20 case studies of 
R&d&i collaboration
university
barcelona
business
3
In Barcelona, we are convinced that innovation is the key strategy 
for the future, at a city scale as well as at a Catalan, European 
and International level. And we are also certain that one of 
the main motors driving forward innovation is the transfer of 
knowledge between universities, research centres and industry, 
since these partnerships enable this knowledge to be transformed 
into new business initiatives. 
However, a two-way relationship between the worlds of research 
and business is vital for this transfer to become a reality. We 
do not want the knowledge of this reality to be restricted to 
the usual clusters of experts in these fields; these people are 
precisely the ones who are already convinced of the importance of 
this partnership. This is the aim of the publication you are now 
reading: to disseminate the experiences of university-company 
partnerships, within the context of citizens, since it is people 
who ultimately make projects and initiatives prosper. And these 
people must find the conditions and opportunities they require 
in a city. For this reason the city of Barcelona is developing 
services and amenities (Barcelona Activa is the most emblematic 
and fruitful) and establishing and providing suitable spaces 
(of which 22@ is the most successful example to date). 
I am sure that by leafing through these pages, you will understand 
what we refer to when we say that the future of Barcelona lies 
in becoming a city where knowledge, creativity and innovation 
go hand in hand. This is just another example of the initiatives 
that the City Council is promoting to face the challenges posed 
by today’s society and to become more competitive in global 
markets. 
Together we are continuing to make Barcelona a great opportu-
nity, a magnificent city in which to work and live. 
Jordi Hereu
Mayor of Barcelona 
5
In recent years, the need to promote collaboration between 
public and private spheres of research has become increasingly 
important.
One such type of partnership is the transfer of knowledge with 
the aim of stimulating economic development and fostering inno-
vation in industry. 
It is for this reason that the City Council is pleased to present 
this publication, which aims to show specific case studies of 
partnerships between private research and companies that have 
given rise to highly innovative initiatives and products. One 
of the characteristics present in all the research groups and 
companies that have made this collaboration possible is a quest 
for innovation. 
We therefore wish to help to further bring together universities 
and companies, to show how the research carried out in universities 
and educational centres, of increasingly higher quality, leads 
to the creation of a wide range of highly innovative products in 
diverse sectors. 
These examples aim to show how the transfer of technology and 
knowledge can be turned into corporate innovation, helping to 
boost entrepreneurial spirit and attract talent to our city, 
both in terms of researchers, professionals and future business 
leaders. 
This book is published within the framework of the Barcelona 
Research and Innovation Programme, which aims to foster the pro-
motion and dissemination of the skills and results of research 
that is carried out in the universities and centres in Barcelona 
and its metropolitan area. 
We invite you to explore these pages. 
Jordi William Carnes
Deputy Mayor of Treasury and Economic Promotion 
and President of Barcelona Activa
6 7
Research , Search in a reflexive, systematic and methodical 
approach in order to gain knowledge and solve scientific and 
philosophical problems…or empirical techniques. The scientific 
method indicates the path that must be followed in this 
investigation and the techniques specify the way of tackling it.
Knowledge transfer , Encouraging the 
cooperation and collaboration of universities 
with the region’s social and economic agents. 
To help the sales performance in the market as a 
result of the R&D&I activities carried out by the 
universities and research centres.
University , From Latin universitas-
universitatis. Establishment or a network 
of educational units dedicated to higher 
education and research.
Company , Institution or economic agent that takes 
decisions on the use of production factors to obtain 
the goods and services that are offered in the market. 
Universal instrument used to produce and to make the 
majority of existing goods and services in the economy 
available to the general public.
8 9
Scientific research, development and innovation in all areas of 
our society have become one of the key factors for the well-being 
of citizens and for medium and long-term economic growth. 
This book contains 20 real examples; it is not an in-depth examina-
tion but a representative sample of our immediate environment, 
of our universities and our companies. Universities that work in 
photonics and nanoscience to come up with new cosmetics with gold 
nanoparticles that makes us feel and look younger. Intelligent 
materials that are used in trepanation surgery, which in turn 
have given rise to intelligent fabrics that we wear, i.e. fabrics 
that change shape, colour and if we are cold they provide us with 
heat. The longed for products with no added preservatives or 
colourings that do not lose their organoleptic properties – the 
consequence of the high hydrostatic pressure from the canning 
process –, are already on the market with the flavour and quality 
of homemade products. It may seem like science fiction but it is 
not. They are developed here and exported worldwide. 
In times when present and future production models are challenged, 
in which the word sustainability gradually mutates the contents 
and everyone is talking about renewable energies, Barcelona 
offers its grain of sand through recycling innovations and the 
revaluation of waste materials for new products. We can find 
the concept of cradle to cradle sustainability in practice, in 
Empúries Hotel, a benchmark in the service sector that links 
tradition and modernity. And the giant step forward to come when 
the 100% Off device, capable of realising when a device, such as 
a TV, is on standby and therefore switches itself off so as not 
to consume energy in vain, will be widespread in our homes.
10 11
UPC, UB, UAB, UPF, UOC, URL, CSIC, IRTA... are abbreviations and 
names with their own value that, linked to others such as Gallina 
Blanca, Ros Roca, Play, Zicla, Orange, “la Caixa” Foundation, 
Roca, Strands, etc. and many more, create value for themselves. 
The value of training people, the value of creating products, the 
value of sustainability as an aptitude and in the global world 
in which we live, the value of the location, along with the value 
of breaking through the barriers of mutual lack of knowledge 
between the university and the company, with the security that 
in the majority of cases, the result of the collaboration is 
positive and that in time this collaboration becomes something 
permanent.
We cannot forget that these names and abbreviations are a lot 
more than merely this. Their assets are the people, effort and 
the talent that exist in all of them and as one expects, the 
territory that is home to them. An open city, open to everything 
and everyone that has been a catalyst for the talent of some 
people, of the effort of others and of the joy and well-being of 
all. First and foremost, we must realise that we are mistaken if 
the aim that we set from now on is to maintain the capacity and 
efficiency of this catalyst intact. The aim is and should be to 
increase these catalysts, as there is a long way to go. 
universit y business universit y business
14 cranial loop 62 EmpúriEs hotEl
Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital + Neos Surgery Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) + Eco Intelligent Growth
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
University of Girona (UdG)
68 campus 3g
18 roBotic systEm for thE mEdiatic Building Open University of Catalonia (UOC) + Orange
Technological Research Centre for Dependency Care and Cloud 9
Autonomous Living (CETpD) + 72 100% off
24 amazon showEr Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) + Good for You, Good for the Planet
University of Barcelona (UB) + Roca Sanitario 76 gEnEric drugs
28 voicE kalEidoscopE Ramon Llull University (URL) + Ercros
University Pompeu Fabra (UPF) + Obra Social Fundació “la Caixa” 80 gold cosmEtics
32 ElEctronic ink in tExtilEs ICFO – Institute of Photonic Sciences + Endor Nanotechnologies
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) + Sensing Fabrics 86 picoroco papasan cradlE
38 BovinE disEasE dEtEctor Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) + Play
Agrifood Technology Research Institute (IRTA) + Aromics 
Lleters de Catalunya 90 immErsivE 3d vidEoconfErEncing
42 acquisition and synchronisation Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) + Telefónica I+D
systEm for night filming 94 soups with grEatEr nutritional valuE
Computer Vision Centre (CVC) + SEAT Technical Centre Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) + Gallina Blanca
46 ElEctronic sommEliEr 100 my strands, BusinEss solutions 
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) + Catalan Institute of Vines 
and Wine (INCAVI) and monEy strands
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Strands
52 Bcn rEfusE Bin +
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) + Ros Roca 104 urBan vErmicomposting
University of Barcelona (UB) Zicla
58 lin cooling +
University of Barcelona (UB) + Air Products 108 dirEctory
universit y
14 G Neurosurgery Unit 15
Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital
www.santpau.cat Novelties in the 
G Department of Morphological Sciences
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) operating theatre
www.autonoma.edu/medicina A surgical device for closing 
G Department of Medical Sciences after craniotomies 
University of Girona (UdG) in less than one minute
www.udg.edu/depcm
( neurosurgery )
( hospital )
( diagnosys ) ( radio-transparency )
Cranial loop
( precision )
( polymer )
( biocompatibility )
( holding )
business
A Neos Surgery
www.neosurgery.com
16 Cranial Loop does not block the view 17
in diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CAT 
and MRI scans and therefore does not 
interfere with results
The company Neos Surgery is the result of 
collaboration between of two technological 
institutes: the ASCAMM Private Foundation 
and the Inasmet-Tecnalia Foundation
SettiNG of tHe BoNe flAP fRoM tHe CoMPANy  
witHoUt iNStRUMeNtS iN leSS to tHe oPeRAtiNG tHeAtRe
tHAN oNe MiNUte Neos Surgery is the result of 
Maximum precision robots, Cranial Loop is designed the inside and outside of the collaboration between of two 
complex operations with min- for closing after cranioto- skull and reduces the risk of technological institutes: the 
imum incision, and laser used mies – operations requiring damaging surrounding tissue ASCAMM Private Foundation and 
in place of a scalpel are just the bone of the skull to be to an absolute minimum. the Inasmet-Tecnalia Founda-
some of the examples of the fractured in order to provide Cranial Loop has an advantage tion. The origins of this col-
developments taking place access to brain and allow the over previous designs in the laboration date back to 2003. 
in the field of surgery. In surgical intervention to be field of neurosurgery in that Enjoying the participation of 
order to implant a new pro- carried out. The device is it does not require any in- specialists in neurosurgery 
cess in this field or offer used to anchor the bone once struments for use and is com- and private investors, the 
a really novel product, it the operation is finished. It pletely radio-transparent. project has the aim of develop-
is essential to consider the can be used manually without This means it will not ob- ing new products for the field 
improvements made in bio- the need for any other in- scure the view in diagnostic of neurosurgery.
