The UPC entrepreneurial ecosystem shines again at 4YFN
From 26 to 29 February, the UPC’s entrepreneurial talent once again showcased itself at Four Years From Now (4YFN). Over 40 technology-based companies driven by UPC students, graduates and researchers participated, with 16 of them presenting their entrepreneurial projects at the University’s stand. The other spin-offs and start-ups associated with the University were present at other stands or engaged in scheduled activities.
Mar 01, 2024
The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) was again present at 4YFN, the international event dedicated to start-ups and entrepreneurship that is hosted in the Gran Via venue of the Fira de Barcelona concurrently with the Mobile World Congress (MWC).
Once again, the UPC stood out as the university with the most entrepreneurial initiatives at this event: 42 technology-based UPC spin-offs, ranging from emerging to more established ones, with 16 exhibiting at the University’s start-up corner. Some of these companies develop and market cutting-edge technologies or engineering solutions to address key challenges of digitisation and sustainability.
In two-day shifts, these 16 companies showcased innovative engineering solutions and technologies for sectors including healthcare, business and industry 4.0, agriculture and food, freight transport, construction, 3D printing, virtual reality, mobility and smart cities, software development, gaming and digital marketing and AI-powered customer relations.
- Algorae focuses on developing a transport route planning and optimisation solution for people with reduced mobility
- Aridditive has created a high-performance concrete 3D printer for construction and architecture. The technology developed has made it possible to create a print head that uses a closed-loop control system to monitor pressure, temperature and humidity, while also speeding up curing time.
- Bliko has developed specific software to convert business-customer interactions from e-mails, calls and instant messaging into data, enabling the extraction of relevant information for CRM entry or generating interest reports.
- Datision develops artificial intelligence solutions for industry to perform predictive maintenance and to advise on the definitive transition to digitised production.
- ecoDeliver has created a new collaborative parcel delivery model based on a digital platform. It relies on its member’s private transport to deliver packages, thus reducing the large amount of CO₂ emissions generated in this sector.
- Inmersia has developed the first smart glasses for daily use combining augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in a single device. This allows sharing real experiences from any location in professional, medical, learning and virtual leisure contexts, among others.
- Ludium Lab is a B2B technology company that has deployed technology for cloud adoption and interactive streaming of applications at a reduced cost.
- NIMBLE Diagnostics is a spin-off of the UPC, the Institut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP) and the University of Barcelona (UB). It has created the first medical device to monitor patients with implanted stents.
- PowerDIW has created an experimental fully configurable direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printer. DIW is an additive manufacturing technology commonly used for manufacturing ceramic or metal green parts or any bioprintable material.
- Pullpo is a system to integrate GitHub and Slack platforms for technology teams to collaborate more efficiently on code review, a key step in software development processes.
- Showee has created the first accessible and eco-smart shower, adapting to the autonomy level of individuals with physical, intellectual or sensory disabilities. It facilitates drying and provides comfort while reducing over 50% of water consumption.
- TalentYou.Ai has launched AI-based technology to train sales teams and chatbots more closely and efficiently. Unlike conventional applications, it establishes relationships linked to conversational environments commonly used.
- Vaive Logistics develops and deploys autonomous last-mile delivery robots for urban environments. The ONA robot has already been tested in real conditions, such as the LOGISMILE project in Esplugues de Llobregat.
- Vincer.AI has created a platform to assess the risks associated with using devices, recommendation systems and diagnostic systems based on or using AI for the healthcare sector. A development carried out under the Xartec Salut network.
- Virmedex is UPC and UB spin-off that develops serious games for healthcare specialised training, such as a platform for cardiopulmonary bypass training to help you understand how to run the pump for extracorporeal circulation as if you were in the operating room. Also developed under Xartec Salut.
- Wecaria creates solutions for the automotive sector to create new ways to connect people, companies and organisations, for instance providing mechanical workshops with real-time data about their customers’ vehicle condition.
The remaining 26 tech-based companies driven by the UPC community that also participated are Able Human Motion, Beyond You (form. Exheus), Elem Biotech, Energy Aware Solutions, eRoots Analytics, Frontwave Imaging, Folgrid, Hello, IMAZ, Kreios Space, Levelab, Mitiga Solutions, Nanochronia, Neutroon, Nuwe, Opground, Qualla, Qbeast, Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, Rob Surgical, RelAI Emotions, Sense4Care, THEKER Robotics, TracksCO2, Tunnll and Wivi Vision.
Disruptive technologies for healthcare
Xartec Salut, the leading R&D&I network in the health tech field led by the UPC’s Biomedical Engineering Research Centre and financed by AGAUR, presented 11 disruptive start-ups in healthcare. Four of them are UPC spin-offs: Beyond You, BrainFocus, Vincer.AI and Virmedex.
Networking event and other scheduled activities
The UPC stand also hosted a networking event with all these companies from the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Further activities involving UPC faculty, staff, graduates and students took place at 4YFN, like the round tables “Why start-ups must invest in a strong patent strategy”, organised by Fractus-UPC Deep Tech Hub, and “TECNIO innovation experience: Aridditive, 3D printing the future of sustainable construction”. The latter showcased Aridditive, a spin-off specialised in concrete 3D printers that aims to transform the construction market. Also, the session “Startups opportunities in the space sector”, which featured companies selected by ESA BIC Barcelona, the European Space Agency’s business incubation centre on the UPC’s Baix Llobregat Campus.
