University studies in technologies, audiovisuals, video games, business and health focused on the professional world and entrepreneurship

Eloi Serrano and Miguel Guillén, professors and members of the TecnoCampus Chair of Social Economy, participated in the XX International Congress of Social Economy Researchers of CIRIEC-Spain, held in Jaén on April 2, 3 and 4, where they presented a paper entitled "Access to financing for worker cooperatives in Catalonia: current situation and future challenges", the result of a work commissioned by Caixa d'Enginyers in which TecnoCampus professors Ismael Hernández, Valeria Bernardo and Miguel Garau also participated.

This study analyzes the financing needs of associated work cooperatives in Catalonia based on an own survey, compares them with the results of the latest survey on access to financing by the European Central Bank and makes a series of proposals to improve existing financing channels. 

This XX International Congress of Researchers in Social Economy of CIRIEC-Spain was held at the University of Jaén under the title "University and Social Economy: Science, Innovation and Knowledge to face the polycrisis". The Andalusian city brought together the main representative and scientific figures of the national and international social economy, around the dialogue between universities, scientific knowledge and the sector to alleviate the polycrisis. 

The congress was attended by nearly 250 people, from a dozen countries: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela.

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the Degree Talent Forum in Audiovisual Media took place, which was attended by representatives of the Audiovisual Cluster of Catalonia and the companies 3Cat, Cadena SER and Televisió de Mataró.

The objective of the Talent Forum is to bring the world of work closer to students of the Degree in Audiovisual Media at TecnoCampus, being a meeting point between collaborating companies that are committed to the talent of TecnoCampus and our students. 

The event, which was scheduled as an activity within the Audiovisual Commercial Production subject, began with a brief presentation by the attending companies and continued with a round table where students were able to ask questions and exchange impressions with the companies.

With an outstanding career in the world of gastronomy, Joan Biel is recognized for his passion for avant-garde cuisine and for his ability to elevate flavors through innovative techniques and top-quality products. 

From Sensacions Gastronomy & Emotions, he has created a space where cooking becomes a multisensory experience, fusing emotion and culinary excellence. His project aims to unite gastronomy and emotions in the same meal, transforming any event into a memorable experience. 

The second-year students of the Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics enjoyed a cooking show where creativity, technique and flavor were the main protagonists.

Professor Jordi Ojeda, from the Department of Technology, gave the conference "Robots and artificial intelligence: a journey from fiction to reality" last Friday, March 14, organized by the Carles Rahola Public Library in Girona. 

The talk took a chronological look at the history of robotics and artificial intelligence in fiction, placing special emphasis on the concept of treating artificial creatures, including those that have an inorganic, organic or virtual origin (with augmented reality), in addition to analyzing the consequences of using technology on humans, whether invasive or not.

Ojeda is the author of the book Movie robots, published by Diábolo Ediciones, as well as curator of several exhibitions related to the representation in fiction of robotics and artificial intelligence, from 18th century automatons to the latest audiovisual productions.

On April 4th and 5th, the TecnoCampus in Mataró hosted the Hackathon 2025, a weekend of technological innovation dedicated to finding solutions to reduce water consumption and promote a more conscious and responsible use of this resource. The event, which this year has had the participation of 46 students from different centers in Maresme and from TecnoCampus itself, was inaugurated with the welcome of the mayor of Mataró and president of TecnoCampus, David Bote. 

This year's challenge, proposed by the company Mica in collaboration with Aigües de Mataró, encouraged participants to create technological solutions that would empower citizens to understand and reduce their water consumption. Throughout the weekend, the teams worked intensively with the support of mentors and experts from the sector. The jury recognized two winning proposals.

The first prize went to the Dewi project, a comprehensive solution that combines hardware and software to raise awareness, gamify and empower users through an application that analyzes domestic water consumption. The prototype includes infrared sensors, servomotors and visual displays to provide real-time information, and proposes a scalable business model with various subscription options. 

With a total prize pool of 4.000 euros, the Hackathon 2025 has been a showcase of young talent, social commitment and technological creativity at the service of sustainability.

Starting a business or professional project is a path that is usually long and not without complications. If the person considering this option is a person with a disability, the obstacles multiply significantly. The Montserrat Reyes, founder of Monsegur, a company that offers insurance to people with disabilities, as well as consulting services for groups at risk of discrimination. “The entrepreneurial ecosystem is not designed for us"Aids and subsidies are complicated to obtain, they do not consider the adaptations we might need and banks still look with suspicion at a person with a disability who requests financing for their project," he explains. Reyes. 

