Research news

Title Date Description
The Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Architecture (IRIA-UPC) is presented in Barcelona Apr 14, 2025 01:05 PM On 1 April, the UPC presented the Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Architecture (IRIA-UPC) with the aim of promoting and strengthening research, innovation and knowledge transfer in architecture, urban planning and building. IRIA-UPC, which brings together architects, urban planners and technical architects, is a pioneering institute within the university system and aspires to become an international benchmark in these fields.
The UPC among the world’s top 50 in Architecture and Art History in the 2025 QS Rankings by Subject Apr 09, 2025 04:10 PM The 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject rank the UPC the world’s 38th in Architecture and Built Environment and in the 21–40 band in Art History. The rankings also place the University among the world’s top 100 in the broad subject area of Engineering and Technology and in the subjects of Industrial, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; and Civil and Structural Engineering.
The UPC leads an innovative project within Unite! to tackle climate challenges in cities Apr 02, 2025 11:20 AM The project “Cities in times of drought or abundance”, funded by the Unite! Seed Fund and coordinated by the UPC, will gather European experts to develop architectural and urban solutions in response to the effects of climate change.
New edition of the UPC Research Valorisation Award, supported by Fractus Mar 25, 2025 10:35 AM A new call for applications is open for the UPC Research Valorisation Award, accepting submissions from the UPC’s teaching and research staff until 10 April.
Protecting marine ecosystems from ship-induced noise pollution Mar 17, 2025 12:20 PM The UPC’s Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB) participates in a European project focused on developing technologies to reduce underwater noise pollution caused by maritime traffic, which poses a threat to marine ecosystems. The LAB will assess the effectiveness of noise reduction systems installed on five vessels.
Unite! Seed Fund for students, researchers and professors: call for applications open until 20 March Mar 10, 2025 11:15 AM The 2025 Unite! Seed Fund offers financial support to students, researchers and professors who wish to initiate joint initiatives between at least three Unite! universities. The deadline for all submissions is 20 March.
Advancing space exploration: a pioneering experiment in cryogenic fuel management in space Mar 05, 2025 11:45 AM Researchers from the UPC’s Space Exploration Laboratory are contributing to the development of advanced technologies for the storage and refuelling of cryogenic propellants in microgravity conditions. This technology, which will be key to driving space exploration and advancing Europe’s space transportation ecosystem, will be validated through an in-orbit experiment—the first of its kind in Europe.
International award for a UPC project to pave the way for the shipyard of the future Feb 10, 2025 12:35 PM Coordinated by Xavier Martínez Garcia, a professor at the UPC’s FNB and a researcher at CIMNE, FIBRE4YARDS is developing new composite material manufacturing technologies that enable a redefinition of shipyards, aiming to minimise environmental impact, improve vessel quality and reduce construction costs. The initiative has won the Maritime Transportation & Shipbuilding category of the JEC Innovation Awards—prestigious awards recognised as a benchmark in the field of advanced materials.
Transforming the construction sector towards a circular economy: DISCOVER, a new project led by the UPC Feb 04, 2025 10:35 AM The UPC leads the European project DISCOVER, an innovative initiative to reduce construction and demolition waste through artificial intelligence technologies, advanced robotics and building information modelling (BIM). With the aim of transforming the sector into a more sustainable and efficient model, DISCOVER focuses on material reuse and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Airgilab, the first living lab that regenerates building air with horticultural crops, is presented at the UPC’s ESEIAAT Jan 29, 2025 01:55 PM A greenhouse for urban agriculture, connected to classroom 3.07 and an office at the Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering (ESEIAAT), absorbs CO2 from these spaces and transforms it into oxygen through photosynthesis. The clean air is recirculated back into the classroom if the conditions are suitable. This is how the Air quality & Green Infrastructure Living Lab (Airgilab) works, it is the first living lab to regenerate building air using agricultural crops. It was created by the Construction Research and Innovation Group (GRIC) of the UPC.
