Artificial intelligence has marked a turning point in multiple fields and is increasingly present in everyday life. In this context, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), as a technological benchmark in the country, is strengthening its role in this area with new initiatives and projects related to AI. One of the most notable is the presentation of LEIA UPC, the university’s new flagship building for artificial intelligence, located at the Campus Diagonal Nord in Barcelona. This new infrastructure is conceived as a space to bring together UPC entities with a long track record in research and innovation in this field.
On April 22, the inauguration of the LEIA building at UPC took place. The event was hosted by Neus Cónsul, Secretary General of the UPC, and was attended by Miquel Soriano, Director General for Universities of the Government of Catalonia; Francesc Torres, Rector of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC); Jaume Miralles, Director General for Artificial Intelligence, Efficiency and Data in the Administration of the Government of Catalonia; and Agustín Fernández, Vice-Rector for Digital Strategy.
The day began with a visit to the physical headquarters of the project, the LEIA UPC building. The former Nexus I building at the UPC’s Campus Nord thus begins a new stage as the epicenter of the UPC’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. This space is part of an environment that, in 2025, generated knowledge and technology transfer activity worth around €50 million. The center will host entities with extensive expertise in AI and machine learning, such as inLab FIB, the Intelligent Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Research Center (IDEAI), and ThinkUPC, a university company specialized in digital services for public administrations and businesses, complementary to UPCnet.
At this event, Ernest Teniente, Director of inLab FIB, presented the laboratory to attendees, highlighting its role as a benchmark in research and innovation within the UPC. inLab FIB, the laboratory of the Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB), has more than 40 years of experience in multidisciplinary R&D&I projects in the field of ICT. Recognized with the TECNIO seal and made up of a team of around 70 professionals, the center works closely with companies and public administrations on digital transformation and technological innovation projects.
Among its most notable initiatives applying artificial intelligence, he highlighted the development of a police patrol management system for the Mossos d’Esquadra, a system to improve triage in the emergency department of Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, a tool to accelerate the design of microelectronic circuits for the company Qorvo, and a system to reduce water consumption in a meat production plant operated by Friselva.
La participació de l’inLab FIB en el LEIA UPC reforça el seu paper dins l’ecosistema d’innovació en intel·ligència artificial de la Universitat i consolida aquest nou espai com un impulsor estratègic per al desenvolupament de projectes d’intel·ligència artificial i aprenentatge automàtic. Aquesta iniciativa es projecta com un punt d’inflexió que aportarà coneixement, talent i valor afegit tant a la UPC com al mateix laboratori.