Academic knowledge often needs to go beyond the walls of universities to have a real impact on our society. Transforming complex ideas into accessible, tangible insights can drive positive change, foster innovation, and address real-world challenges.
Formed by a team of fifteen researchers from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience, from senior scientists to junior PhD students, we all shared a common mission: to transfer our knowledge beyond academia and make a real impact on society. Working together in the same research group focusing on urban agriculture at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, we knew that our studies were not just theoretical, but contained practical solutions that could address real-world challenges.
Our journey to create a company began in the rooftop greenhouse of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB). This greenhouse became our laboratory for innovation and experimentation, hosting a wide range of projects, from testing new urban substrates, recirculating CO2 from offices to plants, or studying how biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from plants can affect in a building environment. Each experiment, whether led by students or researchers, brought us a step closer to the practical value of our findings.
As time went on, the question arose: how could we share this knowledge with the broader world? The research we conducted at the university was full of ideas that could serve society, improve urban environments, and drive sustainable practices. However, without a bridge to industry and society, much of this work would remain confined to academic journals and the walls of the greenhouse.
This question sparked the idea of starting a company. We saw an opportunity to directly apply our research, share our findings with a wider audience, and create tangible solutions that would benefit society. Starting this company allowed us to turn our passion for research into practical change. Our journey began with countless meetings to determine who was truly committed to making this vision a reality, who was willing to invest their time, energy and resources to build something meaningful. Fortunately, some of the senior researchers brought valuable experience to the table, having previously successfully launched a spin-off company. Their insights helped us take the first steps, save time, and avoid common mistakes. After much discussion, we collectively decided to move forward. One of our biggest initial challenges was determining each partner's financial contribution and the amount of time everybody could invest, a process that required careful negotiation and transparency. It took more than a year of planning, brainstorming, and refining our vision before we were ready to launch the company.
Our company, Tectum was finally founded in 2020 with a mission to promote sustainable, locally focused food production. Specializing in urban agriculture, Tectum brings together a wide range of expertise to address the complex challenges of building more sustainable food systems. Our interdisciplinary approach enables us to deliver innovative and practical solutions that support the transition to a greener and more resilient urban environment. At Tectum, we believe that urban agriculture is a powerful catalyst for transforming cities into more circular, self-sufficient and welcoming places. By promoting self-sufficiency in fresh fruits and vegetables, we envision urban agriculture not only as a source of food, but also as a means of fostering community, sustainability and resilience.
The creation of the company was not without its difficulties. With fifteen partners involved, decision making was one of the biggest hurdles in the beginning. More people mean more perspectives, and while diversity enriches ideas, it also makes it harder to reach consensus. In addition, managing the day-to-day responsibilities was difficult at first. As we are all researchers with academic commitments, we initially had no staff, so we often had to work on our own time. To streamline operations, we decided to form a seven-member Executive Committee to make major decisions, with three leaders - the CEO, the President, and the Secretary - handling diverse responsibilities. It took a couple of years to consolidate our structure, but today we have three employees and two interns working to move our projects forward.
One of the biggest challenges we faced in starting our company was defining clear leadership and assigning responsibilities. It was not just a matter of finding someone to make strategic decisions or spend a few hours with the company; we needed someone who would really be involved in the day-to-day operations and guide the company's vision with a hands-on approach. Initially, none of us were fully ready to take on this responsibility 100%. However, that changed last year when one of our team members finished his PhD and took over as CEO. With his leadership, we now have one person managing both the strategic and operational sides of the company. Our next step is to secure partial funding through a grant that combines research and business objectives, which will allow us to fully integrate him into the day-to-day operations of the company for the next years. This experience has taught us a valuable lesson: while a startup can get off the ground with shared effort and overtime, sustainable growth requires a dedicated leader who is willing to get fully involved.
As President of the company, my role focuses on making decisions with the Executive Committee in key areas such as recruitment, strategic planning, and problem solving. This work includes monthly meetings, writing proposals for upcoming projects, interviewing potential employees, and dealing with the day-to-day challenges that arise in a growing company. However, my position is sometimes complex, as I am a researcher at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, which means that all this work for the company is done outside of my working hours. Although it is demanding, I see it as part of my wider mission to make a positive contribution to society. The projects we undertake not only contribute to the development of our company but also make a meaningful contribution to the communities we serve, in line with my belief in making a difference where we live and work.
Our projects are a mix of environmental and social initiatives that combine food production, environmental awareness and community engagement. One of our flagship projects is the Rooftop Gardens of the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities, where we installed and maintain hydroponic gardens in ten different public buildings that promote social and labor inclusion. For this project we received the New European Bauhaus Award 2023 (link website) in recognition of its sustainability and inclusion. Here the participants – people with disabilities – are trained in horticulture and gain experience throughout the growing process. We also emphasize emotional development, teaching participants how to handle frustration when results do not meet initial expectations, and the satisfaction of caring for the plants until harvest. Some of the project's objectives include building autonomy for people with disabilities, creating accessible gardens in underutilized spaces, expanding the social impact through fresh produce donations and tracking the social benefits for people with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders.
Another project we are excited about because it promotes circularity and connects different sectors is the Garden-Wastewater Synergy, in collaboration with a water public company. This public-private innovation initiative aims to promote the circular economy in Barcelona by "giving water a second life" and tackling water scarcity. We use reclaimed water for hydroponic agriculture, where crops are grown on mineral substrates rather than soil. This method saves water and fertilizers, producing high-quality yields with carefully controlled nutrient levels.
The most recent project was to participate in an exhibition in the historic greenhouse of one of Barcelona's most emblematic parks, la Ciutadella, with the aim of raising awareness about food systems. The exhibition invites visitors to discover the potential of sustainable, local, and inclusive agriculture, with a special focus on the role of greenhouses. The exhibit showcases inspiring examples - from global initiatives to local projects - that illustrate how greenhouses support urban agriculture, cut down on carbon emissions from long-distance food transport, and minimize water use. Through interactive displays and engaging stories, this exhibition highlights how urban agriculture is helping cities around the world to create sustainable, climate-conscious food networks that benefit local communities.
Urban agriculture, especially on rooftops or abandoned lots, is ideal for urban areas with limited space and water. These projects are particularly suited to compact cities, such as those in Europe, where land is scarce. By creating productive rather than ornamental green spaces, we increase urban greenery while growing food close to dwellers. The focus is on circular urban agriculture aligned with urban metabolism, which reuses and recycles resources from the city’s own ecosystem. This includes using reclaimed water or rainwater for irrigation, organic fertilizers from composted waste, or substrates from recycled organic materials, construction waste, etc. Our vision is to continue implementing these initiatives in urban areas, inspiring cities to make the most of their resources and build sustainable, circular and inclusive food systems.
Over the next five years, we aim to consolidate our company's structure, secure stable funding, and position ourselves for sustainable growth by reinvesting our resources. Our focus is not on becoming a large company but a stable one, driven by a commitment to social responsibility, civic awareness, and environmental challenges. Strengthening our commercial and strategic areas will be crucial to ensuring long-term stability and resilience. Despite the uncertainties ahead, these efforts are central to expanding our reach and reinforcing our mission to create a positive impact that extends beyond business.
Throughout our journey from academic research to entrepreneurship, we have learned that knowledge is only as powerful as its ability to create positive change. With each new challenge, we try to commit ourselves to building bridges between research and society, even when the path is not smooth and requires perseverance, adaptability and altruism.
- Researcher
