On 10 June, the ESEIAAT celebrated its 120th anniversary. The iconic Modernista building was inaugurated on 3 July 1904 during the Terrassa city festival, two years after engineering studies began in the city.
On 24 April, the UPC approved the creation of a school of medicine in the 2026-2027 academic year to offer courses in this field. The project, developed in collaboration with the Terrassa Health Consortium, will use the Terrassa University Hospital as a reference.
On 16 April, the UPC launched two new bachelor’s degree programmes that are unique in Spain. First, the bachelor’s degree in Satellite Engineering at the Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering (EETAC) and, second, the bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Railway Systems at the Vilanova i la Geltrú School of Engineering (EPSEVG).
The UPC among the world’s top 50 in Architecture, Art History and Civil Engineering in the latest edition of the QS Rankings by Subject.
On 21 March, the UPC conferred an honorary doctoral degree on jazz pianist Ignasi Terraza, a graduate of the Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB) who was the first visually impaired person to graduate in Informatics Engineering in Spain.
2023
On 21 December, the UPC celebrated the inauguration of the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS), which positions the University as a global benchmark in supercomputing.
On 11 July, the Manresa School of Engineering (EPSEM) inaugurated a new facility dedicated to science outreach and technology: TechLab Manresa, a space open to the UPC community, the wider academic community and citizens.
On 30 March, the UPC commemorated the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's visit to the Industrial School of Barcelona and Terrassa with a range of activities in schools and other initiatives.
The UPC is Spain’s top university in raising Horizon Europe funds for research and innovation projects in 2021-2022, having raised 42 million euros for 66 projects already signed.
On 10 January, the UPC inaugurated the UPC Diagonal University Vision Centre, which specialises in contact lenses and myopia control, in Barcelona. Its services are the basis for the training of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree students at the Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (FOOT).
2022
On 28 October, Sylvia A. Earle was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in recognition of her lifelong commitment to exploring the seabed and studying ocean conservation.
On 3 June, Jaume Peraire was awarded an honorary doctoral degree. Peraire is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
On 11 February, Antonio Torralba was awarded an honorary doctoral degree. Torralba is a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, where he leads the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab.
On 3 February, the Mexican engineer and former director of the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (IPN) Enrique Villa was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC for promoting intense academic and scientific collaboration between the two institutions and the respective countries.
On 2 February, the ESEIAAT commemorated the 120th anniversary with a programme of activities throught the year, the slogan of which was '1902-2022, Terrassa, un cor politècnic'.
2021
On 19 December, the Rector Gabriel Ferraté Library celebrated its 25th anniversary. It was inaugurated on 19 December 1996 and is linked to three schools on the North Campus: the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering, the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering and the Barcelona School of Informatics.
On 30 November, the student association Cosmic Research, of the UPC's Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering, successfully built and launched the most powerful suborbital supersonic rocket built in Catalonia and the most powerful in Spain built by university students. The rocket, named Bondar in honour of the first female Canadian astronaut, reached and altitude of almost 8 kilometres (approximately 7,800 metres), at a speed of 1,900 km/h.
On 29 November, the UPC hosted the 4th Unite! Dialogue, "Past, Present and Future". Leading technological universities defined what engineering education must be like to meet Europe's major challanges.
On 25 November, The Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering celebrated its 25th anniversary. It was founded on 23 November 1971 as the first of the new schools of the UPC, which was also founded in 1971. In the past 50 years, it has established itself as a benchmark in teaching and research in ICTs.
On 22 November, the Manresa City Council and the UPC presented the Fàbrica Nova project to attract and retain local and international talent.
On 7 October, the BSC-Repsol Building, the new coporate headquarters of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, was inaugurated.
On 30 September, the UPC conferred an honorary doctoral degree on Ricardo Bofill, one of the most influential and internationally renowned architects and urban planners.
On 7 June, Daniel Crespo, full professor of Physics, took office as the new rector of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC).
On 25 May, Professor Daniel Crespo Artiaga was proclaimed rector, having been elected with 50.67% of the weighted votes (2,954), ahead of the then-current rector Francesc Torres Torres, who obtained 49.33% (2,876).
On 18 May, the UPC led Spanish Universities with 15 patent applications filed in 2020, according to a report published by the European Patent Office (EPO) in May.
On 6 April, the rector of the UPC, Francesc Torres, called elections for university rector. Voting took place between 14 and 19 May. It was the first time the community elected a rector by electronic ballot.
The first stone of the E building on the UPC’s Diagonal-Besòs Campus was laid on 17 March. The building houses small and medium-sized companies, start-ups and co-working spaces linked to the University.
The UPC participated in NASA’s Mars 2020 mission by designing 60 silicon microchips, which were produced by the Micro and Nanotechnologies (MNT) research group linked to the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB). The chips, which are capable of measuring the wind on Mars, landed on the red planet on 18 February aboard the Perseverance rover.