The businesswoman collaborates with theIN-LAB, a laboratory promoted by the professor of Psychology and Educational Sciences Studies from the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) Marta Lopez Costa, which works to promote and support entrepreneurial projects led by people with physical and intellectual disabilities. IN-LAB is a space for exchanging experiences and aims to weave a community network to facilitate inclusive entrepreneurial projects., that is, that they create solutions for people who are part of vulnerable groups. 

“Although there are initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, they often do not take into account the specific needs of people with disabilities,” says the UOC professor. “People with disabilities face additional barriers when it comes to starting a business, such as lack of accessibility to resources and services, difficulties in obtaining financing, and they also have to fight discrimination and stereotypes about this group. The project seeks to overcome these barriers and create a more inclusive environment for entrepreneurship,” she says. Lopez Costa, who also co-coordinates the research group GRADU from the UOC.

Al knowledge about the employment inclusion of people with disabilities provided by the UOC is added to itexperience in entrepreneurship TechnoCampus, center attached to the Pompeu Fabra University based in Mataró, which is the other collaborating partner of the project. Also participating, as collaborating companies and entities, are Fundación ONCE, Fundación Prevent, ASEMDIS, Fundació Maresme, Fundació Catalana de Síndrome de Down and Discapebox. IN-LAB is subsidized by Department of Research and Universities, and has received funding within the call for "Grants for projects with social impact".

First IN-LAB Entrepreneurship Day
The first initiative of the project is the IN-LAB Entrepreneurship Conference, which was held on April 4th at the UOC Campus Auditorium in Poblenou (Barcelona), served to provide scientific knowledge and experiences on entrepreneurship, with a special emphasis on the challenges faced by entrepreneurs with some type of disability. Innovation experts participated, such as Silvia Timon, Thinknovate, spin off de elBullifoundation; Laia Rodriguez, from the investment fund Antai Ventures, which has invested in start-ups like Wallapop or Globo; Jordi Gusi, from the consultancy TandemSocial; Sabina Lobato,  ONCE Foundation, the Marc Badia,  Catalan Down Syndrome Foundation, among others. During the day, success stories of inclusive entrepreneurial projects were presented, such as specialists, made up of neurodivergent professionals and offering digital services, or Batec Mobility, which creates mobility solutions for people with disabilities.

Create employment and generate references

The fact that the labor market is not adapted to diversity decreases the options for finding work for people with disabilities. That is why Entrepreneurship sometimes becomes a necessity due to the lack of other alternatives., as explained Montserrat Reyes: “When the labor market is not adapted to diversity, when opportunities are limited and discrimination is still a reality, often the only viable option is to create our own space", he explains with the voice of experience. The entrepreneurial projects carried out by people from this group are not only a job opportunity, but "they serve to generate references and demonstrate that it is possible to break barriers"In addition, a large number of companies created by people with disabilities have a strong social component and end up providing jobs to other people from the group who might not have had an opportunity in the conventional labor market," he says. Reyes. 

Companies looking for solutions: the In-Lab Hackathon 
Another IN-LAB activity to promote entrepreneurial projects is a Hackathon which will take place in October and in which companies from various economic sectors, from food to education, among others, will pose challenges to various teams to create solutions with an inclusive perspective. The Hackathon will be held at TecnoCampus under the leadership of entrepreneurship expert teachers Màrian Buil and Estel Paloma and the Chair of Social Economy. 

The projects will be assessed by a jury of experts and the four winners will have the opportunity to be developed in the UOC incubator and the TecnoCampus for a year. Entrepreneurs will receive financial support (from 8.000 to 13.000 euros), or resources that will be useful to them to validate and implement the business model of their idea. People interested in participating can register on the In-Lab website when the call is launched. 

Betipo, SL: is a company in the real estate sector that has developed a technological platform to centralize and automate the management of processes linked to properties managed by funds, servicers and approved real estate companies. 

Twister: is a technology company that develops a system for preventing usurpations in homes without electricity, using satellite technology. 

Small rolls: is a company specialized in the development and analysis of real-time data services applied to transport and mobility systems. 

Beesafe (Lucid Product Design SL) is a startup focused on security and personal protection through a digital application that improves security in urban environments and on RENFE public transport.

Linkkit: It is a startup in the textile and fashion sector that has created the industry's first "textile Lego", a modular system of fabrics and interlocking fittings manufactured using laser cutting and 3D printing. 

GUAYPE: (Non-Conventional Material SL.) is a startup dedicated to the design and manufacture of furniture and corporate image elements for companies, with a strong commitment to circularity and sustainability. 