compatible materials and how struments, enabling the sur- tests such as x-rays, CAT and In order to do this, it is not 
they are used. This spirit geon to feel when it has been MRI scans. This is achieved only necessary to carry out 
was behind the creation of secured correctly. by the fact that the device is technological validations 
Cranial Loop, a device for Amazingly simple to use, the first cranial anchoring but also those of a clinical 
holding the cranium in place Cranial Loop is inserted in system made from 100% PEEK- nature. Thus, in the Cranial 
developed by the company Neos each opening in the skull and OPTIMA ® polymer, a high- Loop instance, while Neos Sur-
Surgery with the collabora- the bone flap is completely performance thermoplastic gery has taken responsibility 
tion and monitoring of the anchored in place following material enabling mechanical for creating, developing and 
Neurosurgery Unit at the San- a craniotomy in less than one properties to be obtained certifying it, UAB and UdG have 
ta Creu i Sant Pau Hospital, minute. comparable to those achieved validated its operation in 
which has become an end-user, 
The design, developed as the with metal implants. testing with patients and hu-the Department of Morpho-
result of monitoring con- man cadavers. logical Sciences of UAB, and 
the Department of Medical ducted by the Santa Creu i Neos Surgery is currently 
Sicences of UdG. Sant Pau Hospital, and the working on the development of 
material used allow the de- products for spinal surgery 
vice adapts to the curve, and on devising complementary 
shape and thickness on both and more sophisticated ele-
ments for brain surgery. 
universit y
18 G technological Research Centre for 19
Dependency Care and Autonomous living 
(CetpD) 
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
foundation of Sant Antoni Abat County Hospital 
(fHCSAA)
www.upc.edu/cetpd
( control ) ( data )
( thermal )
( processing )
robotiC SyStem for The office that reads minds
Robots to control comfort 
the mediatiC building
( optimization )
( device )
( interaction )
( space )
business
A Cloud 9
www.e-cloud9.com
20 21
Getting up to adjust the ther- sors to detect temperature, having to express anything 
mostat whenever it feels cold humidity and pressure, gath- verbally, for instance, 
or going over to draw the cur- ering data from outside the through the use of facial ex-
tain to shut out an annoying building in order to modify pression.
reflection on the computer to the conditions present in The system is designed to go 
screen are daily occurrences its interior. on increasing the parameters 
in offices everywhere. How- it is capable of capturing 
ever, the latest developments 
in robotics and construction oNe RoBot iNSiDe ANotHeR
and modifying. One of the fu-
ture services currently un-
are making it possible to However, none of this would der development is the abil-
create smart spaces adapted be possible without a central ity to control the wellbeing 
to conditions that offer the system designed to process of people with special medi-
highest level of comfort to data, gauge the needs of us- cal needs. Medical equipment 
workers without any need for ers and act accordingly. It fitted with constant moni-
them to intervene. is like a huge robot - the toring devices run by a sys-
This is the philosophy un- building itself – housing an- tem of sensors carried by the 
derpinning the construction other robot inside, which is patient, which are becoming 
of the MediaTIC, an office mobile, smart...and has the increasingly common (pulse 
block designed by Cloud 9, an ability to take decisions. meter, watches capable of 
architect studio run by Enric This nanorobot has been de- measuring heart rate), will 
Ruiz Geli, with the aid of veloped with the collabora- interact with the sensors 
Technological Studies Centre tion of CETpD, a technologi- in the building to enable it 
for Dependency Care and Au- cal centre devoted to social to send the information au-
tonomous Living (CETpD). robotics. This discipline tomatically to the nearest 
places particular importance medical centre.
on the interaction of people 
iN SeARCH of MAxiMUM Even though it might seem and robots, and features the 
effiCieNCy like something out of the services of psychologists, distant future, the engi-
Unlike most other buildings, doctors or multimedia ex- neers involved in the project 
which consume vast amounts perts engaged in studying the stated that this technology 
of energy, MediaTIC has been potential of bidirectional really does exist today and 
designed as a huge genera- communication using voice that often the only thing 
tor while optimising energy recognition or sensors. needed for it to be out into 
use at the same time. For This robot also has the ca- place and running is to imag-
instance, one of the façades pacity to work out what the ine specific new applica-
of the building is made of most comfortable conditions tions.
ETFE, a material reminiscent are for users without them 
of plastic bubble wrap that 
has some amazing properties: 
it can be inflated and de-
flated depending on thermal 
conditions; it can cover the 
building to protect it from 
the sun or absorb the light 
so as to keep it lit up all 
night. Both the façade and 
the office space have been 
equipped with multiple sen- The central system for the MediaTIC building The latest developments in robotics and construction 
is a nanorobot designed to process data such are making it possible to create smart spaces  
as humidity and temperature and to modify that offer the highest level of comfort to workers 
internal conditions accordingly without any need for them to intervene
22 23
MediaTIC building under construction. 22@ District
universit y
24 G Department of Cultural Anthropology 25
and History of America and Africa Showering in 
University of Barcelona (UB)
www.ub.edu/antropo the Amazon Jungle 
without leaving home
A team of designers and 
( senses ) ( experience ) anthropologists take us 
( ritual ) into the heart of the rainforest
( knowledge )
amazon Shower
( nature )
( water )
( colour )
( inspiration )
business
A Roca Sanitario 
Roca innovation lab
www.roca.com
26   27
HyGieNe AND RitUAl New looKS, New wAyS
The feeling of intense tropi- Establishing contact and How is water used by these Thus, just as we return from 
cal rain on your skin, im- trust and reaching a level of communities? What are their a trip bursting to tell ev-
mersed in the colours, smells intimacy required for gain- myths and legends? What is eryone about our experiences 
and sounds of the heart of the ing an understanding of the their natural habitat like? and sensations, the knowl-
Amazon rainforest, is a plea- inhabitants of the Amazon These are some of the ques- edge acquired on the expe-
sure that, in theory, is not jungle is not a swift or easy tions raised at the begin- dition was shared with the 
available to people that live task. Nevertheless, in this ning of this anthropological other members of the team in 
in the city. Combining these respect a profound knowledge and ethnographical study a number of brainstorming 
two extremes offers a differ- of the surroundings and the focusing on examining the sessions. 
ent perspective that enables local communities on the part historic relationship of 
Roca to study new concepts, of the UB research team made these peoples with water. One of the basic lessons 
such as the Amazon shower. it a lot easier. learnt on the trip revolved We do not only have showers around communication hab-
As inspiration to arrive to The entire design for the when we are not really clean its. They discovered that 
this and other concepts, Roca Amazon shower, created by enough, nor do we only have it is possible to relate to 
conducted some real field- Roca Innovation Lab, aims to a bath to relax. There is a other people at a slower and 
work in collaboration with reflect this experience dur- ritual, therapeutic and even less aggressive pace in an 
the Department of Cultural ing the time spent in the Am- recreational dimension to urban society like our own, 
Anthropology and History of azon jungle – from its shape, water, which goes beyond the where the lack of time and 
America and Africa at the UB. inspired by young shoots concept of hygiene per se.  constant rushing around are 
They organised an expedition and plants, to the colours In the study conducted by Ro- problems that take on sig-
of members of staff from both representing a sky that is ca and the UB, the public and nificant importance as we go 
the company itself and also intense and at the same time private dimension of water about our daily lives.
the university in the heart constantly changing. and its practical uses, such 
of the Amazon rainforest as washing or cooking, were Over and above the proposi-
and rural areas of tropical taken into consideration. tion of a simple change of 
Brazil. The aesthetic and moral colour or shape, the way in 
rituals relating to the way which we relate to water and 
contamination or hazards connect with nature as human 
are dissipated were also beings were decisive factors 
observed. In our environ- that serve as inspiration 
ment, these are equivalent for the creation of new ideas 
to taking a hot shower at the by Roca.
end of a really exhausting, 
stressful day. RoCA iNNovAtioN lAB
One of the tasks of the Roca 
Innovation Lab, where con-
ceptual designers work, is 
to develop new designs deal-
ing with the problems in 
existing solutions viewed 
from other perspectives, and 
also analysing the needs of 
The way in which we the user that have not been 
relate to water and addressed so as to offer the 
most appropriate resources. 
connect with nature 
as human beings are 
the key factors that 
were taken from the 
study
universit y
28 G Music technology Group (MtG) 29
Pompeu fabra University (UPf) 
www.mtg.upf.edu
( invisible )
( change )
( wavelength )
( voice )
voiCe kaleidoSCope Can you see the voice 
(that is 
invisible)?
Understanding 
( representation ) physics better by 
drawing the invisible
( discover )
( experiment )
( didactic )
business
A obra Social fundació ”la Caixa”  
Department of environment and Science
www.laCaixa.es/ObraSocial
30 31
 
 tHe GRAPHiC voiCe
Teachers of schoolchildren The way this kaleidoscope 
of all ages know this only works is very simple: the 
too well – explaining Physics voice enters the system 
phenomena, and their appli- through a microphone and the 
cations in real life, is not waves are shown in graphic 
at all easy. With the aim of format on the screen. When 
making this task less compli- one of the distorters is se-
cated and helping to discover lected, the screen shows the 
how our voice waves work, the two comparative graphs while 
Music Technology Group at the a speaker emits the real 
UPF and “la Caixa” Foundation voice and the distorted ver-
have created the KaleiVoice- sion at the same time.
Cope. With this experiment, adults 
The project, developed in the and children alike are made 
context of the exhibition aware of the effect generated Original voice / Woman voice
Nombres de bona família in by their voice in the form of 
the CosmoCaixa display area, waves and the physical phe-
is based on the KaleiVoice- nomena that take place, even 
Cope software, through which though they are invisible, 
visitors can see a graphic every time we speak.
representation of the waves  
of their own voice and even PlAyiNG witH oUR voiCe
modify them. Thus, a twenty-
year-old can find out how his In the exhibition Nombres de 
voice would sound if he were a bona família , visitors can 
baby or an old man, or if, in- also find out what complex 
stead of being a man, he were numbers are for by playing 
a woman. He can even change it with their own voice.
into the voice of a clown or Through the use of the so-
an extraterrestrial being. called Fourier series, which 
use complex calculations, 
researchers are able to study 
and use waves to generate liSteNiNG to oUR ANCeStoRS
new emissions. Taking this The mouth, pharynx, vocal 
as their starting point, a chords and respiratory or-
program was developed to gans in our body determine 
show the waves diffused into the way our voice sounds. 
the air by the voice using Based on a study of the dif- Original voice / Robot voice
a graphic format, and suc- ferences between current 
ceeding in modifying them by human morphology and that of 
changing their frequency or prehistoric man, “la Caixa” 
wavelength. In this way, the Foundation and the UPF hope 
user can see the real waves to launch a new application The Voice Kaleidoscope enables us to see 
produced by the voice compare that will allow us to hear how 
with the modified version on our voice would sound if pro- the graphic representation of the waves of 
the screen. duced by a Neanderthal man. our own voice and to even modify them
universit y
32 G Department of electronic engineering 33
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
www.eel.upc.edu
( elastic )
( conductive wires )
( printing )
( microelectronics )
eleCtroniC ink 
in textileS
( data )
( electroluminiscent ) Smart textiles 
( tactile ) for an easier 
( fabric ) world
Textiles, microelectronics 
and communications  
come together to create 
business amazing products
A Sensing fabrics
www.sensingfabrics.com
34 eveRytHiNG eleCtRoNiC iNK  PRiNtiNG  35
 iS CAPABle of DoiNG iN CollABoRAtioN
Those who once imagined the The research carried out by The printing process can be 
most fantastic machines in experts in the field of tex- carried out on any fabric, 
science fiction, certainly tiles, microelectronics and including elastic, which is 
never expected that one day wireless communications has then treated to give it a more 
there would be fabrics en- culminated in the creation even surface so that the ink 
abling music players to be of a new technology that en- can adhere properly and be 
controlled, mobiles to be ables the difficulties to be spread more evenly.