On 8 February, following health authorities’ instructions on the COVID-19 pandemic, lectures with restricted attendance for first-year bachelor’s students at the UPC resumed, and the on-site laboratory practicals and exams scheduled for students in other years continued.
2020
The construction project for Building D on the Diagonal-Besòs Campus was presented on 28 September. Over 10,000 square metres will be devoted to research in the new facility.
On 30 September the UPC inaugurated the 2020-2021 academic year at Catalan universities, which coincided with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the University’s foundation. The event marked the beginning of celebrations for the University’s 50 years of existence.
The UPC set up the Institute of Mathematics of the UPC-BarcelonaTech (IMTech), based at the School of Mathematics and Statistics (FME), to promote scientific activity in the field of mathematics. The IMTech’s creation was published in the Official Gazette of the Catalan Government (DOGC) on 14 October.
The first official bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence in Catalonia, which is taught at the Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB), was presented on 19 November. The UPC became the first university in Spain to offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in artificial intelligence.
On 1 April 2020, the Governing Council agreed to change the name of the Barcelona School of Agriculture (ESAB) to the Barcelona School of Agri-Food and Biosystems Engineering (EEABB). The School Board had taken the decision unanimously on 24 January.
The gender perspective was incorporated into the UPC's degrees as a cross-disciplinary competency by decision of the Governing Council on 1 April. The UPC is one of the first universities in Spain to take this step.
On 18 March, the rector, Francesc Torres, suspended academic activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following the instructions of the health authorities. Activities did not begin to be resumed until 18 May as part of the process of ending the lockdown.
2019
The UPC conferred an honorary doctoral degree on the mathematician and professor from the ETH Zurich Alessio Figalli, an outstanding figure in the field of mathematics and a Fields medal winner in 2018. The award was promoted by the School of Mathematics and Statistics (FME).
Evert Hoek, an outstanding figure in the field of mining engineering worldwide, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the UPC.
The new residence hall Xior Diagonal-Besòs for students, professors and researchers on the Diagonal-Besòs Campus of the UPC opened next to the Barcelona East School of Engineering (EEBE).
The UPCArts cultural activities programme, the cultural community of the UPC, was presented. The programme involved TR3SC (theatre, concerts, cinema and other cultural proposals).
The Aquí STEAM programme to bring vocations in science, technology and engineering closer to primary and secondary schools in Catalonia was presented. The aim is to attract female talent to these disciplines.
The Espai Vela, the new teaching and research facility of the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies in the Nova Bocana of the Port of Barcelona, was inaugurated. The aim of the new facility is for students to carry out practicals.
It was announced that the Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) will host MareNostrum5, one of the pre-exascale supercomputers in the high-performance computer network promoted by the European Commission.
The UPC became part of UNITE!, the University Network for Innovation, Technology and Engineering promoted by the European Commission, in which various European institutions of higher education participate.
The 5G Barcelona agreement between Orange, the i2CAT Foundation, the UPC and the Mobile World Capital Barcelona was signed. The aim is to set up the first open 5G laboratory in Europe, in which local and international entities will be able to validate their services and solutions in real settings.
2018
Margaret Hamilton, who coined the term ‘software engineering’ during the NASA’s first Apollo missions, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the UPC.
On 4 October, the first edition of the UPC University Cities Forum was held. It highlighted regional alliances and the increasingly intense role of universities as agents of transformation.
The Innova Programme, a pioneering initiative devoted to promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the university community, celebrated its first 20 years. The anniversary’s main event was chaired by the president of the Government of Catalonia, Quim Torra.
The fifth edition of Hack UPC was held on the North Campus and brought together more than 700 people who are passionate about technology, app development, games, robots, etc.
The UPC joined the 5GBarcelona initiative, a European digital hub that was set up to develop this technology. The Barcelona City Council, the Government of Catalonia, Mobile World Capital Barcelona, the i2CAT Foundation, the Telecommunications Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTTC) and Atos participated in the initiative.
New Emprèn UPC facilities were set up on the Baix Llobregat and Vilanova i la Geltrú campuses.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology selected the MOBILus consortium, led by Barcelona and 12 other cities, 17 businesses and 18 universities, among them SEAT and the UPC, to set up the headquarters of the Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) on Urban Mobility, which is entrusted with developing the European Union's innovations in urban mobility until at least 2026, in Barcelona.
Donald R. Korb a pioneer in evidencing the mainly evaporative nature of dry eye and an authority on contact lenses and the ocular surface was awarded an honorary doctorate by the UPC.
The dissolution and extinction of the School of Igualada Consortium of Igualada (CETI), currently the Igualda School of Engineering, affiliated to the UPC, was approved.
2017
Francesc Torres, a full professor and a telecommunications engineer, was elected rector of the UPC in the election held on 15 November.
