Four students from the University of Barcelona have been awarded first place in the Research and Development Contest organized by the UB-Worldsensing Chair on Industrial IoT, in cooperation with the CEMIC (Center for research and technology transfer in electronic engineering and information technologies). The winning team, comprising two women and two men from diverse academic backgrounds (including Physics, Communications Electronic Engineering, and Computing Engineering), stood out for their proposal that bridges innovative technology and practical application in the IoT field.
The award presentation took place at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Barcelona on 6th June 2025. From the University of Barcelona, the Dean of Physics, Dr. Eugeni Graugés, the Director of the UB-Worldsensing Chair on industrial IoT, Dr. Manel López de Miguel, the Director of the Department of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, Dra. Francesca Peiró, the Head of University Chairs, Xavier Lacasta, and Estefania Marquez, from the University Department of Chairs attended. Worldsensing was represented by its CEO and co-founder, Dr. Ignasi Vilajosana, the VP of Innovation and Compliance, Dr. Francisco Hernández, and the Director of Communications and Sustainability, Maite García. The principal investigator of the winning project, doctoral student Vanessa Costa Ledesma, attended on behalf of the student team.
A contest to encourage talent and innovation
The Research and Development Contest, organized by the University of Barcelona-Worldsensing Chair on Industrial IoT, challenged participants to explore innovative solutions to real-world industrial IoT challenges. Open to interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate, Master’s, PhD students, and recent graduates, the initiative emphasized creativity, technical expertise, and practical outcomes.
Participants were tasked with conceptualizing and developing a functional prototype or demonstrator of their technological solution. This approach ensured the projects were not only theoretically robust but also had real-world applicability. The winning team received €5,000 in funding to further develop their concept over the course of four months.
Aligned with the Chair’s mission to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, the contest encouraged teams to explore a variety of topics such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and energy optimization. The initiative serves as a platform to foster the professional growth of young talent while bridging the gap between academic research and industrial applications in IoT.
ACME-IoT: Remote control of mechatronic systems
The winning proposal offers an innovative approach to revitalizing and modernizing a robot used for teaching purposes. The project integrates improved functionalities using a RISC-V microprocessor-based platform and the MQTT protocol for data transmission. This not only updates the current technology but also enables future IoT applications.
This new architecture enables real-time remote control of robots, seamless data transmission to cloud platforms, and comprehensive monitoring of system behavior and environmental conditions. By leveraging these capabilities, the project aims to optimize robot performance, facilitate remote data analysis, and align the learning experience of students with the latest IoT advancements.
The proposal is designed to enhance the functionality of existing robotics systems, making them adaptable for integration into other academic courses and degree programs. This ensures the project’s relevance and applicability extends beyond its immediate scope, offering benefits to a broader academic audience.
Multidisciplinary group of students from the University of Barcelona
The members of the winning student group are:
- Vanessa Costa Ledesma – Principal Investigator
Vanessa earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Barcelona and a Master’s degree in Photonics from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Currently pursuing a PhD in Nanoscience at the University of Barcelona, her research focuses on developing machine learning algorithms for spectroscopic analysis in transmission electron microscopy. Her expertise spans 2D materials as well as plasmonic and phononic phenomena. - Josep Puig Soler – Hardware Developer
Josep is a third-year student in Communications Electronic Engineering at the University of Barcelona. His contributions to the team focus on hardware development and the integration of IoT functionalities. - Maria Toro Tey – Hardware Developer
Maria, also a third-year student in Telecommunications Electronic Engineering at the University of Barcelona, is involved in the hardware aspects of the project, working alongside Josep to implement innovative solutions. - Josep Arnau Belmonte Juliachs – Software Developer
Josep is a Computing Engineering student at the University of Barcelona, specializing in cybersecurity and backend systems. His role involves developing software for the project, ensuring smooth communication and data processing within the IoT platform.
“We submitted our proposal for this award because we sought to innovate within the educational sphere, transforming technology, particularly through IoT, into a dynamic and transformative tool for students, enabling them to connect and interact with the real world in an immersive and real-time manner.” Vanessa Costa Ledesma, Principal Investigator
IoT technologies with transversal impact across academic areas
The winning project’s interdisciplinary nature ensures a transversal impact across various academic programs at the University of Barcelona, including Computing Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, and the Master’s in Artificial Intelligence.
Beyond technological advancement, the initiative reflects the Chair’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The PhD thesis of the project’s principal investigator is co-supervised by two distinguished professors: Dr. Francesca Peiró Martínez, an expert in electron microscopy and materials nano-characterization, and Dr. Sònia Estradé Albiol, a specialist in EELS techniques and application of Big Data.
The collaboration with the University of Barcelona-City of Cornellà Chair on Gender Perspective and Feminisms, led by Professor Sònia Estradé Albiol, underscores the integration of social considerations into technological development, promoting research and knowledge transfer in the field of gender equality.
From classroom to industry impact
The University of Barcelona-Worldsensing Chair of Industrial IoT remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the next generation of technology leaders. This contest serves as a testament to the Chair’s dedication to bridging academia and industry, providing students with the tools and opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the ever-evolving field of industrial IoT.
By organizing this contest, Worldsensing aims to offer students hands-on experience, mentorship from IoT experts, industry exposure, and professional recognition. For the winning students group, the project presents not only practical learning opportunities but also the chance to enhance their academic and professional profiles with projects that address challenges in the IoT sector.