- Currently, buildings are becoming smart organisms due to a wide range of distributed sensors and software programmes that provide them with a certain degree of intelligence. In this context, SUST(AI)N emerged. Participants in this project include researchers from the Instrumentation, Sensors and Interfaces Group (ISI) and the Components and Systems for Communications Research Group (CSC) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC).
- The microÚs project, in which the Agricultural Machinery Unit (UMA) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) participates, is designed to demonstrate the use of a certain formulation of copper-based microcapsules to increase the retention of this metal in leaves in intensive production of horticultural crops such as onion, lettuce and tomato. This enables a reduction in the use of the product and an improvement in the sustainability of the process.
- The research group IMEM-BRT of the UPC leads the TherGel project, which aim is to combine the properties of both materials in a conductive polymer hydrogel that could be used in water evaporation systems, as filtration membranes and as solid-state electrolytes that are active in electrochemical cells of capacitive deionisation of salt water.
- Participants in the HybridNeuro project include researchers from the group BIOART, which is part of the CREB of the UPC. The project is designed to establish a new way of analysing the motor system and human musculoskeletal movements, and the transfer of academic research to clinical practice and industry.
- The research group Plastics and Ecological Composites (e-PLASCOM) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the Catalan Plastics Center (CCP), work in a project that aims to design ad hoc natural rubber-based composites, with specific compositions and geometries, to be optimally integrated into both EC and BC technologies at prototype level.
- The research group Eco-friendly Plastics and Composites (e-PLASCOM) at the Universitat Politècnica Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is participating in the European Advanced Engineering and Research of aeroGels for Environment and Life Sciences (AERoGELS) project. This project is designed to bring together the knowledge of academic, industrial and regulatory experts on the research and technology of aerogels at European scale.
- Researchers in the Polymer Materials and Textile Chemistry (POLQUITEX) research group of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) participate in the WAVE project, who aim is to recycle elastomeric waste (such as tyres and scraps from building roofs), for its subsequent reuse and recovery in various industrial sectors (automobile, civil, electrical).
- The Centre for Sensors, Instruments and Systems Development (CD6) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is taking part in PhotonHub Europe. This is a European project to establish a single pan-European hub for innovation in photonics as a one-stop shop solution that brings together the pioneering photonics solutions, facilities, knowledge and experience of 53 European partners.
- A study by the Centre for Land Valuation Policy (CPSV) at the UPC analyses the average increase in temperature and heat waves in the main cities of Spain. The average increase in temperature was 3.54°C between 1971 and 2022. Over these last 50 years, summer days have increased from 90 to 145, which represents a two-month increase in hot days. Tropical nights have gone up by 18 from an average of 45 to 63.
- Currently, concerns about sustainability are increasing in the construction sector, due to its contribution to climate change. Approximately a third of carbon dioxide emissions are produced by this sector in the construction phase and in the functioning of buildings.
- The UPC Department of Computer Architecture coordinates the European project Vitamin-V, in which a complete set of hardware-software is developed for cloud services, based on the latest open-source technologies for RISC-V processors.
- Researchers from the Plasmas for BioMedical Applications Laboratory (PlasmaMED Lab) of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), are working to develop a new treatment for bone cancer, which avoids the secondary effects of conventional treatments – such as chemotherapy – and enables bone regeneration when the tumour has been surgically resected.
- The research group Polyfunctional Polymeric Materials (POLY2) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) will work on the project CELICOIDS - Nanohelicoid metamaterials templated by cellulose nanocrystals with end-tethered polymers. As part of this project, it will develop new metamaterials −materials designed to have a property that is not found in nature – that can increase the spectroscopic sensitivity to distinguish molecular chirality.
- The research group Barcelona Fluids & Energy Lab (IFLUIDS) and the Centre for Technological Innovation in Static Converters and Drives (CITCEA) of the UPC participate in the European project H-HOPE, which is focused on the development of solutions to produce clean energy based on water sources that have still not been exploited, such as pipes and water channels.
- Combining agricultural activity and the production of solar energy by means of photovoltaic panels is the aim of SYMBIOSYST, a project promoted by a consortium of 16 European partners including the UPC. As part of this project, technological tools will be developed to contribute to generating clean energy for the agricultural sector in Europe.
- The production of biogas through anaerobic digestion has been increasing exponentially in Europe in recent years. This is because it can be produced locally and has a clear positive effect on waste recycling, the generation of clean energy, sustainable development or climate action. In this context, the FertiLab project was launched, with the participation of researchers from the Department of Agri Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB) of the UPC.
