A new study named “Innovation capability and internationalization in family firms: The moderating role of family involvement across governance layers” written by our researcher Claudio Cruz-Cázares, alongside with Diana A. Filipescu (TBS Business School), Alfonso Hernández-Vivanco (IQS Universitat Ramon Llull) and Lucía Garcés-Galdeano (Public University of Navarre) shows that innovation does not automatically lead family businesses to expand internationally. Instead, the way family members are involved in company governance plays a decisive role in whether innovative capabilities are translated into… 
The UB Business School has successfully concluded the Barcelona stage of the 18th edition of the Mosaic Summer School on Management of Creativity in an Innovation Society, held from 6 to 10 July. As the final destination of an international programme spanning Montréal, Nantes and Barcelona, the Summer School brought together students, researchers, professionals and innovators to explore how creativity and innovation can contribute to addressing some of today's most pressing global challenges. Organized by Mosaic-HEC Montréal in collaboration with… 
Our researchers Josep María Argilés Bosch, Mercè Bernardo Vilamitjana, Daniel Luiz de Mattos Nascimento and Anna María Gil-Lafuente has been recognized among the top 5% of scientists worldwide in the latest ranking published by SciRank Global (The Global Institute of Scientometrics). SciRank Global is an independent organization dedicated to the transparent and data-driven evaluation of scientific performance. Its rankings aim to identify researchers whose work has made a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge through measurable research impact and… 
How can wine tourism help strengthen local identity and create more sustainable tourism models? And how can different ways of producing wine coexist while contributing to a town’s economic and cultural development? In the article “Tourism and coexistence between branded and natural wines: the case of Calonge i Sant Antoni”, our researcher Montserrat Crespi-Vallbona, alongside Ester Noguer-Juncà (University of Lleida) how two wine festivals in the Catalan town of Calonge i Sant Antoni help reinforce territorial identity, foster collaboration among… 
How can companies build resilient and sustainable supply chains in the face of major disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic or geopolitical conflicts? And which factors really matter when adopting Industry 4.0 technologies in developing countries? These questions are increasingly relevant in a world marked by uncertainty and supply chain fragility. In the paper “A taxonomy of critical factors towards sustainable operations and supply chain management 4.0 in developing countries”, our researcher Daniel Luiz de Mattos Nascimento, alongside with Rodrigo… 
The Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Barcelona hosted on 3 March at 14:30 the lecture “Digitalisation and European Competitiveness: Key Challenges Ahead”, delivered by Erik Slottner, Minister for Public Administration of the Government of Sweden. Mr Slottner and his team were welcomed by the Vice-Rector for Internationalisation Policy of the University of Barcelona, Raul Ramos, and the Dean of the Faculty, Laura Guitart, among others. The Minister later met with Swedish students currently studying at the… 
A new paper titled “Triangular Speculative Attacks”, authored by our researcher David Alaminos and published in Open Economies Review, introduces the Triangular Speculative Attacks Model (TSAM), a novel framework that advances the field of international macro-financial analysis by explaining how speculative shocks propagate across foreign exchange markets through intermediary currencies. Unlike traditional approaches that analyze speculative attacks as isolated bilateral events, TSAM captures the triangular structure of global FX systems, where financial stress originating in one currency can spread indirectly through a… 
The UB Business School is excited to welcome a distinguished group of new researchers to the University of Barcelona. These new colleagues bring expertise across many fields of business that will enrich our research environment, enhance the student learning experience, and foster collaborations across the Departments, its research structures, and the broader university community. This year, 8 new researchers have joined our Faculty. Lizbeth Arroyo joins the Department of Business as an Assistant Professor. Her research interests focus on Strategy… 
The University of Barcelona will host the 2026 edition of the DFBI Conference, an international meeting focused on the digital transformation of buildings and infrastructure. The event will address key technological advances, including Digital Twins, interoperability frameworks, openBIM standards (e.g., IFC), BIM integration with IoT, AR/VR applications and robotics, along with sustainable practices, data-driven decision-making and innovative construction methods aimed at improving design efficiency, quality assurance and resilience. Under the theme Digital Business Models for a Sustainable Built Environment, the… 
The University of Barcelona Business School is seeking expressions of interest for an Assistant Professor position in Accounting starting in September 2026. Promotion to tenure (Associate Professor) will require both the corresponding governmental accreditation and successful completion of the required selection process. The University of Barcelona is a leading centre in southern Europe, with a strong commitment to excellence in research. It enjoys a long tradition of teaching, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in the field of Economics… 
