Knowledge and research

Biomedicine and ICT technologies are strategic sectors of the network of knowledge and research centres of the metropolitan area.

Catalogue of knowledge and research centres
More than 100 research centres from different sectors, 14 universities with qualifications appropriate to the international labour market and six specialized research centres of international reputation are some of the strengths available in the metropolitan territory in the knowledge and research areas.
Research and business
  • Research centres
    The Fundació per a la Recerca (Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation) is an international leader in research, which acts as an interface between public and academic sectors, and private, productive and business sectors. It encourages entrepreneurship and commitment to innovation in the business world, and collaborates in the creation of an innovation ecosystem among public and private agents.

    FCRi
    Biocat is the organisation that coordinates and promotes biotechnology, biomedicine and innovative medical technology in Catalonia. Its aim is to energize all those agents which work in this area, as well as its initiatives, so as to set an environment with a powerful research system, an active knowledge transfer and an entrepreneur business network that can become an economic engine of the country and contribute to the society quality of life.

    BIOCAT
    The XPCAT (Science and Technology Parks Network of Catalonia) has the best physical and technological infrastructures and specialized services in new structures and new management systems, that allow meeting the global challenges of the knowledge-based economy. The parks belonging to XPCAT count on more than 26 innovative and technological sectors and related services.

    The main sectors being part of the Catalan scientific and technological parks are telecommunications, environmental technologies, biotechnology and life sciences, materials technology, energy technology, agrifood industry, design and engineering services, computing, computer software, nanobioengineering and nanotechnology.

    XPCAT
    Research institute of the Catalan Government, born with the mission of contributing to the modernization, improvement and promotion of competitiveness; to the sustainable development of agricultural, agrifood, agroforestry, aquaculture and fisheries sectors, and also to the sectors directly or indirectly related to the supply of healthy and quality food to consumers; to food safety and food processing, and in general, to the improvement of the population health and quality of life.

    IRTA
  • Business schools
    It has an alumni association of 40,000 executives from 120 different nationalities. As for the faculty of this business school linked to the University of Navarra, there are one hundred teachers representing 30 countries.

    IESE
    ESADE is an international academic institution with over fifty years of history. The main assets of the business school are people: teachers and professionals who generate thought, speech, projects and initiatives serving an excellent education, a relevant research and a valuable contribution to public debate and social transformation.

    ESADE
    EADA is an institution based on the values of effort, commitment and a well-done job. It was one of the first business schools to offer training programs specifically aimed at the business world.

    EADA
    According to data from the school year 2012, the 229 students of this centre, linked to Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), came from 57 different countries.

    Barcelona GSE
    Established as the new business school of Pompeu Fabra University, the BSM, Barcelona School of Management, offers a wide range of studies related to business, for both students and recent graduates, as well as for working professionals, and it also offers individualised in-company training.

    BSM
    Participants who sign up every year in this school, which is linked to Deusto University, come from more than 45 nationalities.

    EAE