The University of Barcelona (UB) will build a 14,000 m2 mathematics and computer science research center on the Diagonal Campus, next to the Faculty of Economics and Business. It is scheduled to be operational in 2028.
With this initiative, which involves moving the Faculty of Mathematics from its current facilities located in the historic building in Plaza Universitat, the UB wants to favor the attraction of talent in these fields and increase the transfer of scientific research to society. It will also expand the area of the Barcelona Science Park, in the field of health.
To this end, this morning the financing agreement for the MIES project (acronym for mathematics, information technology, economy and health) was signed, through which the Government assumes an initial investment of 50 million, which the UB will return in the form of rent in a term of 50 years.
At the signing of the protocol, in addition to the rector of the UB, Joan Guàrdia, and the Minister of Territory, Juli Fernàndez, the Minister of Universities, Joaquim Nadal, and the deputy mayor of Barcelona, Janet Sanz, were present.
Rector Guàrdia has indicated that it is a "historic day" and memorable in that it means laying the first stone of a "great research center" and has thanked the complicity of the public administrations that have shared the vision of promoting science and research in the city.
"In 15 years it will be a world-class pole of attraction and knowledge", stated the head of the UB, who described the investment as a strategic piece in the research and knowledge fabric.
For his part, the Minister of Territories highlighted the opportunity to strengthen the research system "to make people's lives easier".
MIES involves the construction of two buildings of 24,000 m2 in total that will provide space for 700 researchers and 45 research groups.
The 14,000 m2 mathematical center will be located between Joan Obiols and John M. Keynes streets, on the Diagonal Campus, and will house the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. The rector has explained that the number of students or professors will not necessarily be increased, a decision that, in any case, depends on the Department of Universities. The purpose of the center is research and the transfer of new technological knowledge to society, according to Guàrdia.
The current Faculty of Mathematics will be restored and, for the moment, it will not be assigned to a new area of knowledge, but will "open up to the city", although it will maintain academic uses.
The second building will be located on the island of the South Campus, in the current headquarters of the School of New Interactive Technologies (ENTI), between the streets Llorenç Artigas, Pascual i Vila, Baldiri i Reixac and Adolf Florensa. A 10,000 m2 building will be built in this enclave which, in addition to expanding the Barcelona Science Park, will house the headquarters of the Bioengineering Institute of Catalonia.
The vice-rector, Jordi Bosch, has stated that the buildings are expected to be finished in 2028. The Institut Català del Sol (Incasòl) assumes the investment and the construction process in exchange for a transfer of land by the UB and a rent that will be borne by the university or by "entities that stay in these buildings". These "rentals" will be partially compensated with possible European funds. The European Regional Development Funds (FEDER), linked to the research infrastructures installed in these centers, can assume up to 40% of the total financing.
