UPV Design Factory Fair

They're unstoppable. They've proved it time and again, and their awards speak for themselves. So, the weather forced a change of venue, and CALUM and its outdoor garden were packed to the rafters. The rain held off for the event, and although some of the larger prototypes were missing, the UPV Design Factory teams were dressed in their finest for one of their most important gatherings. The UPV Design Factory Fair is the time to share information about the organisation with first-year students and to ensure the next generation of participants.

This academic year, there are a total of 59 teams. Micaela Sol Camón is studying Energy Engineering and is part of Eolia, a team that builds small-scale wind turbines. With that sparkle in her eyes typical of someone passionate about what they do, she explains that at the fair, "we're looking for motivation and a desire to learn". Something she certainly has in abundance.

Gabriel Arnedo Espinosa, who is studying Industrial Computing and Robotics and is part of Tars Robotics UPV, says that "we are the only team at the university dedicated solely to high-competition and combat robots". At this fair, "we've come out of the workshop so that people can get to know us and see that at this university, it's not just about studying technical subjects and solving equations, but that you can get together with a group of people if you're into robotics". So, he's clear about it: "we're looking for passionate people", a passion that Gabriel conveys and inspires in others.

They're also looking for

And that's exactly why Irene Lupfer Marín has come along; having only just arrived at the Universitat Politècnica de València, she's in her first year of Biotechnology. She is looking for "information on doing extra things because I don't just want to study". And that's exactly what the UPV Design Factory offers: a range of teams for all sorts of interests. "I'm thinking about a photography team because I'm very interested in it, and there are others where you get to travel abroad, which is really cool." Rober Navarro, who is studying Industrial Organisation Engineering and Data Science, is "very drawn to the rocket stuff – it's the coolest thing."

Now it's just a matter of matching what the teams have to offer with what those who have started their studies at the UPV are looking for, so that Design Factory can continue to grow.

UPV Design Factory

And if you've read this far and didn't know, UPV Design Factory is the pioneering programme at the Universitat Politècnica de València, launched in 2014. It acts as a launchpad for students' interdisciplinary projects, promoting 'learning by doing' and cross-curricular competencies. It also supports student participation in national and international competitions. It cements the position of the UPV as a leading university in Spain.