The EsadeTech – ICSO Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics will be held on July 20-21, 2026 in the ESADE Barcelona (Building No. 3, 92-96 Esplugues Ave., 08034 Barcelona). This workshop will serve as a meeting point for members of the ICSO Meta inter-university group at different Catalan and Valencian universities, including Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de València, and ESADE Business School. Being a consolidated R&D group, officially recognized by the Generalitat Valenciana (2024 CIAICO 117) as well as by the Generalitat Catalana (2017 SGR 111), ICSO Meta is proud to invite some of its scientific and industrial partners to this event, including members from ICSO Analytics, Baobab, Insylo, AVEVA, Decide4AI, Accenture Analytics, Universitat de Lleida, Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
The event is jointly organized by ICSO, ESADE, CIGIP, ValgrAI, DSA, and EURO. The workshop will feature sessions focusing on applied research and technology transfer in sectors such as Marketing, Transportation & Energy, Higher Education, Production, Insurance, and Healthcare. Discussions will include:
* Business Analytics: Advancements in predictive modeling, data analytics, and their application in strategic decision-making for companies.
* Artificial Intelligence: Development of algorithms, machine learning methods, and GenAI models, and their uses in enterprise digitization processes.
* Industrial Optimization: Metaheuristic algorithms to enhance efficiency, from logistics and transportation to finance and insurance.
* Computing: Computational aspects of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and optimization algorithms.
The workshop provides an excellent platform to share ideas, meet young and senior researchers in these fields, foster public-private collaborations, and explore the latest trends and advancements. Attendance at the workshop is by invitation only and subject to room capacity. If your name does not appear on the list below and you would like to attend, please contact us as soon as possible at dpcsicso@gmail.com.
Program (preliminary, updated 2026.06.12)
Monday, July 20th
Session chair: Elena Perez (UPV)
09:00 Welcome: Oriol Iglesias (Esade) – Vice Dean of Faculty and Research
09:25 Montserrat Guillen (UB) – Spanish Research Award, Ranked #13 in Economics: “AI and data analytics in risk analysis”
09:50 Ketrina Katragjini (AVEVA): “AI-supported optimization of energy-based logistics systems”
10:15 Fatos Xhafa (UPC) – Ranked #31 in Computer Science: “Energy optimization in last mile delivery systems”
10:40 Jesus E. Gabaldon (Accenture): “AI and data analytics in real-life projects”
11:05 Coffee break & networking
Session chair: Wenwen Chen (ICSO)
11:45 Christian Blum (CSIC) – Ranked #28 in Mathematics: “Metaheuristic algorithms for intelligent decision-making”
12:10 Patricia Rodriguez (ICSO): “The role of AI and automation in SMEs”
12:35 Esteve Almirall (Esade): “How AI is changing strategy”
13:00 Javier Panadero (UAB): “Algoritmos ágiles para gestión de proyectos con recursos compartidos”
13:25 Closing day 1: David Lopez (Esade), Daniel Riera (UOC)
Tuesday, July 21th
Session Chair: Patricia Carracedo (UPV)
09:00 Ana Valenzuela (Esade): “A meta-analysis revealing drivers of AI resistance across markets, methods, and time”
09:25 Armando Nieto (Divina Seguros): “Stochastic processes with Monte Carlo simulation in actuarial mathematics”
09:50 Helena Ramalhinho (UPF) – Vice-president for Internationalization: “How optimization enhances care and equity”
10:15 Xavier Ferràs (Esade): “Cognitive Advantage: How AI is redefining Competitive Advantage”
10:40 Pablo Castiella (Baobab): “Where do algorithms live?: from design to deployment”
11:05 Coffee break & networking
Session Chair: Alfons Freixes (ICSO)
11:45 PhD Colloquium
12:10 Alejandra Owono (GVA): “Inteligencia Artificial en Inspección de Servicios Sanitarios”
12:35 Ana Beik (Golden Owl): “Can we predict disruptive events with data analytics and algorithms?”
13:00 Angel A. Juan (UPV) – Ranked #11 in Mathematics: “Operations Research meets AI: From agile to soft optimization”
13:25 Closing day 2: Josep Prieto (UOC), Laura Calvet (UAB)
General Chairs
Angel A. Juan – Universitat Politècnica de València
David Lopez – ESADE Business School
Scientific Committee
Majsa Ammouriova – German-Jordanian University
Laura Calvet – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Patricia Carracedo – Universitat Politècnica de València
Monica de Forn – Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Alfons Freixes – ICSO Analytics
Elena Perez – Universitat Politècnica de València
Antonio Pita – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Lluis M. Pla – Universitat de Lleida
Daniel Riera – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Carles Serrat – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Raquel Soriano – Universitat Politècnica de València
Keynote Speakers
Esteve Almirall – Esade
Ana Beik – Gold Owl
Christian Blum – CSIC
Pablo Castiella – Baobab Soluciones
Xavier Ferràs – Esade
Montserrat Guillen – Universitat de Barcelona
Jesus E. Gabaldon – Accenture
Oriol Iglesias – Esade
Angel A. Juan – Universitat Politècnica de València
Ketrina Katragjini – AVEVA
Armando Nieto – Divina Seguros
Alejandra Owono – Conselleria de Salut GVA
Javier Panadero – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Helena Ramalhinho – Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Patricia Rodriguez – ICSO Analytics
Ana Valenzuela – Esade
Fatos Xhafa – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Other Attendees and Speakers
Marc Bara – ESADE Business School
Ana Beik – Golden Owl
Wenwen Chen – Universitat Politècnica de València
David Cordon – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Javier Cuartas – Universitat Politècnica de València
Elham Erfany – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Marc Escoto – Universitat Politècnica de València
Albert Ferrer – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Lander Gamboa – Globant
Marta Gatnau – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Juan Fco. Gomez – Decide4AI
Antoni Guerrero – Universitat Politècnica de València
Marga Herrero – Golden Owl
Rosa Herrero – TecnoCampus Mataró
Esther Juan – ICSO Analytics
Jessica Lingan – La Salle Universitat Ramon Llull
Veronica Medina – ICSO Analytics
Yangchongyi Men – