The rector and the company’s president signed the agreement between both entities this Thursday
The University of Vigo expands its network of chairs this year with the signing of a new agreement with Grupo Oesía, a Spanish multinational dedicated to dual-use digital and industrial engineering, which develops and implements innovation and transformation projects in 40 countries across four continents. The Oesía Chair responds to the interest of both entities in collaborating on teaching and research activities in the field of telecommunications, especially in the study of applied radiofrequency. Within this area, the chair will address key aspects such as antenna systems, electromagnetic design and simulation of these systems, their calibration and measurement, as well as the application of transversal tools provided by artificial intelligence, with possibilities for expansion into areas such as electromagnetic simulation, QKD systems, or 5G/6G networks.
A Pillar for the Future of the Country
This is not the first collaboration between the two entities, which had already signed a cooperation agreement in 2021 in the field of cybersecurity and digital transformation. “This chair we are signing today,” emphasized Luis Furnells, Executive President of Grupo Oesía, “is another step in our journey to boost Spanish technological advancement in general and Galician in particular, through education, knowledge dissemination, and fostering R&D+i in cutting-edge disciplines.” In this regard, the group’s leader highlighted that being a company focused on disruptive technologies, “we are aware of the importance of collaboration between companies and research centers, such as universities, for the development and progress of the economy and society. That is why we are very proud to contribute to the Galician talent being trained in these classrooms and their contributions to the community.”
For his part, the Rector of UVigo, Manuel Reigosa, expressed his conviction that “the university must play an important role in developing the country’s capabilities, not only through education but also through R&D and public-private collaboration. This is something that UVigo has always believed in, and this chair is an example of that.” Reigosa noted that this agreement opens doors to collaboration in industrial doctoral programs, in areas related to quantum communications, artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G, or photonics, “enhancing the training of our students and also offering them powerful projects that prevent other countries from benefiting from their talent and capabilities, which are essential for the future of the country.”
Also attending the signing ceremony were Vice-Rector of Research, Transfer, and Innovation, Belén Rubio, as well as Carlos Founaud, Director of Innovation at Grupo Oesía, María Graña, Head of Innovation and Technology at Inster-Grupo Oesía, and the directors of the chair, researchers Ana Vázquez Alejos, from the Radio Systems group, and Óscar Rubiños, from the Antennas, Radar, and Optical Communications group, both members of atlanTTic, the Telecommunications Technologies Research Center of the University of Vigo. The vice-rector agreed with the rector and the group’s executive president on the importance of these types of collaborations between universities and businesses to launch attractive projects that help retain student talent and even bring back excellent professionals who had chosen to leave the university and the country.
The coordinators of the chair emphasized the importance it will have for the Telecommunications Engineering School and its students, as it will allow them to “connect with companies in the sector” during their training, helping them enhance their projects and initiatives, which are characterized by multidisciplinarity. In this regard, the professors stressed that this collaboration will be retroactive, and “although the chair will initially focus on radiofrequency, it will gradually expand into fields like QKD, quantum communications, or 5G/6G networks.”
Planned Activities for the Chair’s First Year
Under this new chair, training, outreach, and R&D+i activities will be organized. Regarding training, seminars on technologies of common interest and collaboration results will be conducted, along with an internship program for students, inclusion of work topics in the Laboratory Projects course in the 4th year of Telecommunications Engineering, as well as complementary academic activities and sponsorship of studies through scholarships or awards. In terms of outreach and transfer, conferences and meetings with other companies in the area will be organized to showcase the employment and R&D potential. Finally, concerning R&D+i promotion, the agreement prioritizes participation in the Industrial Doctorate call, supporting the completion of final degree and master’s projects, organizing expert meetings on cutting-edge technology topics, and R&D topics.
The agreement will have a duration of four years, which may be extended after this period.
Source: DUVI.