answered without taking your surmounted with regard to In spite of this treatment, 
hands out of your pocket, the production of fabrics the company Sensing Fabrics 
portable keyboards for the with conductor wire: elec- and the Electronics Depart-
computer or PDA, or the inte- tronic ink. ment of the UPC had to join 
gration of the car controls The conductor wire used up forces to develop a system to 
in the upholstery. Today, until now in textronics has encapsulate the ink, so as to 
thanks to the initiatives been replaced by printed prevent it from deteriorat-
such as the collaboration textile circuits with elec- ing and to protect the ink it-
between the company Sensing tronic ink capable of sens- self from cracking. Thanks to 
Fabrics and the Electronics ing, transmitting and acting the research work done by the 
Department at the UPC, the (that is to say, performing university, it was possible 
future has become a little a smart process) on any type to monitor parameters such 
closer. of fabric, from an item of as humidity or temperature 
clothing to the upholstery for maximum optimisation of 
of a car. results.
The range of possibilities 
for electronic ink in fabrics iN SeARCH of GReAt iDeAS
is very broad, starting with 
providing the fabric with Apart from this product, 
sensory properties: pres- Sensing Fabrics also has 
sure, tension, torsion, tem- versatile and robust elec-
perature, heart beat; trans- troluminiscent and heatable 
mission properties, supply, fabrics suitable for many ap-
and performance data: emis- plications just waiting to be 
sion of light, heat, sound, proposed. Who is game enough 
etc. It is even possible to to imagine one?
combine several functions in 
the same item of clothing.
These fabrics enable 
music players to be 
controlled, mobiles to 
be answered, a portable 
keyboard to be available Conductive wires used until now in 
for the computer and textronics have been replaced by printed 
PDA, and to integrate textile circuits with electronic inks 
the car controls in the capable of feeling, transmitting and 
upholstery acting on any type of fabric
36 37
Model of a dress with electronic ink
universit y
38 G Agrifood technology Research institute 39
(iRtA)
Regional Government of Catalonia
www.irta.cat Take care of 
the hand that 
( biotechnology )
( organic ) feeds you
A new device enables 
( feeeding ) ( micro-organism ) infections to be detected 
that affect the wellbeing 
of the animals providing 
us with milk
bovine diSeaSe 
deteCtor
( pathology )
( analysis )
( preservation ) ( control )
business
A Aromics
www.aromics.es
A lleters de Catalunya
www.lleters.cat
and other companies
40 The bovine disease 41
detector allows dairy 
farmers to perform 
  tests on animals 
 fASt, SiMPle AND low-CoSt in a quick and 
Whether sold in a carton, This new device is used to 
a bottle, or in a plastic detect diseases such as non-invasive way
pouch, milk is a major food infections of the mammary 
product that has to reach glands, intestinal infec-
consumers in perfect condi- tions such as paratuber-
tion. This does not only mean culosis, or diseases that  AN iNteRNAtioNAl PRojeCt 
ensuring maximum quality for cause reproductive problems The way it works is re- Different parts of the device Apart from CRIC, IRTA, Arom-
the consumer, but also guar- in animals, such as brucel- ally simple: milk is poured have been developed at tech- ics and Lleters de Catalunya 
anteeing that the cows pro- losis. Unlike blood tests, into the detector, where the nological centres in a num- (producers of the milk brand 
ducing the milk enjoy optimum which are more traumatic and nucleic acids and infection- ber of European countries, Llet Nostra), also working 
health and wellbeing. invasive, or the long drawn- causing micro-organisms are coordinated from Barcelona on the project there is an 
It was with this in mind that out biotechnological tests isolated. The device will by CRIC (Catalan Research important representation 
collaboration evolved be- performed on the animal’s then proceed to alert the and Investigation Centre). of Catalan industry includ-
tween various technological milk, this system has the ad- user to the existence of any Participating in this proj- ing Industrias del Cadí, SAT 
centres and European compa- vantage of producing the re- disease. The next challenge ect, known as Pathomilk, Solius 1342 Cat and Vitaltech 
nies in this sector, includ- sult in just a few hours and currently being tackled is are technology companies, Ibérica.
ing IRTA (Agrifood Technology at very low cost. the miniaturisation of the dairy farms, producers and 
Research Institute) run by When the dairy farmers sus- nucleic acid-extraction pro- distributors from the dairy 
the Regional Government of pect the presence of one of cess so as to fully automate sector and research centres 
Catalonia, the biotechnol- these diseases, which have the entire process on the ac- in countries such as the UK, 
ogy firm Aromics, located no effect on consumers but do tual dairy farms. the Czech Republic, Greece, 
in the Barcelona Science affect the productive capac- Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and 
Park, and the Catalan dairy ity and wellbeing of the ani- Hungary.
cooperative. This team was mals, they can perform on the 
responsible for developing a spot tests using a device the 
device that can detect bovine size of a shoe box.
diseases in a way that is fast 
and non-invasive for the ani-
mals and, it is hoped, which 
can be installed on dairy 
farms.
universit y
42 G Computer vision Centre (CvC) 43
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) Being in two places 
CiRit (inter-Ministerial Council for Research 
and technological innovation) at the same time is no longer 
ACC1Ó (CiDeM/CoPCA)
www.cvc.uab.cat just up to the gods
Ingenuity and technology to enhance the quality of vehicles
( reliability ) ( data )
( test )
( lighting )
aCquiSition and 
SynChroniSation SyStem 
for night filming
( objectivity )
( legal regulation )
( simultaneity )
( driving )
business
A SeAt technical Centre
www.seat.es
44 45
SUBjeCtive iMPReSSioNS  let’S SyNCHRoNiSe oUR  
  AND DAtA wAtCHeS! tHe ADDeD vAlUe of ReSeARCH
In a business world that is This new tool combines in- The tests for evaluating the What would happen if instead SEAT has also other projects 
becoming more and more glo- genuity and technology to lighting systems serve to of successively evaluating in collaboration with the 
balised and complex, the achieve what would otherwise guarantee compliance with vehicles we could compare university, such as the SEAT 
need for companies to im- seem like a magic trick: mak- the legal regulations and the and contrast them at the same Chair of Sustainable Manage-
prove their products through ing two cars pass through performance of the lights. time? The new system enables ment and Design in the Car 
research is clear. SEAT car the same place, at the same Since the emergence of the two cars to be evaluated at Industry at the Polytechnic 
company is one such example. speed... and see it at the AFS system, which adapts the the same point and with iden- University of Catalonia (UPC) 
Thanks to the collaboration same time. light to various parameters tical driving characteris- set up in 2007, where rela-
with the Computer Vision Cen- such as speed, traffic or the tics. tions are cultivated between 
tre (CVC), SEAT has developed state of the road, dynamic With the new method, the cars the company and university to 
the Acquisition and Synchro- tests are of paramount im- are tested one after the set up work teams capable of 
nisation System for Night portance. other and filmed on video to generating, disseminating 
Filming, used to assess the The classic method for con- obtain a graphic record of and applying new know-how in 
vehicle’s head light system. ducting this test used to be how they work so that this can the car sector.
based on dynamic tests, dur- be compared with unequivo-
ing which an expert checked cal data. The camera is posi-
the behaviour of the vehi- tioned at strategic places on 
cle’s headlights while mov- the vehicle to achieve a film 
ing on a test track. recording, which is as simi-
Once the test had been com- lar as possible in all cases. SeAt ibiza — Single Reflector Headlamp
pleted, the driver would fill The Acquisition and Synchro-
in a form recording his/her nisation System for Night 
impressions on a number of Filming, which has already 
aspects such as the homoge- been implemented at SEAT, 
neity of the light, its flow makes use of new technolo-
and intensity, and how it lit gies to convert the dynamic 
up the immediate field of vi- tests of the vehicle into an 
sion. Despite the huge amount objective work tool that is 
of data collected, most of it useful and easily accessed. 
was qualitative data based on This system makes it possible 
subjective impressions that to compare and contrast not 
could be affected by external only the way two cars of the 
circumstances such as the same model work, but also to 
driver’s state of mind. establish comparisons with 
SeAt toledo — AfS-Headlamp
The need to improve the ob- older models, or even with 
jectivity of the results vehicles manufactured by 
obtained, based on numeric other car companies.
The Acquisition and evaluation, is precisely the 
Synchronisation System basis of the new Acquisition 
and Synchronisation System 
for Night Filming for Night Filming. The classic method 
allows two vehicles for evaluating 
to be evaluated at lighting systems was 
the same point and based on subjective 
with identical driving impressions that might 
characteristics so as to be affected by external 
obtain objective data circumstances
universit y
46 G institute of Microelectronics 47
of Barcelona (iMB-CNM)
Spanish National Research Council (CSiC)
www.cnm.es
Microchips 
( microchip ) ( identification ) also have a 
( stimulus ) sense of taste
( composition ) An electronic tongue  
that tastes wines
eleCtroniC
Sommelier
( hint )
( texture )
( flavor )
( taste buds )
business
A Catalan institute of vines and wine 
(iNCAvi)
Regional Government of Catalonia
www.incavi.cat
48  The electronic tongue is a piece of 49
fAR-ReACHiNG PeRSPeCtiveS 
equipment that is capable of identifying 
Both wine connoisseurs and To do this, a sample is placed The electronic tongue has Because of its characteris-
those of use that only have on chipboard made with mi- also demonstrated that it has tics, the electronic tongue the chemical components of liquids
a glass from time to time croelectronic technology a taste memory and is capable opens up a path for applica-
know that tasting the wine that will detect the chemi- of learning, since the re- tion in other fields such as Applied to the wine sector, the electronic 
is a pleasure that entails cal components and generate searchers working on the de- water tasting and purifica-
a great many different per- an electric response that vice are able to train it. By tion or the analysis of new sommelier can be used for quality control, 
ceptions – texture, taste, can be measured, quantified offering it various differ- soft drinks. particularly in companies with high rates 
aroma, colour, perfume and a and contrasted with models ent samples, it is possible of productivity
number of subtle differences contained in the equipment’s to generate a database that 
that only experts can hope measuring systems. In the will enable new inputs to be 
to define completely. These wine sector, this means that classified later on. 
