Innovation and Collaboration: UDIT holds its II Research Day

UDIT, University of Design, Innovation and Technology has celebrated the II edition of its Research Conference; an event that has counted with the participation of the teaching and research staff of the University, Library and Research Results Transfer Office (OTRI).

This conference was the perfect platform for the UDIT Research Groups and their members to share the progress of their projects and related activities.

The event began with a welcome from Dr. José Luis Olazagoitia, Vice-Rector for Research, who highlighted the importance of research in the development and positioning of UDIT as a leading university in design, innovation and technology.

Throughout the day, six research groups presented their results and recent actions, providing a meeting space to establish synergies and promote the research work of the University.

In addition, the new Research Group on Innovation and Digital Transformation of Communication (GITDCom) was presented, thus expanding UDIT's research network.

Research groups and conclusions

The ECSiT (Education, Culture, Society, Innovation and Technology) Group, led by Dr. Pablo Nogueira (PI) and Dr. Rafael Conde (co-IP), highlighted several significant projects, including the Educational Metaverse and the "SILVER" project. Dr. Nogueira presented an overview of the group, while Dr. Conde detailed the "SILVER" project.

The GENIUS Group (Design, Visual Culture and Gender), under the direction of Dr. Mª del Mar Martínez Oña, presented the creation of the first university journal and a book on women designers. During her speech, Dr. Martínez Oña invited the audience to collaborate in these initiatives.

The GUMTS Group (Fashion, Technology and Sustainability), led by Dr. Carolina García (IP), together with Prof. Alberto Ramos and Dr. Javier Hernández, presented their achievements of the last year. Dr. García presented the general activities of the group, Prof. Ramos talked about the internal project "TOUCHABLE" and Dr. Hernández together with Prof. María Tamames presented the new Sustainability Lab at UDIT.

The VerSus Group (Interior Design, Reality and Virtual Space), led by Dr. Eva Hurtado (PI), presented their ongoing projects, including "The House of the Future", "Palma Antiqua" and "Modern Madrid". Dr Hurtado also highlighted the activities of the group's doctoral students and collaborators.

The GITDCom Group (Innovation and Digital Transformation of Communication), led by Dr. Bárbara Castillo, was presented as a new group with a cross-disciplinary and collaborative approach to communication. Dr Castillo highlighted how emerging technologies are transforming communication and presented innovative strategies in digital marketing.

The DESIRe Group (Diseño Integral Regenerativo), led by Dr. Montserrat Pichel, presented an internal project based on regenerative design and the use of biomaterials, as well as the thesis of PhD student Elsa Gil on product design and its industrial applications. Dr. Pichel also introduced the applied technology part of the group, based on advanced sensory tools, artificial vision and robotics, and reviewed the competitive projects and publications presented. In addition, Dr. María Beltrán presented the internal Neurocreativity project, explaining the effect, impact and acceptance of the design in end users.

TTO and Library activities

Within the Research Results Transfer Office, OTRI, Dr. Adiela Batista was responsible for the organisation of the event. She presented an overview of the activities of the OTRI, including the projects submitted for funding, the transfer projects and the research results (IAI) to date of the groups and research staff of UDIT. He also explained UDIT's incentives and calls for proposals that can be found on the university's website. Marco A. Sánchez Trujillo commented on the new purchasing protocol applicable to research projects and future incentives for research projects.

In the Library area, Aída Santos explained the advances and modernisation of the UDIT library, highlighting the adhesion to Absysnet, the introduction of the new Online Library Catalogue and the updating of the library's collection. She also presented the achievements in terms of the incorporation of new and more efficient distributors, the creation of a newsletter, the exhibitor and the actions to support events within UDIT. Likewise, Héctor Muñoz, head of the Library, presented the institutional repository "Agora Creativa", where both the publications of the research teaching staff and the TFGs and TFMs of UDIT students are being collected, showing the great reception that these actions are having in the positioning of the university abroad.

Impact and Future

This meeting highlighted UDIT's progress in research, as well as the work of the different departments to continue improving and increasing UDIT's presence in national and international research.

The conference facilitated the creation of new synergies between the different research groups, aspects that are expected to increase the quality and quantity of collaborative projects. The presentations and publications highlighted during the conference help to position UDIT as a reference in research and innovation both nationally and internationally.

Improvements to the library and the new institutional repository"Agora Creativa" provide valuable resources for researchers and students, facilitating access to information and promoting the dissemination of research results.

To conclude the event, Dr. José Luis Olazagoitia, Vice-Rector for Research, reviewed the milestones achieved since the birth of UDIT after its 20 years of success as ESNE. He also compiled the requirements that the ideal PDI should have in any university, presented the research ecosystem created in UDIT and the development plans, announced the request for a first PhD for the University that is being evaluated, and presented the most important research figures in UDIT regarding the research groups, the budget and the IAI objectives. He also referred to the upcoming goals and plans for the next academic year 2024-25 and into the future.