Research news

Title Date Description
Oceanoise2026, from 25 to 29 May, in Vilanova i la Geltrú May 22, 2026 02:39 PM This leading scientific conference is dedicated to the study of underwater sound and its impact on marine ecosystems. This year’s event, which has more than 200 participants from 24 countries, is organised by the Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics.
Unite! Pioneer Biodegradable Smart Patches for Precision Drug Delivery May 12, 2026 09:30 AM Develop flexible and biodegradable devices for transdermal drug administration, that offer precise and controlled dosing and high comfort and compatibility with a wide range of drugs. This is the goal of a project coordinated by researcher Sílvia Pérez, from the Barcelona Center for Research in Multiscale Science and Engineering (CCEM), which has been funded by the Unite! Seed Fund 2025 program.
UPC and Hypatia Mars scientists take to the skies to research the effects of zero gravity on health and the brain May 08, 2026 01:31 PM On 8 and 9 May, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is conducting a new series of parabolic flights at Sabadell Airport. These microgravity experiments involve six female scientists: nutritionist Abril Gorgori and five members of the Hypatia Mars team. They will supervise on-board experiments to analyse the human body’s reaction to weightlessness.
British minister Angela Eagle visits the Baix Llobregat Campus to learn about the UPC’s potential in agri-food technologies Apr 28, 2026 10:07 AM UK Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Angela Eagle visited several facilities on the UPC’s Baix Llobregat Campus in Castelldefels on 22 April. The aim of the visit was to gain first-hand insight into the University’s potential in agri-food technologies, under the umbrella of the Agri-Food Technology Specific Research Centre, and to explore new opportunities for international cooperation.
The UPC unveils a leading scientific infrastructure in Spain for testing 6G technologies in real-world conditions Apr 24, 2026 12:28 PM On 8 April, the UPC unveiled 6GLabNet, an autonomous experimental network designed to test and validate next-generation mobile communications technologies and services in real environments. Serving research, teaching, public administration and industry, the infrastructure is a cutting-edge scientific facility in Europe and a key asset for accelerating innovation in 6G technology with artificial intelligence.
LEIA UPC launched to drive the University’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy Apr 22, 2026 06:05 PM On 22 April, the UPC presented LEIA UPC, its flagship artificial intelligence building located on the North Diagonal Campus in Barcelona. The launch of this innovation hub, which brings together UPC entities with extensive expertise in AI, is part of the eponymous programme underpinning the University’s AI strategy, which was also launched at the same event. The initiative aims to consolidate the UPC’s position as an international leader in this field by boosting research, knowledge transfer and the integration of AI into teaching and management.
Scientists create living tissues capable of changing shape in a programmed manner Apr 21, 2026 09:37 AM Researchers at the UPC, the Institute for Bioengineering for Catalonia (IBEC), and the International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) have developed a new strategy for ‘programming’ the shape of biological tissues in vitro. The study, published in the journal Science, opens the door to new applications in tissue engineering, biohybrid robotics and the design of smart living materials.
Safe and Secure Technologies, the new BSC and UPC spin-off that will design chips for critical sectors in which "failure is not an option" Apr 10, 2026 10:41 AM The Barcelona Supercomputing Center–Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) and the UPC promote the creation of their new spin-off Safe and Secure Technologies S.L., which is born with the purpose of designing chips for critical sectors in infrastructure and emergency services, where a system failure could have significant human and economic consequences.
A new method enables more accurate decoding of how brain circuits work Apr 07, 2026 11:59 AM Researcher David Garcia Soriano, a Serra Húnter professor at the UPC, together with other international scientists, has introduced an innovative method that sheds new light on how brain circuits work. Published in Nature Communications, the study reveals key insights into neuronal connectivity.
35th worldwide in Architecture and Spain’s leader in innovation according to the 2026 Scimago World Institutions Rankings Mar 16, 2026 10:49 AM The UPC is ranked among the world’s top 50 in Architecture and the top 100 in five additional categories in the 2026 Scimago World Institutions Rankings (SIR). In the overall ranking, it is placed 240th worldwide and is the leading Spanish university in five categories.