Kip S. Thorne was awarded an honorary doctorate by the UPC for his work in scientific fields such as gravitation, optics and astrophysics.
The UPC continued to be the Spanish university that raised the most funds from the Horizon 2020 programme, participating in 100 projects and leading 33.
In the QS World University Rankings, the UPC was ranked 275th, up 46 positions in 2017.
In the ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, the UPC was ranked as one of the world’s best universities in 18 classifications in 52 academic disciplines.
The RICOH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING CENTRE, Ricoh’s first 3D printing and additive manufacturing centre in Spain, was set up at the UPC’s CIM facilities.
The 2017-2020 Inclusion Plan was approved. It consists of four projects, which aim, respectively, to break the glass ceiling in academic careers, increase the number of women in ICT studies, push forward the working time reform and encourage female role models in STEAM through mentoring in secondary education.
The Emprèn facilities were set up on the Terrassa Campus.
The UPC was developed a roadmap, Keys to a New Energy Paradigm, which establishes strategic lines in research and technology development with the aim of contributing to replacing the current energy model.
The first stone was laid for the new residence hall on the Diagonal-Besòs Campus.
The 2016-2017 edition of the THE ranking was published. The UPC was the leader among Spanish technical universities and was ranked as one of the world’s 500 best universities.
The MareNostrum 4 supercomputer began operating at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC).
2016
The UPC’s Diagonal Besòs Campus was inaugurated on 14 Septemberand and the new Barcelona East School of Engineering started operating. 2016 also saw the launch of the Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering.
The University was the leading university in Catalonia in the number of European projects funded through the Horizon 2020 programme in the 2014-2015 period. It participated in 41 of almost 200 projects in which Catalan universities participated and led 13 of them.
Five UPC researchers were awarded the 2015 Academia ICREA distinctions. Carlos Alemán, Marino Arroyo, David Carrera, Cristina Masoller and Luis Velasco received the ICREA Academia distinctions in recognition of the research they carry out at a Catalan public university. The researcher Cristina Canal was awarded a Starting Grant by the European Research Council.
Within the departmental restructuring process at the University, the Department of Theory and History of Architecture and Communication Techniques and the UPC-Camins-BarcelonaTech Federation for coordinating and promoting the academic activity of the ETSECCPB and the Department of Civil Engineering were set up.
THE WUR by Subject. The UPC was, the only Spanish university to be ranked and one of the world’s top 100 universities in Computer Sciences.
National Taiwan University (NTU) general ranking. The University was ranked as one of the world’s top 100 institutions and the top university in Spain in the field of Engineering.
2016-2017 THE ranking. The top technical university in Spain and among the world’s top 500 in this ranking.
QS 50 Under 50 ranking. The UPC continued to be the top technical university in Spain in this ranking.
2016 Shanghai Ranking. The UPC was ranked for the first time as one of the world’s 400 best universities.
Amal Hadweh, promoter of the Palestinian-Israeli Women’s Dialogue programme, was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC for fostering dialogue and women’s empowerment.
The Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering (ESEIAAT) was set up.
The AMBER laboratory, a research centre equipped with cutting-edge technology for electrical energy analysis and testing, was created.
2015
The new departments resulting from the University’s departmental restructuring were the Department of Architectural Technology; the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; the Department of Project and Construction Engineering; the Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering; the Department of Physics; and the Department of Mathematics. In this first restructuring phase, the number of departments was reduced from 42 to 33.
The creation of the Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering (ESEIAAT), which was the result of merging the Terrassa School of Engineering (EET) and the Terrassa School of Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering (ETSEIAT), was approved.
The Barcelona East School of Engineering (EEBE) was created. The new school on the Diagonal-Besòs Campus is the result of the Barcelona College of Industrial Engineering (EUETIB), previously an affiliated school, becoming a UPC school. Degree courses and research groups in the fields of Chemical Engineering and Materials Engineering, which had until then been taught or located at the ETSEIB, were moved to the new school.
General ranking of the National Taiwan University (NTU). The UPC rose from the previous year’s 445th position to the 439th position. The ranking classifies the 500 best universities in the world according to their scientific output and the impact of their scientific publications. The UPC continued to be the top university in Spain in the Engineering field and in the Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering subjects. For the first time, it was also the best in Spain in the subject of Mathematics.
Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR). The UPC was ranked in the 401-500 range worldwide and was the leading technical university in Spain, according to the information published on 30 September. Among universities in Spain, the UPC was ranked in the 6 9 range; among universities in Catalonia, it was ranked in the 4th 5th position.
QS World University Rankings. The UPC rose 38 positions (to 299th) in the 2015 QS World University Ranking and maintained its position as the top university in Spain in Engineering and Technology.
In January 2015, the rector, Enric Fossas, became the president of the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP).
2014
September saw the opening of the new facilities of the Igualada School of Engineering. The new facilities act as a bridge between education, research and technology transfer and the worlds of industry and business.