differences depend on the the electronic tongue recog- Example of an image that shows the response  
chemical composition of the nises the type of grape and of sensors to different single varietal No iMitAtioNS ACCePteD white wines, and their classification 
grape, and therefore, on as- the vintage of the wine being 
The device has also proved according to the type of grape. pects such as the soil where analysed.
has been grown, the type of to be efficient in determin-The device can work with both 
grape, the climate, the year, ing other qualities, with a grape juice and wine and is 
etc. very small margin of error, governed by the classifica- such as acidity and the con-
Without remotely wishing to tion criteria supplied by tent of alcohol and sugar in 
replace the profession of INCAVI. In the test conducted the wine. Furthermore, its 
wine taster, but with the aim with grape juice from the recognition capability also 
of being able to identify and 2005 harvest and the wine enables false wines to be 
control some of the more sig- produced a few months later, identified.
nificant characteristics of the new measuring system was 
the wine, the Institute of Mi- capable of determining the The electronic tongue can 
croelectronics of Barcelona type of wine used in each case be used for quality control, 
(IMB-CNM), belonging to the with success. particularly in those com-
Spanish National Research panies that, on account of 
Council (CSIC), with the sup- their large productivity, 
port of the Catalan Institute require technical aid to op-
of Vines and Wine (INCAVI), timise these processes. 
has developed an electronic  
tongue, which, in its appli-
cation to the wine sector, 
acts like a real sommelier.
tAStiNG witH MiCRoCHiPS
The human perception of taste 
is related to the stimuli 
we receive on our taste buds 
and which enable us to dif-
ferentiate between differ-
ent tastes. The electronic 
tongue is a device capable 
of identifying the chemical 
components of liquids and of 
discriminating between the 
types of taste – sweet, salty, 
bitter and sour.
The support where the multisensors are fabricated is made of silicon and 
contains many multisensors.
50 51
Clean Room. Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM)
universit y
52 G Specific Research Centre for Business 53
improvement and innovation (CeRpie)
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
http://cerpie.upc.edu
( ergonomics )
( efficiency )
( manipulation )
( accessibility )
bCn refuSe bin
( polyethylene / polypropylene )
( mould )
( urban )
( recycling )
Taking out the rubbish, 
business
A Ros Roca now it's even easierImplemented by:
Barcelona City Council
www.rosroca.com Urban Services and Environment The new bins are more accessible, silent and efficient
www.bcn.cat/neta
54   ReSPeCtfUl MANUfACtURiNG A PRojeCt witH A  55
 A BiN foR eveRyoNe  PRoCeSS GReAt MANy voiCeS
Rubbish bins are such an The first 100% accessible- Accessibility for various The Barcelona Model is the Various organisations and 
integral part of the urban bin, called the Barcelona types of user is achieved product of a detailed study companies have joined forces 
landscape that it is hard Model, is a product manufac- through a design that dis- to improve efficiency in to develop the new Barcelona 
to imagine them looking any tured by Ros Roca taking into tinguishes between the areas the manufacturing process. Model Refuse Bin. Apart from 
different. Nevertheless, account the study on ergo- reserved for users and ve- Whereas with previous models the company and the UPC, also 
Barcelona has taken a giant nomics and force conducted by hicles, by means of a change the techniques used required participating in the proj-
step forward with its plan the Specific Research Centre in height and two asymmetric greater energy consumption, ect is the studio Angelini 
to introduce some contain- for Business Improvement and lids – a smaller, lighter one such as rotomoulded or ther- Design, responsible for pro-
ers that are more convenient Innovation at the UPC. for pedestrians, and another moformed polyethylene con- viding a shape for the model. 
and silent, more efficient to It concerns a side-loading larger one for the refuse tainers, this bin is made by For its part, the technologi-
make, and accessible to ev- bin appropriate for a typi- vehicle (RCV). The pedal mov- injecting high-density poly- cal centre ASCAMM (Catalan 
eryone. The city is pioneer- cal Mediterranean city with a ing the mechanism is smaller ethylene and glass-fibre- Association of Mould and Die 
ing the development of refuse high population density, re- and rounder than the current reinforced polypropylene. Industries) has given advice 
containers adapted to fulfil quiring so little effort that one so as not to hinder its These materials enable the on the design and validation 
all these requirements. it can be used by 99% of the passage along the curb and to use of metal in the structure of the mould and injection 
population. avoid any damage from hitting to be reduced to a minimum, process, an important re-
against cars. Furthermore, i.e. to the side closing sponsibility since it con-
these receptacles also have mechanism and the pedal, thus cerns one of the largest six 
guides anchored to the pave- facilitating the recycling European moulds capable of 
ment to stop them from being process and lowering costs. manufacturing bins weighing 
moved by hand and ensuring up to 72 kg.
their perfect alignment. 
The lid can be opened in three 
different ways: manually by 
means of a handle, pushing of 
a pedal or with a lever, which 
makes it easier for people in 
a wheelchair to manipulate. 
Furthermore, the new bin also 
has signs that can be under-
stood by the blind.
The new side-loading bin is appropriate for cities  This model is the product of a detailed study 
with high population density and requires so little effort to improve efficiency and reduce energy costs 
that it can be used by 99% of the inhabitants during the manufacturing process
56 Set of Barcelona Model refuse bins 57
universit y
58 G Thermal Spray Centre (CPT) 59
University of Barcelona (UB)
www.cptub.com
( temperature )
( liquid nitrogen )
( coating ) ( surface )
Lin CooLing
( cooling )
( aeronautics )
( overheating )
( process )
An armoured skin 
to guard against extremes
business
A Air Products A new technique in aeronautical coatings
www.airproducts.com
www.carburos.com
60 Thermal spray is a technology that Lin Cooling is a technique that is applicable 61
enables coatings to be created in order to to all types of thermal spraying processes to 
provide good protection against extreme prevent base materials from exceeding the 
temperatures, wear and corrosion temperature established by regulatory standards
A nEw TEChniqUE Bringing 
PrECiSion To ThE vEry lAST 
ExTrEmE SiTUATionS Cooling ThingS down... wiTh n dEgrEE2
The passengers on a plane Thermal spray is a technology The multinational company Availing itself of CPT’s re-
never cease to be amazed when that allows coatings of dif- Carburos Metálicos, now search findings, Air Prod-
the pilot informs them in ferent thicknesses to be cre- owned by Air Products, and ucts developed the Lin Cool-
mid-flight that the outside ated from materials offering CPT have been working to- ing System. This technique 
temperature is a few dozen good protection against ex- gether since the nineties on can be applied to all types of 
degrees below zero. If we treme temperatures, wear and thermal spray-related proj- thermal spraying processes 
consider that the materials corrosion, chosen for their ects in various sectors, in- to prevent the base materials 
comprising the aircraft are specific properties for ap- cluding aeronautics. exceeding the temperature 
subject to extremely high plication over functional When the problems arising established by regulatory 
temperatures during land- elements. from the substrate overheat- standards.
ing, it is not difficult to However, base materials, ing were detected, research The process works in the fol-
conclude that aeronautical known as substrates, often was begun to find an alterna- lowing way: before starting, 
equipment should be protect- do not withstand the changes tive to cooling processes a nitrogen atmosphere is 
ed against drastic changes in in temperature that occur involving air and carbon di- created around the part. The 
temperature, in addition to during the coating process oxide (CO2): the solution was studies found that since this 
the wear and corrosion that (processes where it is pos- liquid nitrogen. gas is inert, it prevents the 
such changes in temperature sible to reach temperatures 
contribute to. The main challenge to over-
material from oxidising and 
of 15,000ºC, whereas the sub- come was that the ambient enhances the properties of 
This is why CPT (Thermal strate cannot exceed 180ºC). temperature limited the ef- the coating. Thermal spray-
Spray Centre), together with For example, in the case of fectiveness of air-cooling. ing commences once the tem-
Air Products has studied the nickel-based superalloys Despite solid carbon dioxide perature is low enough. The 
situation and conducted re- or light alloys (titanium, being able to reach the cool- cooling power of the nitrogen 
search about a new thermal aluminium, magnesium), their ing temperature, it still makes enables the thermal 
spray process known as Lin properties vary or cracks showed certain drawbacks spray to be applied continu-
Cooling (Liquid Nitrogen - N2 appear in the coating be- during a coating process that ously over the entire part.
–Devices), which allows the ing applied to their surface had to be done in segments, The improvements made to the 
surface properties of the as they undergo structural owing to the fact that it was original device are due to 
components to be enhanced transformations that weaken not possible to cool the sub- the continuous assessment 
without any modifications to the materials. strate adequately enough, made by CPT. They have led to 
their internal structure or and this led to the coating the comprehensive develop-
intrinsic characteristics. being weakened. That's how ment of this technology, 
the solution was found in which is now being marketed 
liquid nitrogen. with great success.
