Research news
List of news published in the Press Room on research and innovation
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The UPC’s scientific activity in Architecture, Engineering and Computer Science stands out in Spain
In the 2021 edition of the IUNE Observatory ranking, the UPC is ranked 1st among Spanish universities in scientific activity in five indicators for Architecture, Engineering and Computer Science. It is also the institution with the highest percentage of documents cited in the aggregated result of all the areas of knowledge analysed.
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The UPC among the 100 best universities in the world according to ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
The UPC maintains its position among the 100 best universities in the world in eight subjects and it is the top Spanish university in seven subjects in the 2020 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS).
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The UPC, the best Spanish university in performance according to the U-Ranking
In the 2021 edition of the U-Ranking the UPC climbs to the top position among Spanish universities in performance together with the UPF and the UC3M. The UPC remains the leader among Spanish universities in teaching and the 3rd in research and innovation. The University is above the Spanish average in almost all the indicators analysed in the ranking and stands out in research and innovation.
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The UPC leads artificial intelligence (AI) research and innovation in Catalonia
The UPC is the most active Catalan entity in artificial intelligence research and innovation according to the report “Analysis of the specialisation in artificial intelligence in Catalonia”, produced by the Government of Catalonia.
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Nimble Diagnostics is founded to monitor stents using microwave technology
Nimble Diagnostics is a spin-off that develops microwave-based technology to monitor stents implanted in patients with cardiovascular, vascular, renal or lung disease. This is a spin-off of the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the UPC that has developed a device that will identify possible obstructions to the stents in a fast and non-invasive way.
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UPC technology at the 2022 Mobile World Congress, from 28 February to 3 March 2022, in Barcelona
The UPC presents cutting-edge technologies and initiatives applied to a range of sectors at its own stand in this edition of MWC Barcelona, the international conference on mobile technologies that takes place in the Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via exhibition centre, in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. The University is also present at 4YFN, a point of reference for entrepreneurship and technological innovation, which is taking place at the same time in the same venue.
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Five UPC projects to fight pandemics
Identifying risk factors that affect the evolution of COVID-19 patients; analysing the transformation of Barcelona into a “fragile” city during the state of alarm; using drones to control capacity at events; implementing measures to increase the resilience of buildings and adapt them to the new requirements for energy consumption and air quality; and transforming cities into resilient, sustainable and healthier places for future pandemics through local agriculture and recycling and waste reduction. These are the UPC projects that have been selected under the AGAUR’s 2020 PANDÈMIES call for grants.
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UPC researchers will observe 77,000 stars with the Chilean 4MOST telescope
Alberto Rebassa, a professor at the UPC’s Department of Physics and at the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), and Odette Toloza, a researcher at the Federico Santa María Technical University (Chile), will lead a team of 30 researchers from 18 institutions around the world to observe and analyse the spectra of 77,000 binary stars. They will use the European Southern Observatory’s 4MOST telescope, located in Chile.
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The ICM, the UdG and the UPC join efforts to measure the capacity of marine reserves to recover overexploited species
Over the next four years, the research team will evaluate the usefulness of a network of newly created protected marine reserves in waters between 300 and 400 metres deep. The objective is to find out if these protected areas could contribute to the recovery of habitats damaged by fishing and, at the same time, promote the sustainability of this activity.
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The UPC ranked the world’s 22nd best in Optics and in the top 100 in Civil Engineering and Computer Science in the 2022 Best Global Universities Rankings
In the 8th edition of the Best Global Universities Rankings, the UPC climbs 167 positions and ranks 367th globally and regains the leading position among Spanish technical universities. As for subjects, the University stands out in Optics (22nd in the world), Civil Engineering (57th) and Computer Science (89th).
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Dyeing irrigation water to study the impact of freshwater on bivalve farming in the Ebro Delta
A team of UPC and IRTA researchers have developed a model to determine the dispersion of freshwater discharges that reaches the El Fangar bay by using rhodamine, a tracer dye that is water soluble and harmless. The experiment will provide further knowledge on water dispersion, to eventually reorganise aquaculture activities and to apply protective measures in other Catalan regions.
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Reusing 1 kg of clothing saves 25 kg of CO2 according to a study by INTEXTER
The UPC’s INTEXTER has conducted a pioneering analysis to calculate the share of fibres used in the clothes that are dumped in textile collection bins. The study uses an innovative methodology and is therefore more accurate than other approaches so far. It is part of a report by Cáritas cooperative Moda re- and the consulting company LAVOLA on the collection of used clothing in Spain.
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The BSC inaugurates its new corporate headquarters, the BSC-Repsol Building
The minister for Research and Universities, Gemma Geis; the secretary general for Research of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Raquel Yotti; the rector of the UPC, Daniel Crespo; the president of the Repsol Foundation, Antonio Brufau, and the director of the BSC, Mateo Valero, participated in a brief ceremony celebrating the inauguration of one of the largest scientific and technological facilities in the city of Barcelona. The new 12,000 m2 facility, at which 530 BSC employees work, is preparing to receive the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer.
