# Polytechnic University of Catalonia

> public university in Barcelona, Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q1640731](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1640731)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytechnic_University_of_Catalonia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/polytechnic-university-of-catalonia

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Polytechnic University of Catalonia**:

---

## Summary  
The Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) is a public university in Barcelona, Spain, specializing in engineering, architecture, and technology. Founded in 1971, it is one of Spain's leading technical universities, known for its research output and industry collaborations. UPC offers programs in Catalan, Spanish, and English, with a strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.

## Key Facts  
- **Founded**: March 1971  
- **Location**: Barcelona, Spain (main campus at 41.38869°N, 2.11603°E)  
- **Type**: Public university, polytechnic, open-access publisher  
- **Students**: ~29,812 (2023) | **Employees**: ~5,000  
- **Budget**: €282.7 million (2018)  
- **Rector**: Francesc Torres (since June 2025)  
- **Subsidiaries**: Includes ETSEIB, Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering, and 10+ other schools  
- **Languages**: Catalan, Spanish (primary), English (select programs)  
- **Affiliations**: Mediterranean Universities Union, European University Association, World Wide Web Consortium  

## FAQs  
### Q: What programs does UPC specialize in?  
A: UPC focuses on engineering, architecture, computer science, and technology, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.  

### Q: Is UPC a public or private university?  
A: It is a public university funded by the Spanish government, with tuition fees regulated for EU and non-EU students.  

### Q: How internationally recognized is UPC?  
A: UPC ranks among Spain’s top technical universities and is a member of global networks like the European University Association and TIME (Top International Managers in Engineering).  

## Why It Matters  
The Polytechnic University of Catalonia is a cornerstone of Spain’s STEM education and research, particularly in fields like artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and sustainable engineering. Its partnerships with ESA (European Space Agency) and industry leaders like Airbus underscore its role in advancing applied sciences. UPC’s open-access publishing initiatives and multilingual programs also make it a hub for international collaboration, attracting students and researchers worldwide. With alumni like Oriol Vinyals (AI researcher) and Mateo Valero (computer architect), UPC’s impact extends globally in academia and industry.  

## Notable For  
- **Research Leadership**: Hosts over 50 research centers, including the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.  
- **Space Collaboration**: Affiliated with ESA’s Cluster mission (though the spacecraft were destroyed during launch).  
- **Tech Transfer**: Active in patents and spin-offs, ranking among Spain’s top universities for innovation.  
- **Diverse Campuses**: Spread across Barcelona, Terrassa, and Manresa, each specializing in distinct engineering fields.  

## Body  
### Structure and Governance  
- **Rectorate**: Headed by Francesc Torres (2025–).  
- **Subsidiary Schools**: Includes ETSEIB (Industrial Engineering), Escola d’Arquitectura de Barcelona, and Castelldefels School of Technology.  

### Research and Innovation  
- **Key Areas**: AI, robotics, renewable energy, and data science.  
- **Notable Alumni**: Ramón López de Mántaras (AI pioneer), Rosa M. Badia (computer scientist).  

### Internationalization  
- **Programs**: Offers dual degrees with institutions like TU Munich and ETH Zurich.  
- **Memberships**: Part of CLUSTER (engineering network) and Xarxa Vives (Catalan university alliance).  

### Campus and Facilities  
- **Main Campus**: Nexus I building in Barcelona (Jordi Girona Salgado, 31).  
- **Student Services**: Libraries, incubators, and sports facilities across 5 campuses.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
  "name": "Polytechnic University of Catalonia",
  "description": "Public university in Barcelona, Spain, specializing in engineering and technology.",
  "url": "https://www.upc.edu",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157627",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytechnic_University_of_Catalonia"
  ],
  "foundingDate": "1971-03",
  "location": {
    "@type": "Place",
    "address": {
      "@type": "PostalAddress",
      "addressLocality": "Barcelona",
      "addressCountry": "Spain"
    },
    "geo": {
      "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
      "latitude": 41.38869,
      "longitude": 2.11603
    }
  }
}

## References

1. Directory of Open Access Journals
2. OpenStreetMap
3. [Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logo_UPC.svg)
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Library of Congress Authorities
7. BnF authorities
8. CiNii Research
9. [Source](http://www.acup.cat/ca/universitats-publiques-catalanes)
10. [Source](https://eua.eu/about/member-directory.html)
11. [Source](https://www.w3.org/Consortium/Member/List)
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. datos.bne.es
14. [Source](https://www.upc.edu/ca/sala-de-premsa/noticies/daniel-crespo-nou-rector)
15. [Source](https://www.upc.edu/ca/la-upc/publicacions-institucionals/9703_prestigi_br.pdf)
16. [Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Institution:Universitat_Polit%C3%A8cnica_de_Catalunya)
17. [Source](https://www.upc.edu/comunicacio/ca)
18. [Source](https://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=753&t=2018)
19. [Source](https://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=753&t=2019)
20. [Source](https://www.upc.edu/ca/la-upc/la-institucio)
21. Google Knowledge Graph
22. GRID Release 2015-12-14
23. GRID Release 2016-12-06
24. Open Funder Registry
25. Quora
26. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=147.83.0.0+-+147.83.255.255&type=inetnum)
27. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2001:720:811::/48&type=inet6num)
28. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2001:40b0:7500::/48&type=inet6num)
29. [Source](https://administracionelectronica.gob.es/ctt/resources/Soluciones/238/Descargas/Listado%20Unidades%20Universidades.xlsx?idIniciativa=238&idElemento=2808)
30. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
31. HAL
32. YouTube API