When manufacturing landing gear components, the aeronautical 
industry uses cooling system during thermal spraying, such as that 
provided by the Lin Cooling technique.
universit y
62 G Environmental Science and Technology 63
institute (iCTA) Sustainable holidays
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
A guest house achieves symbiosis between tourism and ecology
http://icta.uab.cat
( ecologic ) ( comprehensive )
( recycling )
( sustainability )
EmpúriEs hotEL
( tourism )
( cultivation )
( environment ) ( composter )
business
A Eco intelligent growth
www.ecointelligentgrowth.net
64 rECyCling  ConSErvATion,  65
 iS noT EvEryThing rESTorATion And good dESign
In recent years, the public We often forget that ecol- between consumption and the In reforming the build-
debate on whether it is pos- ogy is not based only on re- generation of waste and their ing, priority was given to 
sible to combine tourism and cycling waste, but that it penetration in the environ- the re-use of materials and 
sustainability has gradually is also important to study ment. conservation of structures 
grown in importance. The re- other aspects such as energy that were in good condition, 
form project for the Empúries consumption, the life of the along with the restoration of 
Hotel, located in the region materials and their impact on ThE BEST of EACh hoUSEhold all types of objects that had 
of Alt Empordà, indicates the environment. The essence Construction is not the only been converted into furni-
that it is possible thanks of sustainability is based on thing that has been taken ture. Inside the guest house, 
to extensive research, large the idea that the best waste into account. Another point interior design was given 
doses of ingenuity, and a product is the one not gener- in the study examines the mo- maximum care, with the aim 
comprehensive concept of ated, since it can be re-in- bility, accessibility for the being to guarantee the qual-
sustainability. troduced into the productive guests of the facilities and ity of the air by avoiding 
process with a similar or products and services on of- paints with chemical addi-
better quality than the one fer, which must be consistent tives, and non-environmen-
it had the first time around. with the philosophy of the tally-friendly varnishes and 
This process is known as “up- Recycled plastic cup, guest house. glues. 
cycling”. made from corn In this respect, a market A nice careful design makes 
Taking into account every- garden has been planned to it possible for the whole 
thing that contributes to- use the rubbish generated by guest house to breathe a 
wards making the ecological the guest house, converted pleasant atmosphere and 
footprint more efficient, into fertiliser by means of leaves it really clear that 
the company Eco Intelligent a composter, which provides the organic produce can also 
Growth, in collaboration the restaurant with a range be beautiful and complex. 
with the UAB and the team from of fresh produce to add to its 
the guest house itself, has menu. In those cases in which 
turned Empúries Hotel into a it is not possible to be self-
real laboratory for sustain- sufficient living off the 
ability to become a reference produce of the kitchen gar-
for the sector. den, as is the case with meat, 
The Environmental Science purchases are made locally to 
and Technology Institute keep energy consumption un-
at the UAB, on the one hand, der control. Empúries Hotel 
was in charge of studying has even begun to produce a 
Recycled bin liner, 
the ecological impact of the special type of bread with a made from potato starch
materials used at Empúries traditional cereal from the 
Hotel, carrying out an analy- area. 
sis of the life cycle in a The kitchen garden, together 
pilot building and an analy- with the vegetable-fibre 
sis of materials and energy, roofs and permeable pave-
through the MEFA (Material A market garden has ments, helps water infil-
and Energy Flow Analysis) been planned to use the tration, an aspect that has Eco Intelligent Growth, 
system. On the other hand, rubbish generated by the received a great deal of care in collaboration with 
the research carried out to prevent the drains from 
by engineers from Eco In- guest house, converted becoming saturated. the UAB, has turned 
telligent Growth included into fertiliser by means Empúries Hotel into 
erecting and also using the of a composter, which a real laboratory 
building plus dismantling provides the restaurant of sustainability 
it in the future, the balance 
with a range of fresh becoming a reference 
produce for the sector
66 Empúries Hotel. L’Escala 67
universit y
68 G office of learning Technologies 69
open University of Catalonia (UoC)
http://learningtechnologies.uoc.edu
( reading )
( students )
( exercises ) A university 
( device )
in your pocket
Internet-linked 
electronic ink devices
Campus 3g
( virtual )
( connectivity )
( updating )
( flexible )
business
A orange
www.orange.es
70 71
   flExiBlE, oPEn And  
onlinE CollABorATion wiTh A grEAT fUTUrE AhEAd
Advances in e-books and their The Open University of Cata- With the e-Book, content is 
implementation in education lonia (UOC) began to work flexible and can always be 
and universities may mean with the Orange telecom- updated at any time. It does 
that in a few years’ time stu- munications company within not require a bookmark, be-
dents will no longer leave the framework of the My Way cause it remembers the last 
class with their schoolbag learning project. The pur- page that was read – you do 
full of books, but with a dis- pose of this collaborative not need to remember where 
creet electronic ink device effort is to develop a system you saw that really interest-
instead. that enables students at UOC ing quotation, because there 
The e-book can still not be to make the most of the elec- are search engines embedded 
said to have entirely ousted tronic ink devices and their in the documents and it is 
the traditional printed capabilities, such as the also possible to incorpo-
book. In fact, all the signs possibility of either having rate videos, which greatly 
point to the inevitable co- a large quantity of informa- enhances its teaching value. 
existence of both formats tion available in a small and And with an Internet connec-
without one completely su- manageable device or perma- tion, the possibilities are 
perseding the other. nent connectivity. endless.
Nevertheless, the advan- Research on the e-Book was In spite of everything, there 
tages and versatility of already a priority at both is still a certain amount of 
the digital format are key Orange and UOC, when the reluctance to use these de-
to explaining the long road company proposed to the uni- vices, which is why current 
stretching out before it. versity the idea of taking it research work in this field 
one stage further: aside from is centred on achieving soft 
preparing books and manuals or flexible screens that can 
for downloading, by provid- make the experience even more 
ing the devices with a con- similar to reading paper 
nection capability, students books.
would always have access to Today, with the future chal-
updated content including lenge of offering more and 
notices, exercises, the syl- more open content, e-Books 
labus and countless other equipped with 3G technology 
applications in real time. seem set to vie for space with 
By staying constantly on- printed versions from the 
line, UOC students will have best stocked libraries.
the virtual campus at their 
disposal at all times.
An e-Book does not 
require a book mark; 
instead it comes with 
search engines embedded Enabling the electronic devices with  
in the documents and  3G technology allows UOC students  
can incorporate images to update all content in real time
universit y
72 G Technological innovation Centre for Static 73
Converters and Activators(CiTCEA)
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
www.citcea.upc.edu The red light 
that never goes out
Smart switch for appliances 
( standby )
on standby
( enertronics )
( electricity )
( device )
100% off
( environment )
( household )
( disconnection )
( consumption )
business
A good for you, good for the Planet
www.gfy-gfp.com
74 SmArT SwiTCh invEnTion ProCESS The switch is based on an algorithm 75
You turn off the TV with the Most televisions, ovens, Awareness by the general developed by CITCEA and patented by  
remote control but the little printers, sound systems and public of the need to reduce 
red light still stays on. Is countless other electrical electricity consumption and Good for You, Good for the Planet.  
it still using electricity? appliances continue to con- of energy efficiency was one It can be used with the latest generation  
The answer is yes: Barely sume energy even when they of the reasons behind the of appliances and also with those we 
visible, the standby lights are not working and increase company’s decision to de- already have in our homes
in hundreds of household ap- domestic electricity bills velop a system to help users 
pliances not only consume by 12%. The Good for You, Good see how much power they were 
electricity but also con- for the Planet system is like consuming and learn to make 
tribute to increasing CO2 a conventional plug incorpo- more rational use of it. The 
emissions on a global scale. rating a smart disconnect- original project was pre-
The 100% Off device developed ing switch controlled by a sented in CITCEA-UPC, part of 
by the company Good for You, processor. The processor can the Electrical Engineering 
Good for the Planet together measure electricity consump- Department at UPC offering 
with CITCEA (the Technologi- tion to determine whether services for innovating, 
cal Innovation Centre for an appliance is active or on researching and developing 
Static Converters and Acti- standby and, in the latter prototypes in the field of 
vators) at UPC, is designed case, will cut the power sup- mechatronics and enertron-
to put an end to this unneces- ply so that the appliance is ics, i.e. using electronics 
sary waste of energy. completely switched off. to control mechanisms and 
In keeping with its own ob- electrical power supplies to 
jective, the processor also enhance efficiency and per-
switches itself off to avoid formance. 
any residual consumption. During the initial conceptu-
To turn the appliance back al design stage, it was clear 
on, you just press what the that the original project – a 
company terms the “green but- switchboard to register the 
ton” to re-connect the power individual consumption of 
supply. The circuit is then various appliances – would 
closed, doing away with the not be feasible since it was 
need for a remote control not possible to create a 
that continues to consume product the general public 
power when on standby. This could afford. However, advan-
makes 100% Off the only smart tage was taken of the knowl-
system that eliminates all edge generated to develop 
standby electricity consump- 100% Off.
tion...including its own. The company continues work-
100% Off is based on an algo- ing to develop products that 
rithm developed by CITCEA-UPC can help protect the environ-
and patented by Good for You, ment and make our lives more 
Good for the Planet, and can sustainable.
be used with both the latest 
generation of appliances and 
also those we already have 
in our homes, by means of a 
device that is similar to the 
100% Off can measure electricity consumption electrical adaptor we are all 
to determine whether an appliance is active familiar with.
or on standby and, in the latter case, 
will cut the power supply so that the device 
is completely switched off
universit y
76 G molecular Engineering group of the  77
Chemical institute of Sarrià (iqS)
ramon llull University (Url)
http://gem.iqs.url.edu
From antibiotics 
( formula ) to cholesterol-
lowering drugs 
( organic synthesis ) ( laboratory )
Drugs produced through 
( molecules )
collaboration 
gEnEriC drugs
( market )
( know-how )
( fabrication )
( patent )
business
A Ercros
www.ercros.es
78 79
PATEnTS wiTh An ExPiry dATE ThE frUiTS of EmPAThy
In recent years, a number of When the patent runs out on In 2000, Ercros, a company Any collaborative effort be-
drugs have started to ap- a product, other manufac- manufacturing active phar- tween various organisations 
pear on the market without turers have the opportunity maceutical ingredients, needs time to adapt and find a 
the backing of a commercial to produce it. The costs initiated relations with IQS common language, particularly 
brand. Consequently, today involved in creating the (the Chemical Institute of when they belong to the academ-
we can find branded and un- brand disappear with generic Sarrià) to acquire knowl- ic and industrial fields. For 
branded medicines sitting drugs, which can lead to a edge. On the one hand, Ercros this reason, a group was set up 
side by side on chemists’ reduction in price. However, provides the manufacturing with offices at IQS, formed by 
shelves, increasing the given that the consumers are capability and industrial two doctors from the company 
range of products that were familiar with brands, com- know-how, while IQS contrib- and another from the insti-
available so far. panies making and selling utes with the knowledge of tute. This group has the aim of 
generic versions need to de- organic synthesis, a pro- working together to achieve 
velop other ways of lowering cess used to create organic new common goals.
costs in the process so as to chemical molecules in a The project has come up with 
become truly competitive. programmed way so as to im- twelve products that have all 
This is therefore a complex prove the formula and offer now on the market, ranging from 
situation, where the em- the necessary value added to antibiotics to cholesterol-
phasis is on cost, product obtain products of the same lowering drugs, which are sold 
safety, and the impact on the quality as those marketed in 80 countries, such as Spain, 
environment. under a brand name, at more the United States, Japan or Ercros provides the manufacturing 
affordable prices for the Saudi Arabia. Additionally, capability and industrial know-how, 
consumer and with good re- six patents for procedures 
turns for the company. while IQS contributes with the knowledge have been obtained.