The UB Business School welcomed 24 new students to the Executive MBA programme this year. Most of them come from Latin America (95,8 %), and the remaining ones (4,2 %) from Europe. Altogether, there are 7 nationalities represented in this class, with an average age of 33 years old. This diverse group of people will now pursue an official one-year programme that provides experienced professionals with a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the management techniques and executive skills involved in business… 
The UB Business School welcomed 27 new students to the MSc in International Business programme this year. Most of them come from Europe (74,1 %), with others from America (18,5%) and Asia (7,4 %). Altogether, there are 13 nationalities represented in this class, where the average age is 25 years old. This diverse group will now pursue an official one-year programme taught in English, designed to train specialists in global business management. The curriculum covers finance and accounting, marketing, operations,… 
The UB Business School welcomed 22 new students to the MSc in Business Research programme this year. Most of them come from Europe (36,4%), others from Latin America (31,8 %), and the remaining ones come from Asia (27,3 %) and Africa (4,5 %). Altogether, there are 11 nationalities represented in this class, with an average age of 31 years old. This diverse group of people will now pursue an official one-year programme that provides students with advanced training in the… 
Coinciding with the start of the academic year, the new edition of The UB in Figures is now available, featuring the most important data for the 2024-2025 academic year. It presents the main figures for the University of Barcelona and its academic activity in a clear and attractive format. This year, the document’s new design highlights certain data, such as the number of students’ external academic placements (14,135); it includes graphs with more variables and information on gender perspective, such as the… 
A new study titled “Pre-travel experiential tourism communication: A study of Catalonia and Veneto”, authored by our researchers Michele Girotto and Jordi Campo, alongside with Carolina Nicolas (Universidad de Santiago de Chile), explores how tourism institutions in Catalonia and Veneto (Italy) have adapted their communication strategies to highlight experiential aspects in the pre-travel phase. Using a content analysis of posts published on X (formerly Twitter) by the official accounts of the Catalan Tourist Board (@turismecat) and Turismo Veneto (@TurismoVeneto) between… 
A new study named “Business digitalisation as a driver of environmental and economic sustainability in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises” written by our researcher Claudio Cruz, along with our PhD in Business alumnus Luis Francisco Miranda, Minna Saunila (LUT University) and Juhani Ukko (LUT University) sheds light on the complex relationship between digital transformation and sustainability in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Conducted in Finland—a digital frontrunner in the EU—the research reveals that digitalisation, while essential, does not directly… 
A recent study named “Tech startups and general data protection regulation: an empirical exploration of compliance challenges”, written by our researcher Yelena Smirnova, alongside with Victoriano Travieso-Morales (Geneva Business School – Barcelona Campus) takes a close look at how tech startups in Catalonia are dealing with the challenges of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance. By combining survey data with in-depth interviews, the research identifies key obstacles faced by startups and offers practical recommendations for improving regulatory support in early-stage business environments.… 
MSc in International Business, MSc in Business Research and MBA graduates at the UB Business School celebrated their academic achievements with friends and relatives during Graduation Day at the Faculty of Economics and Business. The ceremonies took place on July 15 and 17, 2025. All graduates wore the academic dress –consisting of a gown and hood– and received symbolic diplomas. The MSc classes of 2025 graduated together with other official master’s degrees students and postgraduate degrees at the Faculty of Economics… 
The UB Business School has successfully concluded the XVII edition of the Summer School on Management of Creativity in an Innovation Society, held from June 25 to July 11, 2025. Organized in collaboration with Mosaic–HEC Montréal and IAE Nantes (Nantes Université), the programme brought together participants from across the globe for an immersive, multidisciplinary learning experience spanning three cities: Montréal, Nantes, and Barcelona. Recognized as a hub for international collaboration and forward-thinking approaches, the Summer School once again fostered dynamic… 
The University of Barcelona has improved five positions and is now ranked 160th in the QS World University Rankings. It thus ranks in the top 11% of the world’s best universities according to this ranking, which analyses more than 1,500 higher education institutions. The UB is also ranked 68 in Europe and is the leader in Spain, where it occupies first place in the indicators of academic reputation and international research networks. In terms of the academic reputation indicator, the… 
