Despite the achievements of the last decade in research and innovation policies, Catalonia still has much to do to join the world’s elite in R+D+I. In terms of innovation, the Spanish autonomous community is at the forefront of a disadvantaged OECD country, but it is still below the average for this group of countries. These and many other findings are highlighted in a report that the OECD itself has developed to evaluate the Catalan research and innovation system. The report was presented on Thursday, June 3, at the Capilla of Santa Àgata in Barcelona.

In the framework of the Barcelona BioMed Forum, different experts analyzed the results of the four editions for Starting Grants and Advanced Grants and conclude that, despite the positive assessment, it is necessary that the European Research Council (ERC) has more independence from the European Commission to finally achieve its objective of enhancing European scientific excellence.

From the 2nd to the 4th of March the Second International Conference on Ethics and Human Values in Engineering has taken place at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), organized by Victoriano Muñoz Oms, Chair of the UPC and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). For three days, engineers and others linked to the world of engineering around the world have been discussing and reflecting on the social impact, good practice, ethics and values education in this profession, within a period of change that it maybe should be a change of time.