On 26 March, the first edition of IQS Innovation Day was held, an event that represented a meeting point for entrepreneurs, researchers, and business leaders where it was possible to see a 360º view of the close collaboration between the university and the companies in its ecosystem. Thanks to IQS Tech Factory and IQS Tech Transfer, the event highlighted IQS’s dedication to education, innovation, and technology transfer, as well as its commitment to consolidating an innovative and collaborative business-university ecosystem.
IQS recently held the first edition of IQS Innovation Day, a meeting point for entrepreneurs, researchers, and business leaders that showcased the close relationship between the university and the companies in its ecosystem.
Dr Salvador Borrós, Director of IQS, expressed his satisfaction during the celebration of the event: “I am very excited to inaugurate this first edition of IQS Innovation Day, an event that forms a lasting partnership with basic research in the spirit of producing an impact for society.” Next, Laia Arnal from VHIR gave an inspiring lecture in which she stressed that “innovation entails opening the mind to achieve changes that generate value. Above all, innovation means passion!”
The conference was structured across five blocks, the first being a sample of the success stories of collaborations between IQS and companies in its ecosystem. This block was opened by Dr Núria Vallmitjana, Director of IQS Tech Transfer, “the division that collaborates with companies, going far beyond the services and advice we offer them.” This first block presented: how the collaboration of Agbar and the GAM research group worked towards an innovative solution in the refurbishment of drinking water pipeline networks within the framework of an industrial doctorate; the case of Molins and its experience in jointly organizing a Hackathon with IQS Tech Factory in 2024 to tackle real challenges facing companies; and the case of the relationship between Fluidra and the startup Gloo.
The next block offered the presentation of four final-year doctoral theses in an agile launch format – Pitching my thesis – as examples of research focused on real solutions. Participants included Francesc Canalejo, who has developed a revolutionary solution for coarctation of the aorta in children; Víctor Gracia, who has conducted research on new cell production systems; Maite Molins, who works on Flow Chemistry reactions with copper tubes used both as a reactor and as a catalyst; and Olivier J. Stratil, who has developed CO2 capture and utilization systems with innovative technologies in his thesis.
The third block: Elevator Pitch startups IQS@4YFN2025 offered the contributions of four startups promoted by IQS, all of them participants in the latest edition of 4YFN: NextReef Ecosystems, Vioma VR, AURAX, and CRAEX. This block was presented by Dr Carles Malet, Associate Director of Strategy and Business at IQS, who highlighted the essential pillars of the university: research, innovation, and teaching and how “IQS Tech Factory provides the tools to transform ideas into solutions and put them on the market, currently with a special emphasis on the areas of health and the environment.” Next came a presentation about an example of support from IQS to the growth of innovators, featuring the case of the startup ATOM H2 and the consulting they received from IQS.
The event concluded with the “Future and Progress” roundtable on relationships between corporate companies and startups, moderated by Jordi Arbusà with IQS Tech Factory and CTOP from Gloo, which featured participation by representatives from Agbar, Molins, Fluidra, and Aortyx. At this roundtable, topics of interest in innovation were discussed, including challenges and opportunities in collaboration between startups and corporations such as fostering permeability and competition to guarantee success, among many other topics. Finally, a question and answer session was held in which the large audience could interact with the speakers.
The illustrator Ester Pinto Tovar with Esterytelling illustrated the event with real-time infographics in which she compiled the most interesting moments.