For the first time, the UPC was ranked in the general classification of the Shanghai ranking (Academic Ranking of World Universities). In addition, the UPC improved its position in the field of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science, in which it was ranked in the 100-151 range, and maintained the position of previous years in the fields of Mathematics and Computer Science.
The first of the European Space Agency’s business incubators in Spain was set up on the Baix Llobregat Campus. Its aim is to make it easier to set up companies whose business is based on the use of space systems and technologies for terrestrial applications.
Seventeen of the UPC’s master’s degrees were awarded the Catalan government’s International Master’s Programme distinction. The UPC is the Catalan university with the greatest number of master’s degrees to have been awarded this distinction.
FUTUR (futur.upc.edu), the new portal for the UPC’s science and technology output, was launched. It provides open access to the scientific publications of its researchers for the first time and information on these researchers’ careers.
U-Multirank, a new university ranking by the European Commission, ranked the UPC among the 150 best universities in the world for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranked it among the 160 best universities in the world for master’s and doctoral degrees.
2013
Enric Fossas, professor of Automatic Control and a doctoral degree holder in Mathematics, was elected rector of the UPC in the second round of the elections held on 13 November.
Ramon Carbonell Santacana was appointed chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The UPC was the only public university in Spain to take part in the 2013 GSMA Mobile World Congress, which was held in Barcelona from 25 to 28 February. At the Congress, the University promoted the latest innovations in mobile technology, the technological capacity of its research groups working in the field and the potential applications of this technology in businesses.
The UPC’s OpenCourseWare portal gains international recognition. The new version of the UPC’s OpenCourseWare web portal was awarded the Outstanding New Site prize by the OpenCourseWare consortium, for promoting open online access to the academic content and teaching materials that are used in university degree courses.
The Innotex Centre, the Catalan R&D centre for the European textile industry, began to operate in February. Some of the main figures for the Innotex Centre are the following: it has a team of 60 highly qualified specialists and researchers, 16 of whom are PhD holders; it has a floor area of 4,450 m2; it collaborates with over 1,000 companies and more than 50% of its projects are carried out in conjunction with industry; and it has demonstrated its technological know-how by registering some 20 patents.
UPC technology reached Mars. Curiosity, the robotic vehicle that contains wind sensor chips designed at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech(UPC), sented signals to Earth from the meteorological station on Mars.
The UPC was the top public university in Catalonia and the top technical university in Spain in terms of the number of patents filed from 2000 to 2010. During the same period, it was the Catalan public university and Spanish technical university with the highest percentage of international students gaining a doctoral degree in Spain, according to the CYD Foundation report “Las universidades españolas. Una perspectiva autonómica 2012”. It also came first in the ranking of university participation in PID and CENIT R&D projects in 2010 in Spain.
The UPC was the top Spanish technical university in terms of scientific output. In 2011, it was ranked first of the technical universities in Spain for research output and productivity at Spanish public universities, sixth of the higher education institutions in terms of output and seventh in terms of productivity.
The UPC was ranked one of the world’s top 100 young universities. For another year running, the UPC featured in the ranking of the world’s top 100 universities that are less than 50 years old.
2012
The UPC was the top Spanish technical university and was ranked third in Catalonia and fifth in Spain as a scientific institution in the new edition of the SIR (Scimago Institutions Rankings) World Report, published on 28 September, in which institutions are ranked on their scientific output published in specialist journals.
The UPC entered the Shanghai Ranking for the first time, where it occupied positions in the 151-200 range both in the engineering, technology and computer science section and in the computer science and mathematics section.
The UPC was the Spanish university with the most patents (212), the second in the creation of technology-based companies (57) and also the second for its participation in European research projects (224), according to the 2002-2010 IUNE Observatory Report.
On 2 May, the Governing Council approved regulations on the use of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya ·BarcelonaTech’s name and corporate identity and its corporate identity guidelines.
UPC Abroad Programme: education, research, innovation, development cooperation and strategic alliances in over 130 countries. The Programme, which was presented on 15 March, brings together and promotes the international activity of the UPC as a strategic action towards internationalisation.
The UPC was one of the first universities to have premises in China. The new university hub was organised through the Sino-Spanish Campus (SSC@TU) at Tongji University. The SSC, created in collaboration with the Technical University of Madrid, aims to become a reference point for members of the UPC who are visiting China and to promote relations, mobility and double-degree agreements.
The Governing Council, who convened on 9 February, approved the UPC’s Economic Viability Plan (PlaVe) for the period 2011-2014. It is an open document that outlines money-saving measures, but it is also a roadmap towards increasing the University’s income that prioritises maintaining quality in teaching and research.
The UPC continued to be top-rated Catalan university and became the first among Spanish Universities and fourth among European universities in the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities compiled by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The UPC was also ranked first among Catalan universities, third among Spanish universities and 30th among European universities by 4 International Colleges and Universities (4ICU).