Recent research by David Alaminos, M. Belén Salas-Compás, and Manuel Á. Fernández-Gámez investigates whether Bitcoin can exert speculative pressure on fiat currencies, particularly the US Dollar, during episodes of financial stress. Using a novel hybrid model that integrates ARIMA-EGARCH, and Wavelet Neural Networks (WNN)—with additional enhancement through a Quantum Recurrent Neural Network (QRNN)—the authors analyze dynamic interactions between BTC/USD and EUR/USD exchange rates. The focus is on episodes of speculative attacks and short squeezes, moments characterized by abrupt currency movements and… 
Laura Guitart Tarrés, tenured professor in the Department of Business, director of the UB Chair of Family Business, and until now Academic Vice-Dean, has taken office as Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Barcelona in a ceremony held at the historic building on 19 June 2025. Guitart Tarrés is a researcher with the Business Research Group (SGR 0361), head of the Teaching Innovation Group on Learning Tools in Business Management (G·IDEA), and co-director of… 
On May 13th, the Extraordinary Doctorate Awards were presented to recognize the best doctoral theses of the 2022–2023 academic year. We are proud to announce that two of our PhD in Business alumni, Dr. Laura Sáez and Dr. Juan José Vidal, received this prestigious award. Dr. Laura Sáez was awarded for her thesis “The emerging landscape of Social Media Data Collection: anticipating trends and addressing future challenges”. Her research analyzes how social media platforms are used to collect personal data… 
A comprehensive new study by our researchers Miguel Guillén-Pujadas, David Alaminos, Emili Vizuete-Luciano; and Ángela M. Callejón-Gil (Universidad de Málaga) and José María Merigó-Lindahl (University of Technology Sydney) offers a deep dive into nearly five decades of research on ethics in trading. Using a bibliometric analysis of over 3,000 academic publications from 1976 to 2022, the study maps key trends, top contributors, and emerging topics in the field. The results reveal a clear surge in academic interest—particularly around high-frequency trading,… 
A new study by our researcher Josep Maria Argilés-Bosch, alongside with Josep Garcia-Blandon (IQS School of Management) and Diego Ravenda (TBS Business School) investigates the impact of female board directors on firms’ cost of debt, using unique research setting in Norway. While prior studies suggest that female directors contribute to lower financing costs due to their risk-averse decision-making, this study finds no significant relationship between increased female board representation and firms’ borrowing costs. The research leverages Norway’s 2006 board gender… 
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has published a ranking of the 10,000 most outstanding Spanish and foreign female scientists conducting research in organizations in Spain, aiming to increase the visibility of their work. A total of 402 researchers from the University of Barcelona are included, 25 of whom belong to the Faculty of Economics and Business. Five researchers from the UB Business School are featured in the ranking, led by Mercè Bernardo, followed by Esther Hormiga, Montserrat Crespí, Pilar… 
A study titled “Banking FinTech and Stock Market Volatility: The BIZUM Case”, written by our researchers Emili Vizuete Luciano, Ana Maria Gil Lafuente and our PhD alumnus Laura Arenas provides key insights into how the adoption of disruptive technology by incumbent banks affects stock price volatility. This research examines the 2016 adoption of BIZUM, a Spanish real-time digital payment solution, by major incumbent banks. Using a GARCH-M GED approach, the study finds that the implementation of BIZUM led to a… 
A recent study named “Quantum computing for market research”, written by our adjunct professor and PhD in Business alumni Laura Sáez-Ortuño, our researchers Rubén Huertas-García and Santiago Forgas-Coll from the Department of Business at the University of Barcelona, Javier Sánchez-García (Universitat Jaume I) and Eloi Puertas-Prats (UB, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science), examines the transformative potential of quantum computing (QC) in market research, a field increasingly challenged by the complexities of the digital ecosystem. Unlike classical computers, QC uses… 
A recent study by Vesna Vlaisavljevic (UB Business School), Bart Van Looy (KU Leuven), Marcelina Grabowska (JRC- European Commission), Catherine Lecocq (Ghent University), and Koenraad Debackere (KU Leuven) examines the growth of biotech clusters worldwide from 1978 to 2015. This research, named “Growth of biotech clusters over several decades through pioneering, variety and entrepreneurial science”, published in the prestigious journal Nature Biotech, highlights how biotechnology has transitioned from fundamental science to various applications, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and materials, thereby creating… 
The UB Business School welcomed 23 new students to the MSc in Business Research programme this year. Most of them come from Asia (56%), others from Europe (26%), and the remaining ones come from America (9%) and Africa (9%). Altogether, there are 8 nationalities represented in this class, with an average age of 26 years old. This diverse group of people will now pursue an official one-year programme that provides students with advanced training in the research skills, techniques, and… 
