Last November 13, in the framework of the XIV Scientific Days of the INEFC Lleida , Jordi Alba , technical director of the Industrial Doctorates Plan of the Generalitat de Catalunya, gave a presentation on the fundamental role of these doctorates in the 'field of the sciences of physical activity and sport. The event, intended for undergraduate, master's and doctoral students in Physical Activity Sciences and Sport, was a full day of colloquiums, poster presentations and training workshops with the aim of bringing research closer to the students and encourage the transfer of knowledge towards society.
Industrial PhDs: applied research with real impact
In the workshop entitled " Industrial doctorate. Connecting research with the current and future needs of society ", Jordi Alba highlighted how Industrial Doctorates allow students to carry out research with a direct impact on the business and institutional world. Unlike traditional academic research, which is more focused on scientific production, industrial doctorates combine a dual environment, academic and business, which facilitates the training of doctoral students in applied fields and prepares them for a research career both inside and outside the 'university area.
Alba has presented recent data on industrial PhDs in sports science, stressing that although they represent a small percentage of total projects, they have considerable impact in areas such as monitoring training load in basketball to prevent injuries , the recognition of tactical patterns in football or the use of deep learning for the analysis of sports videos . This diversity of topics showed the interest of companies in innovative projects that responded to the specific needs of the sports and health sector.
Key data for the period 2012-2023 in Sports Sciences
During the period 2012-2023, 11 Industrial Doctorate projects have been developed in the field of the sciences of physical activity and sport, with 4 theses defended . These searches have been promoted by 9 companies and collaborating institutions , such as Gasol Foundation , Fundació Barça , Mediapro and Institut Català de la Salut . The participation was diverse and with the presence of 45% industrial PhD students and 55% thesis supervisors , an aspect that Jordi Alba emphasized as a sign of progress towards parity in this still traditionally masculinized sector.
Outstanding research topics
PhD projects in this area have covered a wide range of topics relevant to sports practice and public health. Some of the highlights include:
- Physical exercise applied to improving the quality of life in people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
- Sports performance related to the use of supplements such as panax ginseng.
- Sports injuries and training load , with projects in professional basketball to monitor and prevent injuries.
- Deep learning for video analysis of sporting events.
- Tactical and semantic patterns in football , which have made it possible to analyze strategies in high-level teams.
Alba has exemplified the return of these projects with some cases of industrial doctorates defended in collaboration with sports and research institutions. One of the projects mentioned, carried out with the Barça Foundation and defended by Dr. Javier Fernández de la Rosa in 2022, consists of the design of a dynamic and flexible system for decision-making in football, based on the analysis of the expected value of possession (EPV). This innovative tool allows coaches and analysts to make real-time strategic decisions during matches, offering a detailed view of the spatial and temporal dynamics of the game.
Another significant project is carried out in collaboration with Mediapro . Dr. Andreu Girbau, with his thesis defended in 2021, introduces deep learning technologies to automate sports broadcasting, including the tracking of multiple objects in sporting events. This system represents a breakthrough in the automation of audiovisual production, facilitating the coverage of live events with advanced precision in the tracking of athletes.
In addition, the thesis of Dr. Cristian Didier Hernández, defended in 2020 at the University of Lleida, which explores the effectiveness of Panax Ginseng as an ergogenic aid for runners. Although supplementation does not show significant effects on short-term sports performance, it does provide benefits in the perception of fatigue and in the anti-inflammatory response, obtained through an energy saving during sports activity.
Value creation for companies and institutions
Industrial doctorates are characterized by being strategic research projects, long-term oriented and with a clear vocation of social return. Jordi Alba has emphasized that this type of doctorate contributes to increasing the competitiveness of companies and institutions through collaboration in infrastructures, equipment and knowledge. In addition, he highlighted that close to 75% of the industrial doctors continue to work in the same business or institutional environment after finishing the project, in many cases with significant improvements in their working conditions, thus consolidating themselves as highly qualified talent within of the organizations.
Good prospects for the future of sports science research
During his speech, Jordi Alba insisted on the need to promote more industrial doctorate projects in the field of physical activity sciences and sport, with a transversal approach that integrates disciplines such as health, technology and education The results obtained so far have shown that Industrial Doctorates are not only an effective tool for training specialized professionals , but also promote innovation and the practical application of research to respond to the challenges of the sector. Jordi Alba has highlighted the impact of these industrial doctorates, especially in sectors such as health and sport, where the transfer of knowledge has a direct effect on improving performance and well-being. In addition, he emphasized that the projects developed in this field contribute to positioning Catalonia as a leader in sports and health innovation.
In summary, Jordi Alba's presentation has highlighted how Industrial Doctorates are configured as a key piece for socio-economic development, providing real and sustainable solutions to the emerging needs of society.
