Universitat de Barcelona

Through Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB or “Barcelona Science Park”), Universidad de Barcelona (UB) is one of the initial group of universities —Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Universidade de São Paulo, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey— that, with the support from Banco Santander, takes part in the initiative through División Global Santander Universidades and Universia.

Established in 1450 and closely related with the history of Barcelona and Catalonia, UB combines the best of the historic and academic traditions with the fact of being an institution in seek of teaching innovation and excellence that, above all, aims at providing, as a public service, high education through teaching, studies and research. Accordingly, it contributes to generate, transmit and disseminate culture and scientific, technical and professional knowledge, and encourages critical thinking and a culture of freedom and pluralism.

Leader of scientific productivity in Spain, known by its high-quality teaching and research standards and with one of the richest and most comprehensive variety of degrees and studies, UB is one of the Spanish universities that welcomes the highest number of foreign students. In fact, according to the 2008 Academic Ranking of World Universities, it is the only Spanish university that is regarded as one of the best 200 universities in the world, not to mention its prominent position in Southern Europe and in the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Innovación Grupo UB

Universitat de Barcelona has established and boosted several entities with legal personality that make up Grupo Universitat de Barcelona (Grup UB), whose mission is to encourage and support the activities and results of Universitat de Barcelona concerning various areas.

This group includes Fundación Parc Científic Barcelona (PCB or “Barcelona Science Park Foundation”), in its time a pioneering project that has grown to be an example in the innovation field. Spain's first Science Park, it was established in 1997 in order to facilitate the exchange and knowledge transfer between university, business and society, joining research centres belonging to university, public institutions and companies. Currently it is home for more than 2.500 professionals working in research, development and innovation, 75 enterprises, more than 70 research groups and a wide technological offer.

Also, Parc Científic de Barcelona hosts a Bioincubator of technological businesses, another pioneering initiative that UB set up in 2002 through Parc Científic de Barcelona and Fundación Bosch i Gimpera in order to encourage the set-up and development of technology-based enterprises, most of which are born in the academic environment. Currently, the project is supported by Banco Santander and is home for 15 enterprises. Bioincubadora PCB-Santander is located in PCB's Hélix building, a research facility with a surface of 6.500 m² that was inaugurated in January, 2008.