Barbara Jane Liskov was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 28 September. She is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
David R. J. Owen was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 9 May. He is a professor at Swansea University and a world authority on computational mechanics.
Carlos F. Daganzo was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 28 March. He is a professor of Transport Science and Robert Horonjeff Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.
2011
During a special meeting held on 21 December, the University Senate approved the plan to adapt the Statutes of the UPC, with 108 votes in favour, 90 against and 6 blank.
The rector of the UPC was elected chairman of the CINDA University network at the General Assembly, held at the University of Panama on 20 October. He was the first European rector to chair the network, which links 36 universities in Latin America and Europe. With a history that goes back over 30 years, CINDA’s mission is to share knowledge in the context of university policy and management in the public sector.
The UPC hosted a ceremony to mark the start of the 2011-2012 academic year in the Catalan university system. Josep Lluís Bonet, chairman of Fira de Barcelona (a trade fair venue), gaves a lecture entitled “Fira de Barcelona: A blueprint for the country”. The event, presided over by Andreu Mas-Colell, the minister of Economy and Knowledge, was an opportunity to give a series of awards: the Jaume Vicens Vives awards, the special doctoral awards for the 2008-2009 academic year, UPC medals and the 12th UPC Award for research projects carried out by upper secondary and higher training cycle students.
Coinciding with the opening ceremony for the 2011-2012 academic year in the Catalan university system, an exhibition entitled “Photos for the 40th Anniversary of the UPC” was launched to mark this historic milestone. The photos showed significant moments in the institution’s history, from Albert Einstein’s visit, to the start of construction work on the North Campus and the transformation of the Torre Girona chapel to house the MareNostrum supercomputer.
Two research centres associated with the UPC were among eight recognised as Spanish research centres of excellence, selected in the first edition of the Severo Ochoa programme, which is run by Ministry of Science and Innovation. The centres that were singled out for their outstanding work were the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) and the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO). They were awarded the distinction, which remains valid for four years, for being among the best in the world in their respective fields of research. Each received one million euros a year over this period and benefitted from preferential access to scientific facilities, more flexibility for hiring researchers and an increased ability to attract sponsorship assistance. The selection was made by three committees of international researchers, headed by three Nobel laureates.
The Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (EUOOT) changed its original name in Catalan from “Escola Universitària d’Òptica i Optometria de Terrassa” to “Facultat d’Òptica i Optometria de Terrassa” (Official Gazette of the Catalan Government, 30 August). The change did not affect the English translation.
At a meeting held at the UPC on 15 July, the General Council of Rectors of the Vives Network chosed a new chairman to replace UPC rector Antoni Giró at the end of his six-month term in the office. The new chairman was Vicent Climent, rector of Jaume I University. Joan Viñas, former rector of the University of Lleida, served as standing vice-chairman for the following two years.
The Statutes Committee presented a preliminary draft of the UPC Statutes. Following incorporation of the amendments, comments and suggestions made by members of the University Senate and the Board of Trustees, the process of developing the new UPC Statutes was carried forward. It was expected that the draft would be discussed and voted on at an extraordinary meeting of the University Senate in autumn.
The rector of the UPC, Antoni Giró, visited Tongji University on 24 April to discuss the details of new lines of collaboration with one of China’s most prestigious universities. The visit resulted in the signing of a double-degree agreement between the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering and Tongji University’s School of Civil Engineering, and an agreement with the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, under which five Chinese scholarships holders will have the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies at the UPC each year.
The Til·lers building was inaugurated on 1 March. The building houses the institutional services and bodies most closely involved in the UPC’s external relations (Board of Trustees, Ombuds Office, etc). The six-floor, 3,542-m2 building islocated on the grounds of Torre Girona, on the UPC’s North Campus.
Juli Esteban was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 25 November. He is an architect and urban planner.
2010
The Innovation and Technology Centre (CIT UPC) was set up to provide service to the UPC’s 19 TECNIO research centres, one of the main focal points for university-based innovation and technology transfer in Spain. The aim was to provide state-of-the-art engineering for leading-edge research and boost the competitiveness of the productive fabric.
Agrópolis, a new science and technology hub, was inaugurated on 18 October in Viladecans, Baix Llobregat, within the framework of the UPC Research and Innovation Park. The aim was to make the 10-hectarea space—an initiative launched by the Barcelona School of Agricultural Engineering—a leading centre for research, knowledge transfer and teaching in the field of agri-food, biotechnological, environmental and landscape engineering.
The UPC assumed the presidency of the Vives University Network. As the new chairman, UPC rector Antoni Giró’s objectives included improving coordination of actions undertaken by the Network and stabilising the leadership structure by extending the term of the presidency from six months to two years.