A study commissioned by the Government of Catalonia to the UPC confirms that Antoni Gaudí designed the Xalet del Catllaràs Mar 16, 2026 09:41 AM A study commissioned by the Department of Culture to Galdric Santana, a professor at the Barcelona School of Architecture and director of the UPC’s Gaudí Chair, confirms that the project for the Xalet del Catllaràs in La Pobla de Lillet was designed by architect Antoni Gaudí.
The UPC showcases its technological potential at MWC Barcelona, 4YFN and Talent Arena Mar 06, 2026 08:20 AM Once again, the UPC has taken part in MWC Barcelona and Four Years From Now (4YFN), running from 2 to 5 March at Fira de Barcelona in Gran Via venue. For the first time, it also has been present at Talent Arena, held from 2 to 3 March at the Montjuïch. All three events are leading international platforms for connectivity, entrepreneurship and digital talent.
An app to assess wildfire risk to homes Feb 27, 2026 12:30 PM A European research team led by the UPC has created a web application that assesses the vulnerability to fire of homes located in forest areas. The app, which is part of the European FIREPRIME project, has been designed and tested with the collaboration of citizens, local authorities and emergency services.
The UPC’s studies and technological ecosystem will be on display for the first time at Talent Arena Feb 27, 2026 10:55 AM From 2 to 4 March, the University will take part in the second edition of Talent Arena, a major European meeting point for digital talent and the tech industry. The event complements Mobile World Capital Barcelona and 4YFN, both of which the University also attends. The aim is to highlight the talent developed at the UPC and present its bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and continuing education degrees. Admission to Talent Arena is free with prior registration.
The ETSAV’s model workshop coordinates the production of an interactive model of Barcelona for the World Capital of Architecture Feb 24, 2026 09:25 AM The Barcelona Plain 2026–2035 model is an initiative led by the Barcelona city council and coordinated by the model workshop of the UPC’s Vallès School of Architecture (ETSAV), marking the start of the celebration of Barcelona as World Capital of Architecture. Printed entirely in 3D, the model becomes an interactive platform to analyse and explain Barcelona’s past, present and future. It will open to the public on 13 March at the former headquarters of the Gustavo Gili publishing house in Barcelona.
UPC technology and capabilities at the ISE audiovisual trade fair Jan 30, 2026 10:48 AM The UPC will participate for the first time in the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world-renowned tech show for the audiovisual industry. The 2026 edition will be held in the Gran Via venue of the Fira de Barcelona from 3 to 6 February.
University spin-off Virmedex strengthens its international presence Jan 21, 2026 10:49 AM Founded by the UPC and the UB three years ago, Virmedex Virtual Experiences SL specialises in training healthcare professionals through simulators based on video games, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. The company has consolidated its international position in Europe, Latin America and the United States, and is now preparing for a second funding round. It received the 15th UPC Research Valorisation Award, organised by the Board of Trustees with the support of Fractus and the Fractus UPC Deep-Tech Hub, among other accolades.
Greening school playgrounds improves quality of life in cities and helps deal with climate change Jan 19, 2026 09:41 AM After three years of work, a European project led by a team of researchers at the UOC and the UPC calls for cities to be built based on the urban planning principle of looking after shared, natural and climate-adapted spaces, particularly in school environments.
DigiPatICS consolidates the use of AI to improve cancer diagnosis and share results Jan 07, 2026 11:26 AM The eight hospitals of the Catalan Institute of Health have optimised breast cancer diagnosis thanks to artificial intelligence algorithms developed by the UPC as part of the DigiPatICS project. These algorithms automate the analysis of tissue samples, enabling earlier and more accurate detection of the disease. Results and diagnoses are shared in real time across the eight centres, creating Europe’s largest digital pathology network. The project received the 15th UPC Research Valorisation Award on 19 November.
Researchers design a catalyst to produce industrial chemicals from greenhouse gases Jan 07, 2026 11:20 AM A UPC team has developed a ceramic, biocompatible catalyst that captures greenhouse gases and converts them into useful chemicals in a more sustainable and cost-effective way than current technologies. So far, it has successfully passed the pilot phase through joint projects with companies from several sectors. The technology has won the 15th UPC Research Valorisation Award, organised by the Board of Trustees with the support of Fractus and the Fractus UPC Deep Tech Hub, as the best market-ready invention.
