JOSÉ QUEEN JIMÉNEZ
Director from the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry of Barcelona ( IQBB) .
This is his second year as Director .
It fell to me to replace the previous director, Maria Mercè Sanz, when she retired in the 2022-23 academic year, after an excellent career, of which I would especially like to highlight her work during the difficult period of the pandemic.
30 years as the Institut Narcis Monturiol, now the Institut de Química i Bioquímica de Barcelona (IQBB). It is much more than a change of name?
Without a doubt. The Institut de la Química i Biotecnologia de Barcelona (IQBB) was born from the need to respond to the needs of the companies where our students will work: the chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors, which are increasingly interested in becoming more sustainable. One way to achieve this is through biotechnology.
What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology is the modelling of technological processes in virtual environments based on the internet of things. It is a growing sector, with a large investment especially in the areas of health and sustainability.
Barcelona is a benchmark in the sector.
In Barcelona, it is a sector of special relevance as demonstrated by the celebration of the biannual fair BIOSPAIN in the city.
IQBB could not be better located.
In Barcelona and next to the PRBB (Biomedical Research Park) and the ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute of Global Health) and located in the middle of approximately two industrial parks: Bon Pastor and Zona Franca, with important chemical and pharmaceutical companies. It was therefore natural to convert the old school in the 90s into a specialised vocational training institute, to serve the production of chemical and pharmaceutical companies located in Barcelona and beyond…
And in the heart of Barceloneta?
Historically we are from the neighbourhood and we want to be even more from the neighbourhood. We want to generate an increasingly intense relationship with our surroundings. For example, with the support of the INS Joan Salvat Papasseit, we want to present an action project on the entrance of the educational complex to the programme.” We share Educational Spaces in the Neighborhoods”
More than 3,300 students have passed through its classrooms .
We have been training professionals for 30 years.
FP can be the most direct gateway to a skilled labour market.
FP has a more practical approach than any other training. In addition, FP offers specialised training in areas of high labour demand.
List some of the differential values of the IQBB
1 – The high involvement and continuous training of the teaching staff.
2 – The close collaboration with companies.
3 – The active participation with students in Learning and Service activities such as technical workshops and international projects.
4 – The 6 specialised laboratories and the Pharmacy classroom-workshop.
5 – The fact of being part of the Chemical Sector Council.
How would José Reina define himself?
I am a hybrid teacher between Chemistry and Programming, to train my students to the new Industry 4.0/5.0. In the last 5 years I have deepened in this area by doing different courses on Internet Of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Design and 3D printing.
What can you bring as a director to the centre?
Ideas. Many ideas but I lack the time to put them into practice. Above all, I would like to promote innovation projects and to strengthen the continuous training of the teaching staff.
A message for your students
At the last meeting of the Chemistry Sector Council, it was concluded that companies were satisfied with the technical skills achieved in the studies, but that the clamor or basic skills, also called ‘softkills’, would have to be improved.
