On November 13, as part of the XIV Scientific Conference of the INEFC Lleida , Jordi Alba , technical director of the Industrial Doctorate Plan of the Generalitat de Catalunya, gave a presentation on the fundamental role of these doctorates in the field of physical activity and sports sciences. The event, aimed at undergraduate, master's and doctoral students in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, was a full day of talks, poster presentations and training workshops with the aim of bringing research closer to students and promoting the transfer of knowledge to society.
Industrial Doctorates: 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 environment.
Alba presented recent data on industrial doctorates in sports sciences, highlighting that, despite representing a small percentage of total projects, they have a considerable impact in areas such as monitoring training load in basketball to prevent injuries , recognizing tactical patterns in football or using deep learning to analyze sports videos . This diversity of topics demonstrated the interest of companies in innovative projects that respond to specific needs of the sports and health sectors.
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 physical activity and sports sciences, with 4 theses defended . This research has been promoted by 9 collaborating companies and institutions , such as the Gasol Foundation , the Barça Foundation , Mediapro and the Catalan Health Institute . Participation has been diverse, with 45% of industrial doctoral students and 55% thesis directors , an aspect that Jordi Alba highlighted as a sign of progress towards parity in this still traditionally male-dominated sector.
Featured research topics
PhD projects in this field have covered a wide range of topics relevant to sports practice and public health. Some of the most prominent areas include:
- Physical exercise applied to improving 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 analyzing videos of sporting events.
- Tactical and semantic patterns in football , which have allowed the analysis of 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 strategic decisions in real time 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 efficacy of Panax Ginseng as an ergogenic aid for runners, stands out. Although supplementation does not show significant effects on short-term athletic performance, it does provide benefits in the perception of fatigue and the anti-inflammatory response, obtained through energy savings during sports activity.
Creating value for companies and institutions
Industrial doctorates are characterized by being strategic research projects, oriented to the long term and with a clear vocation for social return. Jordi Alba highlighted 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 nearly 75% of industrial doctorates continue working in the same business or institutional environment after completing the project, in many cases with significant improvements in their working conditions, thus consolidating themselves as highly qualified talent within 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 and sports sciences, 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 emphasized the impact of these industrial doctorates, especially in sectors such as health and sports, where knowledge transfer has a direct effect on improving performance and well-being. He also highlighted 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 highlighted how Industrial Doctorates are a key piece for socio-economic development, providing real and sustainable solutions to the emerging needs of society.
