The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC), represented by the UPC Technology Center (CIT UPC), took part once again in the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 (SCEWC25), held from 4 to 6 November at Fira de Barcelona – Gran Via. Recognised as the world’s leading event on urban innovation, this year’s edition achieved record-breaking attendance figures, with over 27,000 visitors, 1,200 exhibitors, and more than 650 international speakers exploring solutions for smarter, greener, and more liveable cities.

On Saturday, 25 October 2025, the TechLab Manresa at the UPC Manresa hosted the successful “Bits & Blocks: Let’s Explore Mars!” workshop, a fun and educational activity aimed at children aged 7 to 11. The workshop was held within the framework of the European CodeWeek and was organised under the MERIT project (Master of Science in Smart, Secure and Interconnected Systems), with the support of PUCRA Manresa volunteers.

As part of the Digital Europe project MERIT (Master of Science in Smart, Secure and Interconnected Systems), UPC Manresa hosted a group of international students from the Master’s in Management of Smart, Resilient, and Interconnected Systems offered at Riga Business School (RBS), Riga Technical University (RTU). The one-week visit combined technological training, cultural activities and scientific discovery, offering participants a unique experience in interdisciplinary learning and European immersion. 

EU CodeWeek (the European Week of Programming) is a grassroots initiative promoted by the European Commission with the aim of empowering citizens through programming and computational thinking. Every year, throughout October, thousands of activities take place across Europe (and beyond), organised by schools, libraries, universities, tech companies, and volunteers.

On the 1st-3rd of October 2025, the fifth edition of the MERIThON sprint-style innovation challenge took place at VILNIUS TECH in Vilnius. This event, organised under the umbrella of the Digital Europe MERIT project (which advances advanced digital skills in Europe – AI, Internet of Things, cybersecurity), offered participants a rich opportunity to collaborate, ideate and craft commercially-viable solutions to real-world challenges posed by industry and society.

The academic year for the international master’s degree in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet Connected Systems, created within the framework of the European project Master of Science in Smart, Secure, Interconnected Systems (MERIT) and delivered at UPC Manresa, has begun with great momentum.

The MERIT Project is bringing its innovative approach to digital education directly to your screen. Our YouTube channel is your one-stop space to access exclusive video content on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT)—from expert interviews to event highlights and beyond. By subscribing, you’ll ensure you never miss the latest updates, insights, and learning opportunities shaping Europe’s digital future.

MERIT continues to drive digital empowerment by offering specialized, hands-on training tailored to the needs of today’s ICT professionals.