Andreu Mas-Colell, professor in the UPF Department of Economics and Business and former Minister of Economy of the Generalitat of Catalonia, was recently appointed president of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST). BIST integrates six of the most important research institutes in Catalonia and aims to increase research impact of national research.

Professor Mas-Colell, who is replacing Rolf Tarrach, president of the European University Association (EUA), assumed presidency during a board meeting held on 28 June, 2015. The meeting was attended by, among others: the former president of the organisation, Rolf Tarrach; president of the Barcelona Provincial Council, Mercè Conesa; and Arcadi Navarro, Secretary of Universities and Research of the Generalitat de Catalunya and professor in the UPF Department of Experimental Sciences and Health.

The meeting also confirmed that the headquarters of the institute will be installed in Barcelona's historic Escola Industrial campus. The move marks the beginning of a new era for BIST, which will now have an area of about 6,000 square meters for offices, classrooms, technology platforms, and possibly also a business incubator.

Andreu Mas-Colell said that BIST is "an institution that brings together a scientific reality of the first order, and has a huge potential to strengthen other existing scientific initiatives. In addition, it brings together international scientists most respected in their disciplines, and provides an excellent environment to attract and train scientists from around the world."

BIST was established in 2015 with support from the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), and involved and attached to: the UPF; the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO); the Catalan Institute of Chemical Research (ICIQ); the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2); the Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE); and the Institute of Biomedical Research (IRB Barcelona).

Read news coverage about this in La Vanguardia (Spanish)