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The UPC among the three best Spanish universities according to the 2021 U-Multirank
In the 2021 edition of U-Multirank, a European Commission initiative to provide a multidimensional view of universities, the UPC moves up and is ranked as one of the top three Spanish universities.
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UPCommons remains among the world’s top 20 in the Transparent Ranking of repositories
The UPC’s open document repository, UPCommons, is ranked the world’s 20th in the latest edition of the Transparent Ranking of repositories. In the ranking of institutional repositories, UPCommons climbs to the 10th place worldwide and is once again the leader in Spain.
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The UPC continues to be the top Spanish technical university in the latest edition of the THE World University Rankings
In the Times Higher Education’s 2022 World University Rankings (THE WUR), the UPC maintains its position among the 800 best universities in the world (601-800 band) and continues to be the top Spanish technical university. In the THE WUR by Subject, the UPC is also the top Spanish technical university in Computer Science and Physical Sciences, and shares the first position in Engineering and Life Sciences.
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The BSC will coordinate Quantum Spain, the Spanish quantum computing ecosystem
The project includes building and commissioning the first quantum computer in southern Europe. The computer will be operational by the end of 2022 and will be installed at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center–Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS).
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BSC and UPC researchers study mobility in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic period using data from the Facebook and Google apps
The work demonstrates how the correct use of these data can provide a detailed interpretation of mobility, for epidemiological and socio-economic analysis. In retrospect, the confinement measures applied and their duration were adequate for the situation and evolution of the pandemic in Spain.
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UPC’s Doctoral School Open Day on 20 May
The event is aimed at people who are interested in continuing their education and are motivated to conduct research. It will be broadcast live on YouTube from 11 a.m. and requires advance registration.
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International cooperative agreement aims to fast track advanced material solutions to solve global challenges
ICFO and Advanced Material Pandemic & Future Preparedness Taskforce sign MoU to facilitate solving global challenges using advanced materials.
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QuantumCAT, the quantum technology hub led by the ICFO, launched
The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), which is linked to the UPC, leads the new Catalan quantum technology hub QuantumCAT, a consortium of research institutions and industry partners for promoting technology transfer and innovation projects.
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Discover the UPC’s Doctoral School
Visit the Doctoral School website to find out more about the programmes leading to a doctoral degree that allow you to develop the skills and competencies needed to conduct quality research in a changing world.
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International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components, at UPC
The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) host the 15th International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components, from 20 to 23 October, on line.
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The ICFO and the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute create a joint laboratory
The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) and the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute have created a new joint laboratory that focuses on advancing the use and development of photonic technologies to understand, diagnose, monitor and treat paediatric diseases. The alliance seeks to provide innovations that improve the quality of life of children with severe pathologies and is made possible thanks to the support of the Joan Ribas Araquistain Foundation, the Cellex Foundation and the Torró Solidari RAC1 by Torrons Vicens.
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The BSC and the Hospital Clínic will use artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the evolution of COVID-19 patients
They will create an AI model based on information from more than 3,000 clinical reports generated by the Hospital Clínic during the acute phase of the pandemic. The project, promoted by the Spanish government, is open to the collaboration of more hospitals.
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ICFO and spin-off Quside team up to create a new quantum processing lab
The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), a university research institute affiliated to the UPC, and its spin-off Quside Technologies are teaming up to create a facility for developing quantum processing technologies. The joint lab will use concepts and models in advanced quantum physics to solve emerging problems that cannot be solved with current computers and hardware.
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Light and nanotechnology combined to prevent bacterial contamination on medical implants
An ICFO and B. Braun Surgical, S.A. study published in Nano Letters and highlighted in Nature Photonics reports on a new technique that could prevent bacterial contamination and infection in medical implants by using light combined with gold nanoparticles.
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The UPC’s scientific knowledge in emerging areas in ICT, just one click away
The recerTIC UPC tool compiles scientific output on 5G, computer security, embedded systems, machine learning, smart sensors, bioinformatics, data science and engineering, IoT, robotics and vehicle-to-everything.
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Researchers from the Department of Physics analyse rainfall records in Catalonia since 1855
María del Carmen Casas, Raúl Rodríguez and Alba Llabrés are collaborating with the Meteorological Service of Catalonia and the University of Barcelona (UB) to assess the quality of rainfall data in Catalonia since 1855. Rainfall data are essential to understand the impact of climate change.
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The BSC-CNS will apply to host one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe
The Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) will present its candidacy to host one of the pre-exascale supercomputers—with a peak velocity of 200 petaflops/s—that will be operational in the European Union at the beginning of 2021.