SEAT and UPF have signed a framework collaboration agreement with the aim of establishing and implementing various research and industrial doctorate projects focusing on the areas of information technology and communications and economics.

The agreement, which aims to improve both organizations’ goals in the areas of research, training and technological progress, was signed on 14 June, at midday, at the rector’s office, by Jaume Casals, UPF rector, and Xavier Ros, SEAT vice-president of Human Resources.

At the signature, Jaume Casals stated that “this agreement shows that the UPF wants to have a more lively and interactive relationship with its environment both locally and globally. We want to contribute to the constant improvement of the productive fabric and for the productive fabric to help finance the University by preparing professionals to a very high level of scientific training”.

Xavier Ros, on the other hand, underlined that “innovation and research are essential for the future of SEAT. The company is committed to attracting and retaining talent and this new relationship with UPF is a step forward in giving young scientists the opportunity to investigate in our company”.

Also present at the signing were, for UPF Miquel Oliver, director of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC); Elena Ramalhinho, professor of the Department of Economics and Business; Davinia Hernández-Leo, DTIC lecturer, and Pau Fernández, in charge of institutional fundraising. SEAT was represented by Mª Esther Fernández Llambrich, head of Programs and Personal Marketing, and Silvia Roca, head of the “New Generation” programmes.

The plan initially involves two industrial doctorate projects (possibly more in the future) for a period of three years, linked to the UPF doctorate in Information and Communication Technologies. Professor Helena Ramalhinho is the director of one of the two theses, focusing on data analysis and logistics planning; and Davinia Hernández-Leo will be directing the second one, which focuses on the field of learning technologies integrated in the workplace.

Specific agreements for each of the industrial doctorates

The research and industrial doctorate projects resulting from this collaboration will be individually arranged by means of specific agreements between the two parties. They will set out aspects such as the process of selecting the candidate, the directors, the funding and the duration of the project, the type of contract applicable to the doctoral student and the tasks they will perform, among others.

Seat, which aims to develop lines of research related to automotive industry, will hire doctoral students from the University, who will be selected jointly by the multinational and their thesis supervisor.

Via the car builder, the UPF students will have the opportunity to participate in a strategic R&D&i project, which will generate high added value to their curriculum. Likewise, in this context, the students will be able to pursue their research training, in collaboration with the University, materializing in the preparation of their doctoral thesis.