The project has resulted in twelve of organic synthesis to enhance the 
products that are now on the market production of generic drugs
universit y
80 G iCfo – institute of Photonic Sciences 81
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
regional government of Catalonia
www.icfo.cat
( light )
( plasmonics )
( laser ) Science fiction 
( fotochemical )
cosmetics  
for real life
The use of photonic nanoparticles 
revolutionises the beauty products sector
goLd CosmEtiCs
( skin )
( nanoparticles )
( cosmetics )
( gold )
business
A Endor nanotechnologies
www.endornanotech.com
82 83
rESUlTS ThAT ShinE  AT homE And    
of ThEir own ACCord AT ThE CliniC joining forCES
Halfway between grand- Rejuvenating the skin using The cosmetic, with the gold na- A key factor in the develop-
mother’s old tricks, such as plastic surgery arouses a noparticles, is applied to the ment of this product is the 
bathing in olive oil to have great deal of reluctance and skin like a normal cream. How- ability to control the pho-
a radiant skin, and plastic is not within reach of every- ever, the skin is then submit- tothermal properties of the 
surgery, it is clear that the body. On the other hand, the ted to a source of laser light nanoparticles. This sphere 
cosmetic industry is con- alternative using the cos- that activates the rejuvena- of knowledge, which is one of 
stantly being asked to devel- metics known to us does not tion processes in the skin. ICFO’s strong points, has al-
op beauty solutions that are usually give us results that One of the strengths of this lowed Endor Nanotechnologies 
effective and as non-invasive are sufficiently noticeable. technology is that it can be to improve the properties of 
as possible. Thanks to plasmonics, the used both in medical environ- the particles.
The company Endor Nanotech- science that studies the pho- ments, where a more powerful The product broadens the 
nologies, specialising in tonic properties of the na- laser will be used, and also range of possibilities in 
the medical and cosmetic ap- nostructures of noble metals in the home, where a very low- the field of plastic surgery 
plications of nanoparticles, such as gold and silver, it powered source can be used, and, for this reason, Endor 
is developing a proposal, has been possible to develop which will thus remove any Nanotechnologies continues 
with the aid of ICFO (Insti- a cosmetic application that risk of accident. The results working on the development 
tute of Photonic Sciences), shines of its own accord. will also be more rapid or pro- of new variants derived from 
a specialist in laser and gressive depending on the type this technology.
its photomedical and photo- of application used.
chemical effects, that will But, how does this cosmetic 
combine light and metal na- work? In the technology devel-
noparticles in an effort to oped by Endor Nanotechnolo- Cosmetics using gold nanoparticles  
revitalise the skin. gies together with ICFO, the are applied to the skin, which is then 
gold nanoparticles absorb 
light and, owing to their submitted to a laser light to activate  
properties and shape, they the rejuvenation processes
become nanosources of heat 
thereby propitiating biochem- One of the strengths  
ical processes that stimulate 
the revitalisation of the of this technology is that it can 
skin. be used in the home
84 85
Thermal nanoscopy, ICFO – Institute of Photonic Sciencies
universit y
86 G EliSAvA School of design 87
Pompeu fabra University (UPf)
www.elisava.net
( form )
( versatile )
( foldable )
( function ) Lending a hand  
to urban parents
Team work for a warm, 
practical product
piCoroCo 
papasan CradLE
( family )
( comfort )
( intuition )
( robustious )
business
A Play
www.casualplay.com
It is often said that the city no SoonEr SAid ThAn donE The concept of the papasan cradle arose 89
is an asphalt jungle, which, The product development as a result of observing how urban 
instead of animals, has cars, stage, guided by a tutor from 
motorbikes and pedestrians mothers and fathers integrate their the university and a repre-
in a hurry to reach their des- sentative from Play, evaluat- children in their daily movement
tinations. Probably one of ed the aspects that had been 
the groups that suffer the improved in the project and 
most in this jungle is that of the standards that apply to 
the parents that have to cart children’s products. Regard-
pushchairs, nappies and dum- ing this point, the company 
mies about every time they take submitted some prototypes to 
their children to playschool, the CIM Foundation, the cen-
to the beach or merely out for tre for production technolo-
a walk. gies, to define how the form 
In an attempt to make these dai- the product should take.
ly odysseys more enjoyable, the Once the process had taken 
company Play, in collaboration its course, Play designed the 
with ELISAVA, has developed an final product, a procedure 
innovative papasan cradle, in involving the time and ef-
the context of its Masters in fort of the designers, who 
Product Design, that is easy to put some final touches to the 
fold up. formal and structural as-
pects to ensure that it com-
loAdS of ProBlEmS  plied with the regulations. 
And only Two hAndS The final result, the papasan 
cradle, remained faithful 
The concept of the papasan to the idea of a device that 
cradle arose as a result of ob- was easy to open. It is also a 
serving how urban mothers and product that is intuitive and 
fathers integrate their chil- practical – it opens in just 
dren in their daily movement. two movements, and is robust 
The initial idea was a small, and stable.
lightweight papasan cradle 
that would work with a similar 
design to self-erecting pop- involving ThE ComPAny
up tents. The device is made At ELISAVA, collaboration 
up of two parts: a foldable agreements are created, like 
structure and a versatile baby the one signed with Play, with 
carrier allowing the parent to companies that are interest-
carry the child both on their ed in the design process and 
back and also in front. In ad- in obtaining results.
dition, it also includes a hood 
made of thermochromic materi- This is the root of success in 
al, which tells the parent how this case, which arose out of 
long the child has been exposed a good idea and has managed 
to the sun. to reach the production and 
marketing stage. 
The self-erecting papasan 
cradle is designed not only 
to be practical, but also to 
be a warm, enjoyable product 
which, thanks to its shape, is 
reminiscent of a flower that is 
about to open.
universit y
90 G Audiovisual Technologies group (gTAv) 91
http://gps-tsc.upc.es/GTAV/
visual image Processing group (gPi)
http://gps-tsc.upc.es/imatge A window open 
optical Communications group (gCo)
www.tsc.upc.es/gco to the world
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) Research on 3600 
( processing ) telecommunications
( television )
( image )
( real time )
immErsivE
3d vidEoConfErEnCing
( user )
( telepresence )
( communication )
( 360º )
business
A Telefónica i+d
www.tid.es
92 93
Telefónica I+D has been 
collaborating with UPC 
on improving the visual 
quality of 3D images in 
real time
lighTS, CAmErA...  SPEEd limiTS on informATion 
 ACTion! SUPErhighwAyS 
Sitting down on the sofa and This videoconferencing tech- But, can such a large volume 
turning on the TV or working nology process begins with of images and data be trans-
in front of the computer is the creation of the user’s mitted with the current state 
often a solitary action that image in 3D. A three-dimen- of communications infra-
could very soon become a way sional figure is gradually structure? The development 
of spending the afternoon built up in real time by means of new telepresence systems 
surrounded by distant family of cameras set up around the and services faces a number 
and friends, even those on person. The front-facing cam- of significant technological 
other continents...just like eras obtain high-quality re- challenges such as delays in 
opening a window and finding lief images to reproduce the the net, access networks and 
yourself on the other side of user’s face, while the other multipoint communications.
the world. cameras offer a complete 360º The Vision project also car-
Within the framework of the view that allows the person ries out research activities 
CENIT Vision project, fi- and the surrounding space to at different points in the 
nanced by the Ministry of In- be seen from various angles. telecommunications system 
dustry, Tourism and Trade and For the work in capturing and to resolve these limitations 
CDTI (the Spanish Ministry processing the video, among stemming from 3D videocon- 3d TEChnology  
of Science and Innovation’s others, Telefónica I+D was ferencing. Telefónica I+D and in yoUr living room 
Centre for Industrial and aided by GTAV (Audiovisual other partners and research The creation of new three-
Technical Development) and Technology Group) and GPI centres, including GCO (Op- dimensional multimedia con-
managed by Telefónica I+D, (Image and Video Processing tical Communications Group) tent is making the most of 
immersive videoconferencing Group), both from UPC. More at UPC, are working on this innovative 3D visualisation 
technology has been devel- specifically, Telefónica I+D point so as to bring about the systems. In this respect, 
oped in conjunction with UPC and the groups from UPC have network of the future. Telefónica proceeded to 
to reproduce the physical been working together on the screen a 3D video clip of the 
sensation of presence and the research and development of music group Pastora, which 
perception of reality. new algorithms that go be- was shown in several cinemas 
yond the state of the art to in the city of Barcelona. 
achieve their aim of improv- This is just another test 
A three-dimensional ing the visual quality of 3D that goes to show that 3D TV 
images in real time.
figure is gradually may soon be a reality. 
built up in real time 
by means of cameras 
set up around the 
person
universit y
94 G Special research Centre  95
food Technology Plant (CErPTA)
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
www.cerpta.com For the love of a good soup
Innovation in preservation processes  
for soups and broths
( food )
( preservation )
( UHT )
( facilities )
soups with grEatEr 
nutritionaL vaLuE
( taste )
( properties )
( formula )
( product )
business
A gallina Blanca
www.gallinablanca.com
96 Gallina Blanca is 97
providing the formula for 
making the products and 
CERPTA is contributing 
with the technical know-
how and facilities for 
testing preservation 
treatments without the 
need to stop factory 
production
in good TASTE  AlwAyS on TrACk
Many foodstuffs for wide- Process a soup or broth Conventional sterilisation The research carried out by 
spread consumption reach involves ultra-high tem- treatments subject products Gallina Blanca is focused on 
the public with a promise: no perature (UHT), also known to temperatures of around short and medium-term appli-
artificial colouring or pre- as ultrapasteurisation, 120ºC for 30 minutes, with cations, either concerning 
servatives. However, not even sterilisation treatments a noticeable effect on the the creation of new products 
the highest quality products enabling them to retain properties of the product. or the improvement of those 
can keep their good condition their hygienic and nutri- UHT treatment, instead, is a already in existence. For 
without being submitted to tional properties for sev- procedure that applies 140ºC this reason, relations with 
certain processes to ensure eral months without the need for a few seconds, which pro- CERPTA and other universities 
that they will not go off or for refrigeration. The col- duces better results without have turned out to be a way of 
lose their properties on the laboration between Gallina affecting the nutritional obtaining a direct line to 
long journey from the produc- Blanca and CERPTA has allowed properties and stability of the cutting-edge innovations 
tion facility to the kitchen. the study of the variables of the product in such a nega- being developed in the sci-
Constantly improving these time, temperature and type tive way. entific world with a view to 
processes is key to the rela- of machinery to which the These tests are conducted by selecting those that can be 
tionship that began six years product should be submitted CERPTA personnel at the Food applied in this sector.
ago between Gallina Blanca so as to achieve optimum con- Technology Plant facilities. 
