The Department of Heat Engines works in the area of basic and applied thermal engineering through its many collaboration agreements with companies and organisations. Its researchers are carrying out several R&D projects with financial support from European and national institutions (CRAFT, Petri, ERDF, etc.). Two of its research groups have been officially recognised as consolidated groups by the Catalan government’s Ministry of Economy and Knowledge. Moreover, two of its other groups are part of the Technological Innovation Network (Xarxa IT).

The Department also participates in and coordinates the Automotive Engineering Centre and the Applus+ Automobile Safety Chair and it has several laboratories devoted to fluid mechanics and heat engines, thermodynamics and physical chemistry, and thermal engineering.