First year of Connèxia UPC: a new model of engagement with companies offering innovation and knowledge transfer opportunities Jan 25, 2025 02:05 PM One year after its launch, the Connèxia UPC programme now includes four major partner companies—Fractus, Schneider Electric, Mecalux and Cetaqua—and is set to welcome new additions in 2025. Around 5,000 UPC students have taken part in activities related to the initiative, which has generated an economic impact of approximately €350,000. The programme has also contributed to the development of mentorship activities aimed at promoting female talent through initiatives that support leadership.
The new space mission by the UPC NanoSat Lab for Earth observation RITA/ 3 Cat-6 successfully launched Jan 15, 2025 09:45 AM The payload RITA/³Cat-6 is now in orbit. It has been developed by doctoral students at the UPC NanoSat Lab and integrated into the Arab nanosatellite ALainSat-1. The UPC’s space payload carries instruments to gather data on sea salinity and soil humidity, and to measure vegetation status.
The impact of animation cinema on visual fatigue Jan 10, 2025 10:05 AM A team of researchers from the Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (FOOT) and the Image Processing and Multimedia Technology Centre (CITM) have conducted a study on the relationship between the visual aesthetics of animation cinema and visual fatigue. The results of the research were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
UPC, Esade and IED Barcelona students develop innovative solutions to guarantee access to treated water in conjunction with CERN Jan 08, 2025 11:27 AM Six teams of 34 university students of 14 different nationalities have developed prototypes after months of work with CERN scientists within the framework of the Challenge-Based Innovation (CBI) program.
Leonardo Grant awarded to researcher Matias Carandell for innovation in marine ecosystem monitoring Dec 12, 2024 10:40 AM Matias Carandell Widmer, a researcher at the UPC’s Department of Electronic Engineering and at the Technological Development Centre for Remote Acquisition and Data Processing Systems (SARTI), has been awarded a Leonardo Grant from the BBVA Foundation to improve the acquisition and transmission of oceanographic data. The project focuses on integrating emerging buoys into autonomous marine monitoring platforms to provide real- time data access and allow researchers to more effectively address the deterioration of ocean biodiversity.
Deep tech, world-changing technologies take centre stage in the new ‘Algorrritmes UPC’ Nov 07, 2024 04:57 PM The latest episode of the Algorrritmes UPC podcast delves into deep tech: disruptive solutions to global challenges with immense transformative potential. This episode features Carles Puente, Fractus co-founder and a professor at the ETSETB, and Eneko Ibarlucea, a UPC alumnus.
Top Spanish University in Horizon Europe funding Oct 30, 2024 01:15 PM The UPC heads the list of Spanish universities in terms of funding raised and the number of projects under Horizon Europe. With 161 projects, it has obtained 83 million euros in funding so far.
The coast of Vilanova i la Geltrú has been recognised as the first hope spot in the Iberian Peninsula to promote whale conservation Oct 25, 2024 10:25 AM Vilanova i la Geltrú coastal waters have been recognised as the first marine hope spot in the Peninsula by Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue foundation. In a pioneering project, the Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) will study and monitor fin whales and other marine species in this area by using innovative non-invasive technology. The project was launched at the LAB in Vilanova i la Geltrú’s fishing port on 4 October.
A unique hybrid device to generate electricity and store thermal energy in an efficient and sustainable manner Sep 19, 2024 09:15 AM An international research team led by the UPC has created a hybrid device that combines, for the first time ever, molecular solar thermal energy storage with silicon-based photovoltaic energy. It achieves a record energy storage efficiency of 2.3% and up to 14.9% total solar energy utilisation.
Starting Grant for researcher David Escofet-Martín Sep 13, 2024 11:37 AM Serra Húnter lecturer David Escofet-Martín, from the UPC’s Department of Heat Engines, has been awarded a Starting Grant from the European Research Council to research flame spread rate. This is the main metric to assess the danger posed by a fire and can help prevent and control non-stationary urban fires and wildfires.