MOOSBY: is a fashion brand dedicated to the online and retail sale of exclusive and sustainable shirts for men and women. It also works on the development and programming of a virtual clothes fitting room to improve the digital shopping experience.

Onemore: is a startup dedicated to the development of sports accessories, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability and performance improvement. 

People Art Consulting, SL:is a company in the Human Resources sector specializing in consulting and people management.

Incommode Films SL: is an audiovisual production company specializing in the creation of documentaries for television.

Ivoro Ventures: it is a venture builder specialized in the creation of spin-offs in the agri-food tech and nutrition sectors. Its activity focuses on transforming scientific research into innovative and sustainable business projects, with a global impact on health, food and the environment.

Trivia: Norwegian technology company specializing in software development for the construction sector, with a strong focus on collaboration solutions based on the BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodology. 

Netkia: company software engineering, IT consulting and new technologies specializing in the development of custom solutions, IT technical support and cloud services. 

With these additions, TecnoCampus reaffirms its commitment to innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, providing an environment conducive to business growth and development.

TecnoCampus is present once again at the annual Saló de l'Ensenyament event, where the main Catalan universities meet to present the degree offers in future studentsThe stand, completely renovated, is structured into four counters, one for each area of ​​knowledge in which the center has specialized: Technology, Cultural Industries, Business and Health.

The TecnoCampus stand received a visit on Wednesday, March 26, from the rector of the UPF, Laia de Nadal; the manager of the UPF, Rosa Maria Pujante; and the general director of the TecnoCampus, Josep Lluís Checa.

Affiliated with Pompeu Fabra University, TecnoCampus currently has 3.786 undergraduate and double degree students and 95 university master's degree students, in addition to students from the various specialization programs, which brings the overall figure to four thousand students.

Next year, at TecnoCampus you will be able to take the following courses: 19 undergraduate and double degree degrees, in addition to six university master's degrees, seven specialization diplomas and seventeen specialized courses, the latter through the HUB4T continuing education center.

This offer available to future students will be reflected in new materials that will be distributed during the days of the fair, in which 39 current undergraduate students will be responsible for informing attendees. 

The Fair coincides with a renovation of the stand and the launch of a podcast on YouTube in which recent graduates are interviewed who explain their experience, their current professional work and what advice they would give to new students.

The next Saturday, April 26, Open House for future students will be able to visit the facilities and attend the various information sessions for each of the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Registration is now open.

The certification of a quality system (SGIQ) shows that the center has ensured the proper functioning of, at least, the action mechanisms that are part of the processes of verification, monitoring, modification and accreditation of qualifications that ensure their continuous improvement. 

En this link You have the details of the agenda for these two days, which also provides information on how you can contact the evaluators in case you do not participate in any of the scheduled meetings and want to give them some information either in person or by email. 

So, they establish an email address certificacio@aqu.cat and a face-to-face meeting with the evaluators on March 25 at 15.30:16 p.m. at 200 p.m. in room 1 of the TCMXNUMX building.

TecnoCampus has begun work to install on the roof of the main building (TCM1) a total of 716 photovoltaic modules with a total power of 322,20 kWp, occupying an area of ​​1.453 m2 for the generation of electrical energy which, thanks to a distribution with different orientations, will allow the maximum benefit from solar energy to be taken. The expected annual energy generated is 372.828 kWh. 

When the installation comes into operation next April, 14% of all the electricity consumed by the park will come from this source. The rest will continue to be supplied by an external company, but, as before, with the guarantee that it comes from renewable funds. The project was tendered for a total of €250.511+VAT and was awarded for €217.856+VAT to the company SolarTradex, which has its offices in the park. The engineering and construction management part, for an amount of €8.011+VAT, has also fallen to a park company, Bancell ECOtecnics. 

This action has been financed by the Mataró City Council, and is part of the commitment to install photovoltaic roofs on facilities, making them more efficient and sustainable. Since 2022, the council has put in place around thirty roofs that have allowed the internal consumption of the facility itself to be reduced or, in some cases, are intended for shared consumption with other buildings.

Afterwards, the teams made individual consultations with the three experts, and TecnoCampus alumnus David Reyes, co-founder of the startup Banting Lab, shared his entrepreneurial experience at TecnoCampus. Finally, the students visited the pre-incubator and the four incubators: the park's generalist one, Reimagine Textil, Antena TrenLab and ThinkIn 3D. 

Marc Santandreu, Entrepreneurship coordinator at UPF, highlighted: “It was a very well-organized day that undoubtedly provided value to entrepreneurs because they had the opportunity to resolve doubts about their projects in a personalized way with experts from various fields. 