The Castelldefels School of Technology (EPSC) changed its name to the Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering (EETAC) (Official Gazette of the Catalan Government, 10 November).
The UPC became the first university in Spain to receive ISO 20000 quality certification, issued by AENOR, for its e-learning and e-mail services, provided by UPCnet.
The College of Industrial Engineering of Terrassa changed its name to the Terrassa School of Engineering (Official Gazette of the Catalan Government, 26 January).
On 10 March, Professor Antoni Giró Roca was re-elected rector of the UPC.
The Igualada College of Industrial Engineering (EUETII) changed its name to the Igualada School of Engineering (EEI) (Official Gazette of the Catalan Government, 28 May).
The Nanoengineering Research Centre (CRNE) opened in January in a newly constructed building on the Barcelona Knowledge Campus. It is dedicated to research, development and innovation in nanoengineering, nanotechnology and nanoscience.
The UPC, working alongside ESADE, was spearheaded the Iberia node of the InnoEnergy Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), a project of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). It was the most relevant European innovation programme in sustainable energy and it aims to promote extensive research activity, train people and boost spin-offs and start-ups.
The UPC was again recognised as International Campus of Excellence in the 2010 call with the “UPC Energy Campus. Energy for Excellence” project, a multi-campus energy initiative that leverages the University’s potential in this area of knowledge through the activity of research groups based in Barcelona, Baix Llobregat, Sant Cugat del Vallès and Terrassa.
Manuel Ramón Llamas was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 3 November. Emeritus professor at the Department of Geodynamics of the Complutense University of Madrid.
2009
In April, the UPC opened an office in Brussels to facilitate dealings with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research.
José Antonio Martín Pereda was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 4 November. He holds degrees in Telecommunications and Physical Science.
In October, the K2M building in the UPC Research and Innovation Park and the library of the Barcelona School of Architecture were inaugurated. The Institute of Photonic Sciences becames a UPC-affiliated research institute.
Seven UPC master's degrees were approved for funding under the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus programme. The UPC thus became the University with the highest number of such degrees. The master’s degrees started in the 2010-2011 academic year.
The Barcelona Knowledge Campus, a joint initiative of the UPC and the UB, was recognised as an International Campus of Excellence by an international committee headed by representatives of the Ministry of Education.
On 17 December, the foundation stone was laid for the Diagonal-Besòs Campus. The new campus, which covers an area of 100,000 m2, is used for teaching and research in the field of industrial engineering.
2008
In May, the Barcelona School of Agricultural Engineering was fully integrated in the UPC following the signing of an agreement to dissolve the Barcelona School of Indusry Consortium (CEIB).
In June, Joaquim Boixareu was named chairman of the Board of Trustees.
In July, an agreement was signed between the Barcelona City Council on the one hand, and the University of Barcelona and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya on the other. The agreement solved some administrative and planning issues and laid the groundwork for strengthening the Avinguda Diagonal area where the North and South campuses are located. As a result of the agreement, work was done to upgrade the infrastructure on Carrer Jordi Girona. The UPC also upgraded the façades of its buildings that face this street.
In September, the first stage of work on the Gaia building, located on the Terrassa Campus, was completed, and the facility started to open its doors to research groups.
Also in September, Xavier Ortega was appointed as the UPC's ombuds officer. He was replaced José Navarro, who retired the previous July.
In the same month, the School of Professional and Executive Development, run by the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya, began to carry out activities at the Tech Talent Centre in the 22@BCN district.
Sir Michael Atiyah was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 25 April. He has a doctoral degree in Pure Mathematics, from the University of Cambridge.
2007
September saw the launch of e-informacions, the UPC’s online newsletter. At the same time, the institutional publication Informacionsupdated its layout and content to become the UPC’s institutional magazine.
Juan Ignacio Cirac was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 18 January. He has a doctoral degree in Theoretical Physics, from the Complutense University of Madrid.
In November, the first UPC Debate Forum was held. The topic was the quality and security of Catalonia’s power supply.
2006
On 8 March, Professor Antoni Giró Roca was elected rector of the UPC.
During that academic year, the offering of EHEA-adapted master’s degrees was approved. The courses offered started in the 2006-2007 academic year. The UPC was offering more official master’s degrees delivered jointly with universities abroad than any other Catalan university.
In the research area, the University approved its Plan for Research, Development and Innovation: Horizon 2010, aimed at promoting structural transformations that allowed teaching and research staff to boost the volume and impact of research and transfer activities for the benefit of society and the University. The plan set out a direction for action on various matters, such as attracting talent and providing training to was produce researchers who contribute to developing the industrial fabric. It also was regulated the UPC’s involvement in investee companies.
2005
In January, the second phase of the Omega building was inaugurated on the North Campus.
During the first term, the MareNostrum supercomputer was installed in a space at the Torre Girona chapel on the North Campus. The facility is under the administrative control of the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre–Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS), a centre launched and run by a consortium of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, the Catalan Ministry of Universities, Research and the Information Society and the UPC.