and the Autonomous Universi- ditions for conservation and Thus, while Gallina Blanca 
ty of Barcelona (UAB) CERPTA, to prevent the soup or broth provides the formula for 
the Special Research Centre from losing its consistency the products, CERPTA has the 
at the Food Technology Plant, before consumption. However, technical know-how required 
which has already given rise the joint effort is not re- and the facilities where 
to products that are being stricted to ultrapasteuri- treatments can be tested 
distributed in Spain and Por- sation; has also enabled without having to stop pro-
tugal. preservation techniques to duction.
be taken one stage further 
and create a product with the As a result of the collaboration between 
same freshly-made taste and 
with enhanced nutritional Gallina Blanca and the CERPTA, products 
value. have now been placed on the market and 
are being distributed in Spain and Portugal
98 99
Sterilisation Plant. Special Research Centre Food Technology Plant (CERPTA)
universit y
100 G Artificial intelligence research 101
institute (iiiA-CSiC)
Spanish national research Council (CSiC)
www.iiia.csic.es
( on-line )
( statistics ) ( applications )
( algorithm )
I am what 
my strands, I do, hear, 
BusinEss soLutions see…A software  
and monEy strands with customised recommendations
( habits )
( content )
( customizing )
( software )
business
A Strands
www.strands.com
102 My Strands, Business Solutions 103
 and Money Strands are based on 
It is often said that we are for a specific product, but project and Strands created 
what we do, not what we say. based on real actual use. a grant for PhD students at comparing users and standards of 
Taking this as their starting Another software applica- the IIIA. It was at that time behaviour, with the aim of making 
point, the company Strands, tion is Strand Business that members of the company, personalised recommendations in 
in collaboration with the Solutions, a business-to- together with the Artifi-
Artificial Intelligence business tool designed for cial Intelligence Research 
music, finance and product sales
Research Institute of the companies that are not big Institute (UDT-IA) created 
Spanish National Research enough or do not have the the base code for developing 
Council (CSIC), has developed necessary infrastructure to the technology that has led 
a software program that al- make individual or specific to successful cases such as 
lows recommendations to be recommendations for each the three products referred 
offered that are tailor-made customer. This application to above. Strands now acts 
for each user. offers these companies a independently, although the 
The software analyses the personalised solution for company still collaborates 
events generated by the users reaching their customers and on a continual basis with the 
online concerning a product, advising them on which prod- IIIA.
content or piece of informa- ucts are more in keeping with 
tion using statistical anal- their habits.
ysis, artificial intelli- One of the latest applica-
gence and complex filtering tions to be developed is 
algorithms. As a result of Money Strands, a software 
this technology three appli- program that allows personal 
cations have been created: My finance to be managed over 
Strands, Business Solutions the Internet in a simple way. 
and Money Strands. Money Strands, always with 
the consent of the customer, 
hABiTS ThAT SPEAk  has access to and registers 
loUdEr ThAn wordS their economic information 
so as to be able to make rec-
My Strands is a social net- ommendations of a financial 
work in which the user re- nature, group expenses to-
ceives personalised recom- gether in categories, and to 
mendations for music and compare their specific case 
video, and can find out the with segments corresponding 
actions taken online by their to other Internet users.
own contacts.
The novelty lies in the type AUTonomy And CollABorATion
of data used as a baseline 
for the process. Instead of As a company, Strands was 
asking the user to create a created, at the same time 
profile with their own pref- in the USA and in Barcelona, 
erences, the system asks them Spain, as a spin off, i.e. as 
for access to their music li- an extension of the Artifi-
braries, where information is cial Intelligence Research 
picked up intact from their Institute (IIIA-CSIC).
individual models of con- Thanks to the agreement 
sumption. My Strands analyses signed between the various Strands was created as a spin off, 
this date very effectively, organisations, the CSIC pro-
since it does not do so solely vided infrastructure during that is to say, as an extension of 
on the sales data obtained the initial stages of the the Artificial Intelligence Research 
Institute (IIIA-CSIC)
universit y
104 G Process and material design and 105
optimisation Centre (dioPmA) Long life 
University of Barcelona (UB)
www.diopma.org to ‘big bags’
New methods for 
recycling what seemed 
( polymer ) to be beyond  
recovery
( elasticity )
( household )
( recycling )
urBan
vErmiComposting
( plastic )
( composter )
( robustious )
( mix )
business
A Zicla
www.zicla.com
106 The main problem with 107
‘big bags’ is that the 
product is a mix of a 
number of materials 
that are difficult to The tiles made with this new 
crush. They break and material have been directed mAny ChAllEngES AhEAd
get caught up in the towards decorative items and 
The collaborative effort The materials that appar-waste-disposal units urban furniture and other 
between the consultancy ornamental substances are ently cannot be recycled form 
firm Zicla and Diopma at the being added such as scraps of the focus of the research 
University of Barcelona (UB) methacrylate or nutshell to conducted by companies, uni-
has blossomed into a mate- make them more suitable for versities and industries. winning ComBinATionS
rial made from the waste from use and with more interesting In this respect, using both 
For years now the recycling ‘big bags’ with which it is The joint research of Zi- finishes. innovative and traditional 
of household waste has been possible to make an urban can cla together with Diopma technologies, Zicla cre-
growing more and more fash- o’worms, or vermicomposting revealed that this mate- ates new materials from the 
ionable and, to a greater or bin. rial could be improved by A ComPoSTEr on EACh BAlCony remains that cannot be re-
lesser degree, each home now For this reason a new type of reformulating it with the The company Zicla, together trieved for conventional re-
has a place for different machinery was used to chop addition of a softer thermo- with the Terra Foundation, cycling plants using commer-
types of rubbish. But what nEw livES for old mATEriAlS up the bags and enable the plastic like the one used in has designed a can o’worms cially viable processes.
do we do with that waste that The main problem with ‘big fragments to pass through a greenhouse plastics or wood (vermicomposting bin) from Zicla has harvested one of 
is so difficult to recycle bags’ is that the product is fusion, extrusion and press sawdust. tiles made with materials its greatest triumphs on be-
that it seems completely ir- a mix of a number of materi- system using a mould. The The result of mixing the from rubbish bags and green- ing able to alter the molecu-
retrievable? This is the case als that are difficult to first product to result from remains of ‘big bags’ with house plastics. This type of lar structure of some heavy 
of the ‘big bags’ (rubbish crush. They break up and the using this process was some softer plastics is a material composting bin offers city metals to form stable new ma-
bags) made of a mixture of ma- elements they are made of, plastic tiles, which, apart that not only looks better dwellers the possibility of terials that can produce ce-
terials that were impossible such as rims and handles, get from the aesthetic draw- but is also more manageable, recycling organic waste by ments and concretes for con-
to separate using known in- caught up in waste-disposal backs, cracked and were ini- with competitive production converting it into plant fer- struction work, when mixed 
dustrial methods…until now. units. tially too brittle. costs. tiliser. with other products. 
The vermicomposting bin has been 
designed using the material taken 
from rubbish bags and greenhouse 
plastics for the domestic recycling 
of organic waste
dirECtory Universities and research institutions Centres and research departments in the publication
109
AUTonomoUS UnivErSiTy of SPAniSh nATionAl rESEArCh Agrifood TEChnology rESEArCh dEPArTmEnT of CUlTUrAl EnvironmEnTAl SCiEnCE And 
BArCElonA (UAB) CoUnCil (CSiC) inSTiTUTE (irTA) AnThroPology And hiSTory of TEChnology inSTiTUTE (iCTA)
ADVAR-UAB Research Park Deputy Vicepresidency of Regional Government of AmEriCA And AfriCA Autonomous University of 
Edifici A. Campus de la UAB / knowledge Transfer (VATC) Catalonia University of Barcelona (UB) Barcelona (UAB)
08193 Barcelona Catalunya branch office Sector: Agrifood, Bio Sector: Anthropology Sector: Environment
T: (+34) 93 581 20 83 / c. Egipcíaques, 15 / Passeig de Gràcia, 44 / c. Montalegre, 6-8. Facultat de Edifici C. Campus de la UAB / 
(+34) 93 581 28 10 08001 Barcelona 08007 Barcelona Geografia i Història / 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès
www.uab.cat T: (+34) 93 442 65 76 T: (+34) 93 467 40 40 08001 Barcelona T: (+34) 93 581 29 74
http://parc.uab.cat www.dicat.csic.es/ucttesp.html www.irta.cat T: (+34) 93 403 77 73 http://icta.uab.cat
www.ott.csic.es www.ub.edu/antropo
oPEn UnivErSiTy of CATAloniA ArTifiCiAl inTElligEnCE iCfo – inSTiTUTE of PhoToniC 
(UoC) UnivErSiTy of BArCElonA (UB) rESEArCh inSTiTUTE (iiiA-CSiC) dEPArTmEnT of ElECTroniC SCiEnCES
UOC Office for the Support to Bosch i Gimpera Foundation Spanish National Research EnginEEring Polytechnic University of 
Research and Transfer (OSRT) Barcelona Science Park Council (CSIC) Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
Mediterranean Technology Park. c. Baldiri Reixac, 4-8, Torre D. 