"With this day we have fulfilled a double objective: first, to delve deeper into such relevant issues as the value proposition, patentability and sustainability of the projects before moving on to the next stage of the program, and second, to visit the incubation spaces since the three winning teams will have the opportunity to join the pre-incubator", explained Anahí Moyano, head of University Entrepreneurship at TecnoCampus. 

The twelve teams that participated in the event were ChronAI, H2GO, JobHub, Lingua 2, NetJob, Pangea, Rest & Fly, SAIMOVE, SelePro, Spinaflex, Sterilight and Toothify, which work in different areas such as education, employment, sustainable mobility, health, software and tourism. 

"Receiving personalized and direct attention from the three experts has been key to more precisely defining the strategic direction of our project. Thanks to Start-UPFlama, we are transforming our innovative ideas into business models aligned with the triple impact principle, combining sustainability, economic viability and social benefits," said Victor Antràs (H2GO), AdE student in English at TecnoCampus. 

Carlota Ontangas (Spinaflex), who is studying the Degree in Biomedical Engineering at UPF, highlighted: "Attending the entrepreneurship day at TecnoCampus has been an enriching experience. Getting to know several incubators focused on prototypes and textile design has allowed me to discover resources that can be very useful for the development of my innovative project."

4YFN is the leading event in the Mobile World Congress entrepreneurial ecosystem, where the companies of the future, led by highly talented and creative entrepreneurs, come together for a few days. The startups exhibiting at the TecnoCampus stand at 4YFN were: Aims Medical, Cänma Hydrogen Systems, Cocopool, Doole Health, Drivi Mobility, Rodalinets, Moodest Integrative Health, Scrads, Sweanty and White Jacket.

All of them have very positively assessed their participation in terms of access to new financing opportunities and acceleration of their growth as well as the visibility and connection with potential clients, sector agents and investors. It is worth noting that Aims Medical was the winning spin-off of the Pitch Battle of the University & Spin-off Program of the 4YFN. 

Neus Gimenez Carabaza, CEO of Aims Medical successfully pitched to a jury of international experts in early-stage startup and spin-off investment. AIMS Medical aims to develop disruptive technologies that enable medical professionals to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to aging.

Article Eeffectiveness of high versus mixed-level fidelity simulation on undergraduate nursing students: A randomized controlled trial, published the journal Nurse Education in Practice, analyzes the effectiveness of different levels of fidelity in clinical simulation for the acquisition and retention of skills in nursing students. TecnoCampus is a pioneering center in this field, as it has the Center for Innovation in Health, a key facility in the training of students in the Degree in Nursing.

The study highlights that a strategically designed and progressively implemented clinical simulation program facilitates the consolidation of essential competencies, such as critical thinking, communication skills, technical skills and professional ethics. The study findings provide relevant evidence for the design and implementation of educational programs based on clinical simulation, highlighting the importance of appropriate planning of different levels of fidelity to maximize their training impact.

They also highlight the need to investigate the long-term effects on professional practice and the transition of graduates to the world of work. The results of this research reinforce the role of clinical simulation as a fundamental pedagogical strategy in the Nursing curriculum, contributing to the training of highly qualified professionals prepared for the current demands of the healthcare field.

El Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics was launched in the 2023-2024 academic year, and The inaugurated laboratory represents a milestone because it will allow activities that until now were carried out in external facilities can be carried out at the university center, specifically in the TCM6 building, where the experimental spaces for all undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the field of health are concentrated. The launch of the laboratory has meant a investment of €500.000. 

During the inauguration, attendees were able to visit the laboratory's modern facilities, which include high-tech ovens, vacuum packaging machines, low-temperature cooking systems and a classroom area prepared for master classes. This multipurpose space meets all the requirements for teaching and research in gastronomy, nutrition and collective catering. It is also worth highlighting the laboratory's ecological system, which uses ozonated water for cleaning, thus reducing the use of chemicals and contributing to sustainability. 

The laboratory already hosts practical classes for students of the Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as students of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, postgraduate training and informative initiatives aimed at high school students and middle and higher level training cycles related to food. In the management of suppliers, the vast majority are from the ecosystem of Mataró and Maresme, Vallès and Barcelonès, that is, local and seasonal products. 

With this inauguration, TecnoCampus reaffirms its commitment to quality training, innovation and sustainability in the food sector, offering a versatile space that will not only be used for teaching, but also for research and team training.

Reempresa and the Barcelona Provincial Council have been collaborating for 13 years, promoting the transfer of companies in the province of Barcelona. A collaboration that has allowed the continuity of more than 2.400 companies, generating induced investment of more than 117,7 million euros and safeguarding more than 6.057 jobs.