Two new buildings were inaugurated on the Baix Llobregat Campus: one houses the Barcelona School of Agricultural Engineering (EUETAB, later the ESAB), and the other, the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO).
In April, a new UPC library was opened in Manresa, bringing together the collections of several university institutions in the city, the College of Manresa, the Bages University Foundation (a centre affiliated with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Bages Support Centre.
In Vilanova i la Geltrú, the city council provided the UPC with spaces in the Neapolis building, making it possible to extend the Vilanova i la Geltrú Technology Centre and the School of Engineering.
The Research and Technology Transfer Centre (CRITT) was opened at the Vallès School of Architecture.
Sergio Verdú was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 11 October. He has a doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, from the University of Illinois.
2004
Ramón Folch was named chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Amable Liñán Martínez was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 5 October. He has a doctoral degree in Aeronautical Engineering, from the Madrid School of Aeronautical Engineering (ETSIAM).
Gregorio López Raimundo, Maria Salvo and Agustí de Semir were awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 23 February, in homage to the anti-Franco struggle.
The International Barcelona Conference on Higher Education was held. The event was launched and organised by the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI), which brings together representatives from countries on five continents to debate issues affecting universities and find solutions that fit the specific needs of each context. The rector of the UPC is the president of the network, and the conference was held at the UPC once a year (once every two years from 2007). A report on the situation of higher education in the world was presented at each conference.
2003
On 12 February, the Parliament of Catalonia adopted the Law on Catalan Universities (LUC), the new regulatory framework for the Catalan university system.
In May, the University Senate approved the text of the new UPC Statutes.
A collaboration agreement covering the development of a pilot programme of degrees adapted to the European Higher Education Area was concluded with the Ministry of Universities, Research and the Information Society. The programme started in the 2004-2005 academic year.
The Interdisciplinary Higher Education Centre (CFIS) was launched. The Centre offers interdisciplinary science and technology studies for students from all over Spain who excel academically and are highly motivated.
2002
Josep Ferrer Llop was elected rector by a weighted vote in which all members of the university community were eligible to take part.
Joaquim Molins was chosen to act as chairman of the Board of Trustees, a position he held until 2004.
Jay M. Enoch was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 18 October. He has a doctoral degree in Physiological Optics.
John L. Hennessy was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 15 May. He has a doctoral degree in Computer Science.
2001
In September, the first building was inaugurated in the Mediterranean Technology Park, on the Baix Llobregat Campus.
In October, the Barcelona Technology Park was inaugurated on the South Diagonal Campus in Barcelona.
The Baix Llobregat University School of Technology became the Castelldefels School of Technology (Decision CS 21/2001).
2000
The Vilanova i la Geltrú Technology Centre and the Manresa Technology Centre were launched with the aim of supporting locally-based companies and boosting their competitiveness.
Federico Mayor Zaragoza was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 9 June. He has a doctoral degree in Pharmacy.
Juan Soto Serrano was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 24 February. He has a degree in Telecommunications Engineering.
1999
José A. Jiménez Salas was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 12 May. He has a degree in Civil Engineering, from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. He introduced the science of soil mechanics in Spain. He is an honorary professor at the National University of Peru, an emeritus professor and a member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.
1998
The Multimedia School opened in Terrassa. It later merge with the Photography School to create the Image Processing and Multimedia Technology Centre (CITM), which offers diploma programmes in Photography and Digital Media, and in Multimedia Studies.
September saw the launch of UPCnet, a service run by the University to facilitate access to the internet.
Work got underway on the extension of the UPC’s facilities in Manresa and on the new Baix Llobregat Campus in Castelldefels.
The Barcelona School of Industry Consortium (CEIB)—comprising the Government of Catalonia, the Barcelona Provincial Council and the UPC—was established to integrate the Provincial Council’s agriculture and engineering schools in the Catalan public university system.
Romano Prodi was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 3 December for his contribution to the development of the industrial and energy sectors in Europe and for his engagement with politics and the European project, in solidarity with the rest of humanity. He has degrees in Law and Economics.
1997
Miquel Roca i Junyent was elected chairman of the UPC’s Board of Trustees, a position he held until 2002.
1996
The process of integrating the Barcelona College of Industrial Engineering (EUETIB) and the Barcelona College of Agricultural Engineering (EUETAB, later the ESAB)—both schools previously run by the Barcelona Provincial Council—began.
The Rector Gabriel Ferraté Library was inaugurated on the North Campus in Barcelona.
1994
Jaume Pagès i Fita was elected rector.
Xavier Llobet Colom was elected chairman of the UPC's Board of Trustees, a position held until 1997.
Edicions UPC, the publishing house of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech (UPC), was set up with the mission of disseminating written works by the members of the UPC community within the academic world and among professionals.
The Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya (now Fundació UPC) was launched to enhance and strengthen third-cycle studies and professional retraining programmes offered at the University—courses tailored to meet the needs of the business environment.
The Terrassa Photography School was inaugurated in October.
1993
Victoriano Muñoz Oms was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 24 February. He has a degree in Civil Engineering.
1992
The School of Mathematics and Statistics (FME) was established. The School offered a diploma programme in Statistics and a new degree in Mathematics. The University of Girona and the University of Lleida were also established that year. The UPC’s schools in these cities became part of the new universities.
The Centre for Development Cooperation was set up to promote contracts and exchanges between the UPC and university institutions in emerging countries, with a focus on educational programmes and the transfer of research results.
Jan Willem de Leeuw was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 4 December. He is the head of the Organic Geochemistry Unit of Delft University of Technology.
1991
The Baix Llobregat College of Engineering (later the Castelldefels School of Technology, EPSC) was set up. The institution was provisionally located in Sant Just Desvern but has since been relocated to the Baix Llobregat Campus in Castelldefels.
The Association of Friends of the UPC, a project initiated by the Board of Trustees, was launched with the mission of reaching out to the broader society.
1990
Under a decree issued by the Government of Catalonia, the Merchant Navy School became part of the UPC and was renamed the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies (FNB).
Peter F. Drucker was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 22 May. He is a researcher in management.
1989
Josep Noguera i Farreras was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 6 June. He is an inventor and international textile promoter.
1987
Amadou-Mahtar M’Bow was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 10 February. Director-General of UNESCO.
1986
Nicolas Fedoroff was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 27 May. Researcher from the Department of Soils at the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon.
Norman E. Borlaug was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 27 May. North American agronomist from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico.
1985
In December, Pere Duran Farell was named the first chairman of the UPC’s Board of Trustees, a position he held until the end of 1993.
1984
The Universitat Politècnica de Barcelona changed its name to Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya to reflect its broader presence in Catalonia.
On 19 December, the Parliament of Catalonia adopted the Law on University Coordination and the Establishment of Boards of Trustees at Catalan Universities.
José Antonio Torroja Cavanillas was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 1 March. He has a degree in Civil Engineering and was the first director of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB).
1983
The University Reform Law was adopted, paving the way for the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya to draft its statutes, which were approved by Royal Decree 232/1985 on 4 July.
1981
Josep Lluís Sert was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 27 February. He has a degree in Architecture.
1979
The Vallès School of Architecture (ETSAV) was set up in the Sabadell-Terrassa area. It relocated to Sant Cugat del Vallès in 1991.
Jean Marie Ducrot was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 26 October. He is the head of the Documentation Service of the Institut Textile de France.
Franz Monfort was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 26 October. He is the director of the Centre Textile de la Belgique.
Helmut Zahn was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 26 October. Head of the Department of Textile Chemistry of the Deutsches Wollforschungsinstitut.
1978
Gabriel Ferraté was re-elected rector.
1977
The Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (EUOOT) was established by a ministerial order issued on 7 October.
Lluís A. Santaló Sors was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 14 July. He is a mathematician.
George R. Collins was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the UPC on 18 February. He is a professor of Art and Archaeology at Columbia University (New York). President of the US branch of the Friends of Gaudí Association.
1976
The Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB) was established in March.
Julián Fernández Ferrer was appointed rector.
1974
The Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB) started to operate.
1972
The Terrassa College of Industrial Engineering (EUETIT), the Vilanova i la Geltrú College of Industrial Engineering (now the EPSEVG), the Barcelona College of Technical Architecture (now the EPSEB), and the Manresa College of Mining Engineering (now the EPSEM) all became part of the UPC. The Girona and Lleida Colleges of Agricultural Engineering also started to operate that year
Gabriel Ferraté i Pascual was appointed rector.
The Manresa School started offering studies in Industrial Engineering and changed its name to the Manresa College of Engineering (EUPM). Shortly afterwards, the Girona School of Agricultural Engineering also became a college and teaching of first- and second-cycle courses started in Lleida
1971
The Universitat Politècnica de Barcelona (UPB) was established in March. Initially it comprised the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB), the Terrassa School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIT), the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB) and several research institutes. Víctor de Buen was named rector of the new Universitat Politècnica de Barcelona.
The Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB) was established.
The Institute of Education Science (ICE-UPC) was established.
Before the creation of the UPC
In 1970, the General Law on Education and Financing of the Educational Reform was passed. The law covered the entire educational system, from basic to university education, and granted universities a certain degree of autonomy and the power to determine knowledge control and verification procedures, the teaching system applied and the educational and research scheme. The law provided for the incorporation of colleges of engineering and technical architecture in the university system.
In 1968, the Instituto Politécnico Superior was created by grouping together existing state technical schools of architecture and engineering in Barcelona, which had been founded in the mid-19th century.
