Partners

The UPC, a prestigious academic institution offering polytechnic, scientific, and urban planning/architecture studies, recognizes the transformative impact that artificial intelligence has across all spheres of society. It is the only university in Spain to offer a comprehensive program of official bachelor's, master's, and doctoral studies in artificial intelligence, along with other related fields. During critical moments, such as the pandemic, UPC has been a reference institution, providing a technological and scientific response to the society it serves and its students, demonstrating a commitment to quality public service. Its strong dedication to AI led to the establishment of its own Research Center in AI and Data Science (IDEAI) in October 2017, founded and initially directed by the current head of the chair, Cecilio Angulo. This center coordinates various initiatives in which UPC is involved, including the creation of the AI degree; participation in the Catalan strategy for technology transfer (CIDAI) and research (AIRA); involvement in the Spanish AI strategy (the Spanish node GAIA-X); contributions to AI white papers at both state and regional levels; and participation in European initiatives, such as the European Digital Innovation Hub (DIH4CAT).

Siemens Energy is a global technology company that offers solutions for the energy industry, including renewable energy, generation systems, and transmission and distribution networks. In an increasingly heterogeneous environment, Siemens has committed to artificial intelligence (AI) in its monitoring, control, and analytics systems with the aim of improving the efficiency, reliability, and profitability of its products and services. Currently, Siemens Energy utilizes AI to optimize wind turbines and enhance the performance of wind farms. Additionally, the company's AI-based digital twin technology enables real-time monitoring and analysis of wind turbine data, which can be used to improve maintenance and increase energy production. In the turbine generation sector, Siemens Energy utilizes AI to optimize the operations and maintenance of gas-fired power plants. The company’s AI-powered predictive maintenance systems can identify potential issues before they lead to failures, thereby reducing downtime and enhancing the reliability of power generation.

CROM is an internationally leading research center affiliated with Aalborg University, dedicated to sustainable development within multidisciplinary energy frameworks. It provides reliable and cutting-edge solutions for microgrids and IoT-based energy systems, among others. With over 10 years of experience, CROM boasts world-class laboratories and more than 100 members, including researchers, Ph.D. students, and visiting scholars. As a prominent research center, CROM has established strong international collaborations with companies in industry, as well as universities and research institutions. One of the center's core missions is to drive digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence for developing smart and resilient energy systems, fostering collaboration in this critical area. (www.crom.energy.aau.dk)

The IEE, the Institute of Electricity Economics and Energy Innovation at Graz University of Technology in Austria (https://www.tugraz.at/en/institutes/iee/home), addresses the challenges of sustainable changes in the energy system and contributes to solving these problems. Founded in 2000, it has been tackling these challenges in research and teaching ever since. The issues to be addressed are enormous due to ongoing climate change and the necessary reduction of dependence on energy imports. The IEE is a competent partner for scientific research, economics, and administration, particularly for energy companies, regulatory bodies, and policymakers in both administration and politics. The institute's core fields of activity include: business administration and national economic issues in the field of energy economics; e-mobility; energy and the environment (emissions, climate change, etc.); energy efficiency; modeling of energy systems; energy planning; and innovative energy technologies (fuel cells, cogeneration, renewable energies).

EIT InnoEnergy is a company established in 2010 as a result of a public-private partnership between the European Commission and leading European universities, research centers, and corporations in the field of sustainable energy. Promoted by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), InnoEnergy is a collaborative entity in the proposal and has close ties with the UPC, which is part of its founding group and coordinates the consortium's Co-location Center Iberia, dedicated to the integration of renewable energies. EIT InnoEnergy's mission is to accelerate the energy transition towards a decarbonized Europe by 2050. To achieve this goal, InnoEnergy invests in education, startups, and high-potential industrial companies. Additionally, it coordinates three strategic industrial alliances for Europe: the European Battery Alliance (EBA) for battery storage, the European Green Hydrogen Acceleration Centre (EGHAC) for green hydrogen, and the European Solar PV Industry Alliance (ESIA) for solar photovoltaics.

EIT Urban Mobility is an initiative of the EIT and represents the leading European innovation community for urban mobility. It brings together key players across the mobility value chain, creating a community of over 300 organizations spread across 33 countries in Europe. Since January 2019, EIT Urban Mobility has been working to foster positive changes in how people move around cities, making them more livable. It is the largest European initiative transforming urban mobility, aiming to demonstrate how new technologies, digitalization, and AI can help solve real problems in real cities. This initiative is currently in the baseline funding phase from the EIT, which will allocate up to €400 million between 2020 and 2026 for the deployment of its activities.

The "Ayuntamiento de Barcelona" , through its Commissioner for Digital Innovation, Electronic Administration, Good Governance, Management of the 2030 Agenda, Digital Transition, and Sports, is committed to a robust administration that embodies democratic values and accessibility. This commitment includes new forms of interaction, collaboration, and cooperation with citizens, as well as social and economic stakeholders. A prime example of this initiative is the approval of the "Municipal Strategy for Algorithms and Data for the Ethical Promotion of Artificial Intelligence." With the Barcelona Digital City Plan, the Barcelona City Council aims to leverage digital technology to ensure public and equitable coverage of the needs of all citizens and to tackle significant urban challenges, including energy concerns. At the intersection of digital technology and energy challenges lies the application of artificial intelligence tools to achieve a successful energy transition. This initiative will position Barcelona among the 100 cities (seven of which are in Spain) selected by the European Union to participate in the EU Mission: 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030.