MISSION AND STRATEGIC FOCUS

The Centre for Funding and Innovation (CFI-Barcelona) is a newly established flagship initiative at La Salle-URL, dedicated to enhancing research capabilities, fostering innovation, and securing funding opportunities for researchers, startups, and collaborators.

 

Guided by La Salle's foundational values of innovation, collaboration, and social transformation, CFI-Barcelona merges academic excellence with real-world impact, working to build sustainable and resilient solutions to pressing global challenges.

 

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

CFI-Barcelona is driven by the following objectives:

  • Expand and enhance research capacity: map global funding opportunities and build international research networks.
  • Promote innovation and co-creation: enhance the quality and quantity of research proposals through foresight-oriented activities and knowledge valorization strategies.
  • Foster global partnerships:serve as a catalyst for policy, industry, and academic collaboration, championing sustainable development.
  • Strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems: support La Salle's research groups and the broader innovation community, boosting competitive proposals and bridging with government and industry.

 

KEY RESEARCH AND FOCUS AREAS

Aligned with La Salle's mission of technological leadership and social transformation, CFI-Barcelona focuses on a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary themes:

1. Foresight-driven innovation and policy
Exploring and implementing forward-thinking methodologies to shape future-oriented research agendas.

2. Urban ecosystems and smart cities
Leveraging advanced digital frameworks to build sustainable, people-centric urban environments.

3. Technology and AI integration in society
Investigating how emerging technologies, including AI, robotics, and data science, enhance human interaction and social well-being.

4. User-centred product development
Creating innovative products and services by integrating feedback loops, user experience methodologies, and rapid prototyping.

5. Resilient systems, robotics, and networks
Applying robust technological infrastructures to address complex challanges in areas like automation, cybersecurity, and telecommunications.

6. Experimental media applications
Mergin augmented/virtual reality, signal processing, and interactive media to redefine experiences in art, education, and industry.

7. Sustainability and Circular Economy
Advancing methods and strategies that reduce waste, optimize resources, and support long-term ecological resilience.
 

WHAT CAN CFI-BARCELONA OFFER

CFI-Barcelona serves as a catalyst for research, innovation, and internationalization. CFI-Barcelona is a gateway to collaboration and growth within the global innovation ecosystem, whether for a researcher, industry innovator, or policy leader.

  • Knowledge and advisory:
    • Preparing in-depth analyses and roadmaps to help stakeholders adapt to emerging technologies and innovative practices. ​
    • Sharing expertise through published articles, case studies, and collaboration sessions.
  • Global engagement:
    • Engaging in cross-border partnerships and international consortia.
    • Establishing strategic networks to position La Salle-URL at the forefront of research excellence.
  • Ecosystem development:
    • Bridging academia with industry, government, and civil society to foster a culture of open innovation.
    • Hosting workshops, discussion forums, and professional development programs that stimulate collaborative ventures.

 

OUR MISSION, LEADERSHIP, AND ACTIVITIES

Our mission

To support La Salle's research groups, departments, and Innovation Park by:

  • Mapping global funding opportunities.​​
  • Building international research networks.
  • Enhancing the quality and quantity of research proposals.
  • Boosting knowledge valorization, co-creation, and sharing.

 

Our leadership

CFI-Barcelona operates under the leadership of two co-directors:

Dr. Rafael Popper – International Director: responsible for the Centre's overall management and strategic vision, particularly global outreach and foresight-driven research.

Dr. Rosa María Alsina Pagès – Local Director: bridges with La Salle's research groups and local innovation ecosystem, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and regional partnerships.

 

Our core activities

1. Strategy, Outreach, Internationalization, and Ecosystem Management

  • Stakeholder Engagement: fostering partnerships within La Salle's academic community and with global innovation actors.
  • Ecosystem Management: integrating research, innovation, and entrepreneurship to align with La Salle's broader strategic goals.
  • Internationalization: expanding La Salle's global presence by promoting international collaborations.

