Vice-Rector for Innovation, Knowledge Valorisation and Employability

Francisco Javier Andrade Mermet

Curriculum Vitae

I was born in Buenos Aires in 1970. I studied Chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires and later completed a Master's degree in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London. I subsequently pursued research at international institutions, including Indiana University, and worked in industry in the United Kingdom, where I held positions such as Global Director of Open Innovation and Disruptive Innovation Leader. This career, spanning both academia and industry, has shaped my approach to innovation and knowledge transfer.

In 2010, I joined the Universitat Rovira i Virgili as a Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow. Since then, my research has focused on translational research and knowledge transfer, with particular emphasis on the development of biosensors and accessible healthcare technologies. Within the ChemoSens research group, I have promoted research lines devoted to biochemical monitoring and the development of innovative tools for health diagnosis and monitoring, always with the aim of generating scientific and societal impact.

I have served as principal investigator on numerous competitive national and international research projects, as well as on collaborative initiatives with industry and spin-off creation processes. My career includes more than seventy scientific publications, ten patents and the co-founding of five start-up companies that have contributed to economic activity and job creation in the region. This experience has enabled me to combine research excellence with knowledge valorisation and collaboration with external partners, helping to strengthen the university's role as a driver of innovation and development.