Sector: iCT Catalonia (UPC) Regional Government of Av. Canal Olímpic s/n, / 08028 Barcelona 
Edifici B3 / T: (+34) 93 403 99 00 Campus de la UAB / Sector: iCT, Production 
Catalonia
08860 Castelldefels www.fbg.ub.es 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès Technologies Sector: iCT
T: (+34) 93 673 50 00 T: (+34) 93 580 95 70 Av. Diagonal, 647. Planta 9a. / Mediterranean Technology Park. 
www.uoc.edu www.iiia.csic.es 08028 Barcelona Av. del Canal Olímpic, s/n. / 
T: (+34) 93 401 66 51 08860 Castelldefels
www.eel.upc.edu T: (+34) 93 553 40 90
PolyTEChniC UnivErSiTy of AUdioviSUAl TEChnologiES groUP www.icfo.cat
CATAloniA (UPC) (gTAv)
Centre for Technology Transfer Polytechnic University of dEPArTmEnT of mEdiCAl SCiEnCES
(CTT) Catalonia (UPC) University of Girona (UdG) inSTiTUTE of miCroElECTroniCS 
Pl. Eusebi Güell, 6. S1. Edifici Sector: iCT Sector: Bio, medicine of BArCElonA (imB-Cnm)
Vèrtex / 08034 Barcelona c. Jordi Girona, 1-3 / Facultat de Medicina. Campus de Spanish National Research 
T: (+34) 93 401 71 26 08034 Barcelona Montilivi / 17071 Girona Council (CSIC)
www.ctt.upc.edu T: (+34) 93 401 64 40 T: (+34) 972 41 96 18 Sector: iCT, Production 
http://gps-tsc.upc.es/GTAV/ www.udg.edu/depcm Technologies
Campus de la UAB / 
PomPEU fABrA UnivErSiTy (UPf) 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès
Innovation unit ComPUTEr viSion CEnTrE (CvC) dEPArTmEnT of morPhologiCAl T: (+34) 93 594 77 00
c. Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 / Autonomous University of SCiEnCES www.cnm.es
08005 Barcelona Barcelona (UAB) Autonomous University of 
T: (+34) 93 542 15 67 CIRIT (Inter-Ministerial Barcelona (UAB)
www.upf.edu/rdi Council for Research and Sector: Bio, medicine molECUlAr EnginEEring groUP 
Technological Innovation) Facultat de Medicina. of ThE ChEmiCAl inSTiTUTE of 
ACC1Ó (CIDEM/COPCA) Campus de la UAB / SArrià (iqS)
rAmon llUll UnivErSiTy (Url) Sector: iCT, Production 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès Ramon Llull University (URL)
Office of Research and Technologies T: (+34) 93 581 18 74 Sector: Bio
Innovation Edifici 0. Campus de la UAB / www.autonoma.edu/medicina Via Augusta, 390 / 
c. Claravall, 1-3 / 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès 08017 Barcelona
08022 Barcelona T: (+34) 93 581 18 28 T: (+34) 93 267 20 00
T: (+34) 93 602 22 00 www.cvc.uab.cat EliSAvA SChool of dESign http://gem.iqs.url.edu
www.url.es/cont/rdi/otriurl.php Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)
Sector: design
c. Ample, 11-13 / 
08002 Barcelona
T: (+34) 93 317 47 15
www.elisava.net
110 Companies and entities in the publication 111
mUSiC TEChnology groUP (mTg) ProCESS And mATEriAl dESign And TEChnologiCAl rESEArCh CEnTrE Air ProdUCTS gAllinA BlAnCA roCA SAniTArio
University Pompeu Fabra (UPF) oPTimiSATion CEnTrE (dioPmA) for dEPEndEnCy CArE And c. Còrsega, 381-387. Planta 4a. Av. Josep Tarradellas, 38 / roca innovation lab
Sector: iCT University of Barcelona (UB) AUTonomoUS living (CETpd) / 08037 Barcelona 08029 Barcelona c. Numància, 187 / 
c. Roc Boronat, 138 / Sector: materials, Production Polytechnic University of T: (+34) 93 290 26 90 T: (+34) 93 410 15 09 08029 Barcelona
08018 Barcelona Technologies Catalonia (UPC) www.airproducts.com www.gallinablanca.com T: (+34) 93 366 12 20
T: (+34) 93 542 21 64 c. Martí i Franquès, 1. Planta Foundation of Sant Antoni Abat www.carburos.com www.roca.com
www.mtg.upf.edu 7a. / 08028 Barcelona County Hospital (FHCSAA)
T: (+34) 93 402 13 16 Sector: iCT, Production good for yoU, good for ThE 
www.diopma.org Technologies AromiCS PlAnET roS roCA
nEUroSUrgEry UniT Rambla de l’Exposició, 59-69. Barcelona Science Park. c. Capitán Haya, 1. Edifici Av. Cervera, s/n. / 
Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital Edifici Neàpolis / c. Baldiri i Reixac, 15-18. Eurocentro. Planta 15a. / 25300 Tàrrega
Edifici Hèlix / 08018 Barcelona 28020 Madrid
Sector: iCT, medicine SPECiAl rESEArCh CEnTrE  08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú T: (+34) 97 350 81 00
food TEChnology PlAnT (CErPTA) T: (+34) 93 896 72 70 T: (+34) 93 440 73 02 T: (+34) 91 418 43 58c. Mas Casanovas, 90 / www.rosroca.com
08025 Barcelona Autonomous University of www.upc.edu/cetpd
www.aromics.es www.gfy-gfp.com
T: (+34) 93 291 92 16 Barcelona (UAB)
www.santpau.cat Sector: Agrifood, Bio SEAT TEChniCAl CEnTrECATAlAn inSTiTUTE of vinES And llETErS dE CATAlUnyA
Edifici V. Campus de la UAB / TEChnologiCAl innovATion Autovia A-2, Km. 586 / 
08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès CEnTrE for STATiC ConvErTErS 
winE (inCAvi) Science and Technology Park 08760 Martorell
offiCE of lEArning T: (+34) 93 581 14 47 And ACTivATorS(CiTCEA)
regional government of of UdG. T: (+34) 93 708 50 00
Polytechnic University of Catalonia c. Pic de la Peguera, 11 / TEChnologiES www.cerpta.com www.seat.es
Open University of Catalonia Catalonia (UPC) Pl. Àgora, 2-3. 
17003 Girona
(UOC) Sector: Energy, iCT, Production Polígon Domenys II / 
T: (+34) 972 42 73 05
SPECifiC rESEArCh CEnTrE for Technologies 08720  Vilafranca del Penedès
www.lleters.cat SEnSing fABriCS
Sector: Education Sciences, 
BUSinESS imProvEmEnT And Av. Diagonal, 647. Planta 2a. / T: (+34) 93 890 02 11 Pg. Fabra i Puig, 474 / iCT
Av. Tibidabo, 39-43 / innovATion (CErpiE) 08028 Barcelona
www.incavi.cat 08042 Barcelona
nEoS SUrgEry
08035 Barcelona Polytechnic University of T: (+34) 93 401 67 27
T: (+34) 93 428 18 56
Vallès Technology Park. 
T: (+34) 93 253 23 00 Catalonia (UPC) www.citcea.upc.edu
www.sensingfabrics.com
CloUd 9 c. Ceramistes, 2 / 
http://learningtechnologies. Sector: iCT, Production Passatge Mercader, 10. Local 3 / 08290 Cerdanyola del Vallès
uoc.edu Technologies T: (+34) 93 594 47 26
ThErmAl SPrAy CEnTrE (CPT) 08008 Barcelona STrAndSAv. Diagonal, 647. Planta 10a. / 
University of Barcelona (UB) T: (+34) 93 215 05 53
www.neosurgery.com c. Marina, 16-18. Torre Mapfre, 
08028 Barcelona www.e-cloud9.com Planta 11a. A / 
oPTiCAl CommUniCATionS groUP T: (+34) 93 401 07 09 Sector: materials 08005 Barcelona
(gCo) http://cerpie.upc.edu c. Martí i Franquès, 1. Edifici oBrA SoCiAl fUndACió  T: (+34) 93 224 16 94
Polytechnic University of Facultat de Química / ECo inTElligEnT growTh “lA CAixA” www.strands.com
Catalonia (UPC) 08028 Barcelona Av. Diagonal, 523 5è. 1a. / department of Environment and 
Sector: iCT T: (+34) 93 402 13 02 08029 Barcelona Science
c. Jordi Girona, 1-3 / www.cptub.com T: (+34) 93 419 90 80 Av. Diagonal, 621 / TElEfóniCA i+d
08034 Barcelona www.ecointelligentgrowth.net 08028 Barcelona Via Augusta, 177 / 
T: (+34) 93 401 64 40 T: (+34) 93 495 93 45 08021 Barcelona
www.tsc.upc.es/gco viSUAl imAgE ProCESSing groUP www.lacaixa.es/obrasocial T: (+34) 93 365 30 00
(gPi) Endor nAnoTEChnologiES www.tid.es
Polytechnic University of Barcelona Science Park. 
Catalonia (UPC) c. Baldiri Reixac, 15. Edifici orAngE
Sector: iCT Hèlix / 08028 Barcelona c. Àvila, 45 / 08005 Barcelona ZiClA
c. Jordi Girona, 1-3 / T: (+34) 93 402 04 68 T: (+34) 91 252 12 00 c. Ramon Turró, 100-104. 4rt. 
08034 Barcelona www.endornanotech.com www.orange.es 1a. / 08005 Barcelona
To find other T: (+34) 93 401 64 47 T: (+34) 93 221 86 87
http://gps-tsc.upc.es/imatge www.zicla.com
research centres ErCroS PlAy
in the Barcelona Av. Diagonal, 595 / Ronda Boada Vell, 6 / 
metropolitan area, 08014 Barcelona 08184 Palau-Solità i Plegamans
take a look at the T: (+34) 93 439 30 09 T: (+34) 93 864 80 27
Barcelona research and www.ercros.es www.casualplay.com
innovation map, 
www.bcn.cat/innova
university  barcelona  business
Publications and editions A publication of Photographs
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Council Barcelona Activa
Carles martí c. Llacuna, 162-164 Cadí SCCL, 41 
Enric Casas 08018 Barcelona SEAT Technical Centre, 43, 44
Eduard vicente www.barcelonactiva.cat CERPTA, 96-97
jordi martí Cloud9, 19-21
jordi Campillo With the collaboration of Cranial Loop, 15-17
glòria figuerola fAd mater material Centre Toti Ferrer, 64(1)
víctor gimeno Gallina Blanca, 95
màrius rubert Coordination ICFO, 81, 82(1,3)
joan A. dalmau ICFO, Luis Montesdeoca, 6Barcelona Activa
Carme gibert IMB-CNM, 48, 50-51rosa Suriñach 
josé Pérez freijo IQS, 78-79
Actar Pro David Lorente, 39
Published by dolors Soriano PATHOMILK Project, 40
Barcelona City Council – Play, 87, 88
Barcelona Activa Research and documentation Roca Innovation Lab, 25, 26, 27
for the cases Sensing Fabrics, 34(1), 35
Editorial Council fAd mater material Centre Strands, 101-103
javier Peña Telefónica I+D, 82, 83
Deputy Mayor of Treasury georgina Curto Zicla, 107
and Economic Promotion and Paola Calvet
President of Barcelona Activa
jordi william Carnes Writing Distribution
Managing Director of Barcelona Ane Elizalde ACTAr d
Activa Translation Roca i Batlle, 2-4
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Council’s “Barcelona, Research Graphic design Fax +34 93 4186707
and Innovation” Programme david lorente @ ActarPro office@actar-d.com
xavier Testar Production www.actar-d.com
Director of Creativity and Actar Pro ACTAr d USA
Innovation of Barcelona Activa Digital production 158 Lafayette Street, 
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ISBN: 978-84-9850-181-0
D.L.: B-31.366-2009
Printed and bound in the UE