The UB Business School welcomed 34 new students to the MSc in International Business programme this year. Most of them come from Europe (73%), with others from America (15%), Asia (9%), and Africa (3%). Altogether, there are 22 nationalities represented in this class, where the average age is 24 years old. This diverse group will now pursue an official one-year programme taught in English, designed to train specialists in global business management. The curriculum covers finance and accounting, marketing, operations,… 
The UB Business School welcomed 24 new students to the Executive MBA programme this year. Most of them come from Latin America (78%), others from Europe (13%), and the remaining (9%) from North America. Altogether, there are 13 nationalities represented in this class, with an average age of 34 years old. This diverse group of people will now pursue an official one-year programme that provides experienced professionals with a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the management techniques and executive skills involved… 
A recent study has shed light on how advanced servitization influences the sales performance of manufacturing companies in international markets. The research, co-authored by our researcher Jonathan Calleja-Blanco, explores the effects of advanced servitized products and the role of distribution channels in enhancing sales over time. The study published in International Marketing Review analyzed over 4,000 sales transactions from 2010 to 2019, collected from a single high-tech manufacturer specializing in servitized solutions across 74 foreign markets. Utilizing a time fixed-effects… 
The UB Business School recently concluded its highly successful XVI edition of the Summer School on Management and Creativity in an Innovation Society (June 26 to July 13, 2024), receiving widespread acclaim for its innovative approach and exceptional learning opportunities. Co-host with Mosaic-HEC Montreal, the programme, renowned for its cutting-edge curriculum and distinguished faculty, offered participants a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. The Summer School faculty, known for their innovation and deep understanding of contemporary management practices,… 
MSc in International Business, MSc in Business Research and MBA graduates at the UB Business School celebrated their academic achievements with friends and relatives during Graduation Day at the Faculty of Economics and Business. The ceremonies took place on July 9-10, 2024, in the Aula Magna of the 690 Building. All graduates wore the academic dress –consisting of a gown and hood– and received symbolic diplomas. The MSc classes of 2024 graduated together with other official master’s degrees students and postgraduate… 
The University of Barcelona holds the 100th position in the Ranking Web of Universities (Webometrics). It has improved by thirteen positions compared to last year and is now the Spanish leading institution and the ninth in the European Union. The UB is the leading institution in Spain in the three indicator groups of the ranking. In Impact, about the number of links that direct to websites of the analyzed institution, it holds the 155 position worldwide; in Transparency, on the… 
Student dropout rates can be a significant worry when it comes to ensuring success in higher education. In a recent study co-authored by our researchers Pilar Aparicio-Chueca and Xavier M. Triadó-Ivern published in Studies in Higher Education, delved into the world of university life to uncover the key factors predicting student dropout. The study focused on 3,583 first-year students pursuing a Business Administration (BA) degree at the University of Barcelona. The findings highlighted two crucial variables that played a pivotal role… 
The UB Business School is pleased to introduce four researchers who have joined our faculty in 2023: Jordi Campo: Jordi joined the Department of Business as a Postdoctoral Researcher. He has previously worked at the intersection of academia and industry, holding positions as a Director of Marketing in various companies. He received his PhD in Audiovisual Communication and Advertising from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in 2022. His research expertise spans across the areas of General Management, Marketing, Strategy, Digital Marketing,… 
The UB Business School welcomed 20 new students to the Executive MBA programme this year. Most of them come from America (85%), others from Europe (10%), and the remaining (5%) from Asia. Altogether, there are 11 nationalities represented in this class where the average age is 33 years old. This diverse group of people will now pursue an official one-year programme which provides experienced professionals a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the management techniques and executive skills involved in business organization and administration in today’s complex, competitive and dynamic market. These students enrolled on the Executive MBA… 
The UB Business School welcomed 26 new students to the MSc in Business Research programme this year. Some of them come from Asia (36%), others from America (36%), and the remaining 4% from Europe. Altogether, there are 12 nationalities represented in this class where the average age is 30 years old. This diverse group of people will now pursue an official one-year programme which provides students with advanced training in the research skills, techniques and methodologies to conduct their own research in business. These students enrolled on the MSc in Business Research have an undergraduate degree in Business… 
