Barcelona's leading technical university, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), plays a pivotal role in driving smart city innovation across Spain and beyond. As a top-ranked institution with extensive programmes in architecture, engineering, and computer science, UPC contributes significantly to the European smart city landscape through research, education, and direct engagement with municipal projects. Its inLab FIB collaborates closely with the Barcelona City Council on numerous technology initiatives, for example through IMI (Municipal Institute of Informatics), providing expertise and solutions in areas like IoT infrastructure and data analytics.
UPC's Smart Cities research group is dedicated to developing cutting-edge solutions in IoT, urban computing, and sustainable mobility, fostering advancements that address the complex challenges facing modern cities. Furthermore, the university's architecture school, ETSAB, actively shapes Barcelona's urban planning strategies, promoting sustainable and citizen-centric development approaches. With over 10,000 employees, UPC boasts significant resources and expertise, acting as a hub for knowledge sharing and collaboration within the European smart city ecosystem. By bridging the gap between academic research and practical implementation, UPC enables the development and deployment of innovative technologies that improve the quality of life for citizens and contribute to a more sustainable urban future.