2. Funding support

  • Opportunity Identification: scanning, mapping, and prioritizing funding calls that match La Salle's research strengths.​
  • Proposal Development: assisting research groups and startups in drafting, reviewing, and submitting high-quality proposals.
  • Strategic Partnerships: building consortia for competitive research proposals, connecting researchers to national and international collaborators.

3. Capacity building & training

  • Research Proposal Development: organizing workshops focused on securing European and global grants.
  • Foresight and Innovation Skills: providing training on future-oriented methodologies, scenario planning, and innovation strategies.
  • Professional Development: offering customized coaching and advisory services for navigating complex funding landscapes.

4. Knowledge transfer

  • Knowledge Valorization: collaborating with Technova Barcelona and TECNIO-certified groups to turn research outputs into impactful innovation, supported by La Salle's Rapid Technology Transfer model.
  • ​Knowledge Co-Creation: facilitating collaborative research within La Salle-URL and with external stakeholders, enabling contract research and industry partnerships.
  • Knowledge Sharing: hosting conferences, seminars, and workshops, while collaborating with TechNova's startup ecosystem to accelerate innovation programs.

 

CFI-BARCELONA: A GATEWAY TO GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

CFI-Barcelona at La Salle-URL is part of the International Association of La Salle Universities (IALU), one of the world's largest and most dynamic university networks. Established in 1998, IALU unites over 60 institutions, fostering collaboration among more than 1 million students, 90,000 educators, and 1,100 educational projects globally1. The network is structured into five regions — RELEM, RELAN, RELAL, RELAF, and PARC — covering Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.

Through this global affiliation, CFI-Barcelona:

  • Expands La Salle's international reach: leveraging the resources of IALU's diverse academic hubs to enrich collaborative possibilities.
  • Promotes multicultural understanding: supporting projects and exchanges that benefit from the unique perspectives of each IALU region.
  • Drives research and funding success: connecting local and international stakeholders to tackle societal challenges in alignment with La Salle's research priorities.

 

DRIVING RESEARCH THROUGH INNOVATION AND FORESIGHT

CFI-Barcelona actively engages with the broader Triple Helix (academia-industry-government) and beyond, bringing together civil society to co-create meaningful, forward-looking solutions. By linking cutting-edge research with transformative innovation, we strive to address pressing societal challenges and stimulate enduring value.

  • Enriching user experience through media and interaction technologies: integrating virtual and augmented reality, signal processing, and data visualization to shape next-generation digital environments.
  • Fostering entrepreneurship and innovation for global success: building on La Salle's robust startup ecosystem and bridging research initiatives with real-world deployment.
  • Boosting knowledge valorization, co-creation, and sharing: encouraging open innovation models to transform groundbreaking ideas into tangible social and economic benefits.

 

WHY PARTNER WITH CFI-BARCELONA

CFI-Barcelona is uniquely positioned to integrate research, innovation, and funding expertise, forging impactful collaborations among academia, industry, and government:

  • Access to a Thriving Ecosystem: startups and established companies alike gain entry to new networks, investors, corporate partners, and mentors.
  • Transdisciplinary Research Themes: from Smart Futures to Knowledge-Enhancing Technologies, CFI-Barcelona aligns academic insight with practical industry and policy implementation.
  • Cutting-Edge Labs and Facilities: collaborations with units like the Interactive Arts and Science Laboratory (IASlab) offer partners direct paths to state-of-the-art technologies, accelerating innovation cycles.
  • Policy and Ecosystems Resilience: working in tandem with La Salle Technova Barcelona and the Internet of Things Institute of Catalonia (IoTiCAT), CFI-Barcelona leverages agile methodologies and emerging technologies to address complex challenges in real time.

 

CONTACT

CFI-Barcelona La Salle Campus Barcelona C/Sant Joan de La Salle, 42 Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08022 Barcelona, España

Dr. Rafael Popper - International Director rafael.popper@salle.url.edu

Dr. Rosa Mª Alsina - Local Director rosamaria.alsina@salle.url.edu