13 UPC researchers distinguished in the 2025 Academia Excellence programme Dec 18, 2025 11:27 AM UPC research took centre stage in the latest call for the Government of Catalonia’s Academia Excellence programme (formerly ICREA Academia), securing 13 of the 50 grants awarded. The UPC thus becomes the institution with the most selected faculty members, who will be able to intensify their research for five years. Also, Claudio Cazorla Silva, a researcher at the Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering (CCEM), has been named a new ICREA Research Professor.
First tests of a subsea robot set to be integrated into the OBSEA observatory to monitor the seabed and create a digital twin Dec 16, 2025 01:05 PM On 19 November, researchers from the UPC’s Technological Development Centre for Remote Acquisition and Data Processing Systems began the initial testing of a robot designed to monitor the seabed at the port of Vilanova i la Geltrú. They aim to develop a digital twin of the Vilanova coastline to characterise species, monitor large predator communities and understand how they interact with the rest of the marine ecosystems for the purpose of better managing and restoring these ecosystems.
Oriol Vinyals, honorary doctoral degree holder by the UPC: “AI allows us to focus on asking the right questions to advance science” Dec 01, 2025 12:09 PM On 26 November, the UPC conferred an honorary doctoral degree on researcher Oriol Vinyals, vice-president of Research at Google DeepMind. Professor Eduard Alarcón delivered the oration in praise of Vinyals’s achievements at an event held in the Auditorium of the Vèrtex building on the North Diagonal Campus.
Algorithms for cancer diagnosis, a greenhouse gas catalyst and the spin-off Virmedex receive awards Nov 17, 2025 05:25 PM The jury of the 15th UPC Research Valorisation Award has recognised DigiPatICS as the best technology transfer project, Permanently Polarized Hydroxyapatite as the best market-ready invention and Virmedex as the best technology-based company. A special mention has also been given to the collaboration between the CDEI and Girbau, focused on the design and simulation of industrial laundry machinery.
A declaration to transform the monitoring and protection of Amazonian biodiversity is presented at COP30 Nov 17, 2025 03:00 PM On 15 November, the UPC together with Indigenous communities, Amazonian scientific institutions, NGOs, governments and international organisations presented the Mamirauá Declaration at COP30. It is an innovative collective commitment to transform how biodiversity is monitored, governed and protected throughout the Amazon Basin.
Using AI to decodeing the mechanisms that enable plants to adapt to climate change Nov 12, 2025 12:39 PM An international research team led by the UPC has used advanced machine learning techniques to identify, for the first time, the key genes that enable plants to respond simultaneously to multiple forms of environmental stress. The study, published in Nature Communications, presents a new approach to analysing multifactorial stress at the genomic scale and paves the way for designing crops that are more resilient to climate change.
Last days to register for the 1st UPC Artificial Intelligence Competition for bachelor’s and master’s students Nov 09, 2025 09:30 AM The UPC Artificial Intelligence Challenge (IA Challenge) will recognise the best projects applying this technology in any of the University’s fields of knowledge. The competition is open to more than 30,000 UPC bachelor’s and master’s students, who can submit their proposals until 15 November. In addition, partner companies have introduced six new industrial challenges.
The UPC inaugurates the first monitored agrivoltaic plant for comprehensive horticultural crop control at the Agròpolis Nov 06, 2025 10:36 AM On 24 October, the UPC inaugurated the first fully monitored agrivoltaic plant for comprehensive horticultural crop control at its Agròpolis facility in Viladecans. This new infrastructure is being used to study the impact of two types of photovoltaic panels on various vegetable crops, with the aim of generating clean energy for Europe’s agricultural sector.
UPC professor Antonio González receives the IEEE Computer Society B. Ramakrishna Rau Award Nov 05, 2025 10:33 AM Antonio González, a professor at the UPC’s Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB) and a member of the Department of Computer Architecture, has been honoured with the 2025 B. Ramakrishna Rau Award from the IEEE Computer Society. This is one of the most prestigious international awards in the field of computer architecture.
The UPC, a driving force for deep tech innovation in Catalonia Oct 30, 2025 10:12 AM According to the report The Deep Tech Spin-off Ecosystem in Spain 2025, the UPC is the third institution in Spain and the first in Catalonia for the creation of deep tech companies emerging from universities and research centres, accounting for 5.3% of the total in an ecosystem that now includes over 1,000 active spin-offs.