A study by the UPC’s CPSV suggests that Spain’s climate will become steppe like by 2050 Sep 08, 2024 10:40 AM Spain’s climate could shift from a Mediterranean to a steppe-like climate. If the global warming trend experienced in recent years (1973-2022) continues, by 2050 rainfall is predicted to decrease by 14% to 20%, compared to current levels. This is one of the conclusions of a study presented by a team from the Centre for Land Valuation Policy (CPSV) of the UPC at the 2024 EMS Annual Meeting held in Barcelona.
Unite! students board the U!Train to analyse the European railway network Sep 02, 2024 01:50 PM On 2 September, 30 European students —five from the UPC— are boarding a train from Barcelona to Grenoble, in France. The students will participate in a mapathon, write a manifesto on green mobility in Europe and submit it to EU leaders.
A predictive tool for personalised psychosis treatment Sep 02, 2024 10:25 AM The UPC’s SOCO and GREC research groups are developing a personalised medicine platform to improve the psychological treatment for psychosis. Based on predictive models, the tool will predict therapy effectiveness to tailor treatment. The prototype will undergo a year-long clinical trial with patients from around the world.
The FNB contributes innovative technology to reduce fuel consumption on the Open Arms rescue vessel Jul 31, 2024 09:35 AM Developed by the UPC’s Barcelona School of Nautical Studies with the support of the Fractus-UPC Deep Tech Hub, the project relies on machine learning technologies to reduce fuel consumption while the Open Arms vessel navigates. By minimising the ship’s fuel needs and operational costs, the NGO can redirect some of the savings towards rescue missions.
The Fractus-UPC Deep Tech Hub and the FNB with Open Arms Jul 26, 2024 12:13 PM
Researcher Sergi Abadal receives a Proof of Concept grant to study wireless communication in integrated computing environments Jul 23, 2024 10:05 AM Professor and researcher Sergi Abadal Cavallé, from the UPC’s Department of Computer Architecture, has been awarded an ERC Proof of Concept grant to emulate wireless communication among chiplets inside a computing system.
3D cinema for treating lazy eye in children Jul 16, 2024 12:30 PM A pioneering study conducted by the UPC’s Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry, the Centre for Sensors, Instruments and Systems Development, and the MútuaTerrassa University Hospital provides new data on the effect of 3D movies on visual function in amblyopia or lazy eye. The conclusions have been published in the leading scientific journal Plos One.
3Cat-4, the new UPC nanosatellite, successfully launched from Ariane 6 Jul 10, 2024 09:40 AM The 3Cat-4 nanosatellite, developed by the UPC’s NanoSat Lab, is one of seven payloads that have travelled on the Ariane 6 maiden flight, which took off on the night of 9 to 10 July from French Guiana. 3Cat-4 (read “cube-cat-four”) is the only Catalan instrument and one of two from Spain on board this ESA mission. Developed by students, the nanosatellite focuses on observing the Earth, studying weather and climatic phenomena from space, and locating and tracking vessels to prevent accidents. Some students have been present at the launch site.
Researchers from the UPC, the BSC-CNS and the UPV/EHU establish the age and origin of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Jul 08, 2024 01:47 PM Researchers from the UPC’s Department of Physics on the Terrassa Campus, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) have analysed historical observations since the 17th century and have developed numerical models to explain the longevity and nature of this spectacular meteorological phenomenon in the atmosphere of the gas giant planet.
Cosmic Research of the UPC’s ESEIAAT is the first Spanish team ever selected for the Spaceport America Cup Jun 22, 2024 08:20 PM The ESEIAAT’s Cosmic Research student team has presented LUCID, the rocket that has competed in the Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico, US, in June. It is the first Spanish team to ever participate in this competition, which brings together 1,700 students from universities around the world. The rocket was launched on June 20.