The renewal of the collaboration until 2027 will help avoid the loss of thousands of jobs, since in the next 10 years more than 95.000 self-employed people will retire in Catalonia. Reempresa is a fundamental tool to strengthen the business fabric and ensure the continuity of many companies in our territory." 

The Commitment to Tourism Sustainability Comarques de Barcelona Biosphere is a program promoted by the Barcelona Provincial Council, aimed at companies, services and public entities that want to improve their management of tourism sustainability and strengthen their positioning as a destination.

This certification guarantees that member entities implement responsible practices in key areas such as climate change, the environment, social, economic and cultural aspects. Obtaining the Biosphere seal provides multiple advantages for the Tecnocampus Congress Center, consolidating it as a reference space for corporate events and sustainable congresses in the north of Barcelona. 

This initiative aligns with the objectives of the TecnoCampus 2027 Strategic Plan, which seeks to promote business tourism and turn Mataró into a benchmark in sustainable congresses.

The call is aimed at entrepreneurs with a start-up that is less than five years old, or with an innovative business idea. The program is structured in two phases. In the first, 15 projects will be selected, which will participate in group training sessions and will have individualized mentoring in three key areas: strategy, operations and technology. 

In the second phase, five selected projects will be supported in a personalized way to prepare their product launch on the market. Participating projects will be able to develop solutions in areas such as smart fabrics, wearables, new materials, transformation of textile waste into valuable products, digitalization of processes with technologies such as IoT, Big Data, blockchain or 3D printing, among others. 

In addition to training and strategic support, participants will have access to a specialized incubation space to work on the development of the project, a textile prototyping laboratory equipped to carry out tests and initial productions and a photographic set for the professional presentation of the final product. 

The application period to participate in the program will be open until March 24, 2025. To learn more about the program, several events have been organized. infodays.

With more than 500 applications received and 135 accelerated projects in its seven previous editions, the program has consolidated itself as a key impetus for entrepreneurship in the textile sector. 

The inauguration of the fourth edition of the specialization course in Financing for Social and Solidarity Economy Organizations took place at TecnoCampus on Wednesday, February 5. This year's edition will run until the end of May and has twenty-five people enrolled. 

The main objective of the course is to provide students with the necessary skills to understand and optimize the internal and external financing strategies of social and solidarity economy organizations. Aimed at professionals and people linked to cooperatives, labor societies, foundations, associations and other SSE entities, it responds to the financial planning needs of these organizations. 

Developing new projects, improving services, or maintaining economic stability are common challenges that require adapted financial solutions. The course, 100% subsidized, is also open to promoters, employment technicians and young graduates seeking to specialize in this growing sector. The program is designed to offer comprehensive and practical training that allows participants to understand and apply the keys to financing these entities.

Participants will learn to analyze financial statements, make projections and design a financing campaign with clear objectives and a well-defined technical proposal. With a duration of 100 hours, the course is blended, with 50% of the classes at TecnoCampus and 50% online. Upon completion, students will obtain a certificate awarded by TecnoCampus, provided that they have attended a minimum of 80% of the sessions and satisfactorily completed the program.

Anna Guxens, who taught the inaugural lecture of the degree on November 21st, is one of the professionals interviewed and highlights that entrepreneurship is one of the possible career paths in the sector. She also points out that it is an area where the presence of women has increased, so it has ceased to be a male-dominated sector. The report addresses issues such as the different profiles of professionals who work in the industry, the types of games that exist or the future prospects of the sector.

During the event, which had the support of the Spanish Fertility Society and the Catalan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology, key topics such as hormonal therapies in assisted reproduction cycles and menopause, the role of endocrine disruptors, hormonal contraception, ovarian rejuvenation, obesity and female fertility, ovarian insufficiency or the reality of trans people, among others, were addressed. 

The inaugural session was attended by Laura Seijo, deputy mayor of Mataró City Council; Meritxell Puyané, director of the TecnoCampus Health Department, and Xavier Saura, coordinator of the day and senior medical consultant and founder of FecunMed-Eugin. In their speeches, the importance of promoting debate spaces to share knowledge and experiences between professionals in the sector was highlighted. 

In the presentations, the latest advances related to menopause were shared, such as hormonal therapy by Sònia Sánchez, menopause reference at ASSIR Dr. Robert, or the neurocognitive and psychological changes developed by psychology professor Joan Deus. Likewise, Maider Ripero, medical director of FecunMed-Eugin, gave an innovative perspective on hormonal treatments in assisted reproduction cycles, highlighting the evolution in personalized therapies.

Read the news published in La Vanguardia.