The UB and the UPC create the first joint spin-off: a company devoted to the compression of large data volumes
On 22nd February, DAPCOM-DATA Services was set up. It is the first spin-off created by the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) in order to develop data compression technologies which are really useful in spatial missions and can be applied to aeronautical, supercomputing and ICT sectors.
On 22nd February, DAPCOM-DATA Services was set up. It is the first spin-off created by the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) in order to develop data compression technologies which are really useful in spatial missions and can be applied to aeronautical, supercomputing and ICT sectors.
DAPCOM-DATE Services, a technological company fostered by the UB and the UPC•BarcelonaTech, will develop and commercialize FAPEC (Fully adapted prediction error code), an algorithm to compress large data volumes —larger than 1 terabyte (1012 bytes)— that allow to make a more efficient use of the hardware and the broadband available in many applications and sectors. It was initially created to fulfil important requirements of the compression systems used in space missions and the aeronautical sector. The algorithm FAPEC can be really useful in processing and interpreting the scientific research data used by supercomputers and those companies that need to manage large volumes of data in the ICT, multimedia, social networks or online games sectors.
This new company is the result of the research carried out by a group composed by eight researchers from the UB, the UPC, the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and the Cartographic Institute of Catalonia, which began to work together with the Gaia project, an astrometry mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Spain.
Developed in C++ language, the algorithm FAPEC is a lossless data compressor, even in presence of large amounts of noise and outliers, which typically offers better ratios than other existing solutions.
The development and the use of this technology minimalize the data storing space data, as well as the broadband to transfer them. It also reduces the time to compress the data without losses, transfer them and unzip them.
Multidisciplinary group and university support
The entrepreneur team of this new spin-off is composed by Francesc Julbe, telecommunications engineer experienced in hardware development and in the sector of technology consultancy; Jordi Portell, electronical engineer and PhD in Applied Physics; Xavier Luri, professor at the Department of Astronomy and Meteorology of the UB; Jordi Torra, professor of Physics at that department and main researcher of the Gaia project; Enrique García-Berro, professor of Physics from the Department of Applied Physics at the UPC and currently manager of the Serra Húnter plan of the Government of Catalonia; Alberto González, technological adviser at the Cartographic Institute of Catalonia, and Marcial Clotet and Javier Castañeda, both telecommunications engineers at the IEEC.
Francesc Julbe will be the managing director of DAPCOM-DATA Services, and Jordi Portell and the professor Xavier Luri compose the scientific and advisory team of the company.
Currently, the spin-off has an implementation in software and a prototype in hardware of the technology FAPEC. Due to its high potential, the UB and the UPC have supported the creation of the company and have applied the patent of the technology in Europe and the United States. In addition, the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation (FBG) has given advice on the definition of the business plan and negotiated the technology transfer agreement signed by the UB, the UPC and the company.
The project has also received the support of the Ministry of Education, by means of the campus of International excellence BKC and RedEmprendia.
FBG is the centre for knowledge, Technology and innovation transfer of the UB Group. It applies for 22-25 patents every year and creates between two and five technological companies. It is supported by ACC1Ó, the agency of the Government of Catalonia which promotes competitiveness among Catalan companies.
The UB collaborates in the creation of spin-offs by means of the Innovative and Scientific Culture (CIC-UB), the company of the UB Group in charge of grouping shares held or bought from other societies in the UB Group. Founded in 2003, this company participates in Enantia, Genmedica Therapeutics, Biocontrol Technologies, Neurotech Pharma, ImmunNovative Developments, Iproteos, Advanced Nanotechnologies, Smalle Technologies and DAPCOM-DATA Services. The main aim of CIC-UB is to facilitate the creation of technological companies and obtain an economic and social return for the group UB and the society as well as the creation of high quality jobs. On the other hand, the UPC has created about 250 technological companies and obtained 147 patents from 2000 to 2011.