced a historical debt that reached 113 million due to the cost construction of its facilities: 8 buildings with a total of 100,000 square meters available for offices and laboratories.
The Parc, however, managed to balance its accounts in 2017, 20 years after its creation, and repay debt. Thus, last year the PCB generated an operating profit or Ebitda of 7.2 million with a profit of 2.4 million, which gives it sufficient resources to assume the payment of the debt that it still has pending.
The agreement reached with the Ministry of Science and Innovation refinances the 25-year debt, with a 5-year grace period, and has been possible because it has had the guarantee of the Generalitat. This has also extended the repayment for three years and readjusted the installments, which has been possible because the University of Barcelona has become a guarantor of the loan.
The periodication of maturities will speed up the implementation of the feasibility plan for the center, which is expected to reach full occupancy, 31,500 square meters, this year, and which is the axis of improving the Park's results. The PCB is now renovating the CUB building, initially conceived as an auditorium, to fit out an additional 1,900 square meters of laboratory space. Since Terrades took over, moreover, the Park has implemented a plan to adjust costs and optimize the profitability of scientific platforms, services and concessions, which has also contributed to improving results.
The PCB was the first science park in Spain. Created in 1997 by the University of Barcelona, today it is home to more than 125 companies and public entities and more than 3,400 researchers, entrepreneurs and professionals, who work in all sectors of life sciences (biomedicine, biotechnology, medical devices, digital health , cosmetics and nutrition).