The UB Business School welcomed 27 new students to the MSc in International Business programme this year. Most of them come from Europe (59%), Asia (22%), America (15%) and Africa (4%). Altogether, there are 18 nationalities represented in this class where the average age is 25 years old. This diverse group of people will now pursue an official one-year programme taught in English, designed to train specialists in global business management and covers the fields of finance and accounting, marketing, operations, human resources and strategic management. These students enrolled on the MSc in International Business have an… 
Coinciding with the start of the academic year, the new edition of 'UB in figures' arrives, featuring the most significant data from the 2022-2023 academic year. It presents, in a comprehensible and engaging manner, the key figures of the University of Barcelona and its academic activities, as well as the evolution of certain variables over recent years. This year, the document includes a new section on entrepreneurship, highlighting projects incubated in StartUB!, emerging companies (start-ups) created, and individuals trained in… 
UB Business School researcher Esther Hormiga has conducted a study that delves into how the skills and abilities of business leaders impact small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the ever-evolving tourism sector. This research highlights the crucial role played by leaders' sustainability competences in shaping the direction of these businesses. The study, titled ‘Leaders' sustainability competences and small and medium-sized enterprises outcomes: The role of social entrepreneurial orientation,’ co-authored by Dr. Hormiga and published in the Sustainable Development Journal, sheds… 
The University of Barcelona is the first Spanish university in the World University Rankings, published by the British specialized journal Times Higher Education, obtaining the 152nd position worldwide. Thus, it is 30 positions higher than last year. This year the ranking has updated the methodology and includes new indicators. Of the conceptual pillars in which the different indicators of the ranking are grouped, the UB obtains the best evaluation in quality and scope of research: it obtains 91.4 points and the 100th… 
Are you passionate about the transformative power of data and algorithms in the world of Science, Technology, and Innovation? Join the 8th Summer School on Data and Algorithms for ST&I Studies, organized by KU Leuven in collaboration with the UB Business School and proudly sponsored by Google. - Date: 6,7 & 8 September - Venue: Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Barcelona - Registration deadline: August 27 (general public) - Registration fee: €95 (includes registration, access to… 
MSc in International Business, MSc in Business Research and MBA graduates at the UB Business School celebrated their academic achievements with friends and relatives during Graduation Day at the Faculty of Economics and Business. The ceremonies took place on July 10-11, 2023, in the Aula Magna of the 690 Building. All graduates wore the academic dress –consisting of a gown and hood– and received symbolic diplomas. The MSc classes of 2023 graduated together with other official master’s degrees students and… 
Sucet Jimena Martínez Vergara, PhD graduate in Business at the UB Business School, has been awarded the extraordinary doctoral prize for the academic year 2020-2021. Dr Martínez Vergara defended her doctoral thesis “Exploring what disruptive innovation is and its influence on Spanish incumbents” on June 14, 2021. The research of the study, directed by UB Business School researcher Jaume Valls, aims to contribute to the understanding of disruptive innovation (DI) theory and its impact on incumbents in Spain. The thesis… 
The Executive MBA programme at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Barcelona has received the Impuls Award for lifelong learning. This award recognizes the academic contribution of programmes with a 25-year trajectory in lifelong learning, such as the EMBA master's programme at UB. We interviewed Laura Guitart, the academic vice-dean of the faculty, on the occasion of the programme's 25th anniversary. Congratulations on the recognition and for 25 years of delivering such a competitive programme like… 
The UB Business School has conducted a study on the current state of urban mobility, focusing on the impact of private taxi transport projects. The study highlights the increasing relevance of urban mobility in the context of globalization and competition, as well as the growing interest in studying the impact of taxi options on consumer preferences. “Taxi and urban mobility studies: A bibliometric analysis”, published in the Transport Policy Journal by our researchers David Alaminos, Emilio Vizuete, and our PhD… 
Àngels Pelegrín, professor in the MSc in International Business of the UB Business School and coordinator for East Asian relations at the University of Barcelona, has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold Rays and Neck Badge, which is awarded by the Japanese government. This distinction, which has been given in an event at the General Consulate of Japan in Barcelona, is a recognition of her work in promoting academic exchange and understanding between Japan and Spain.…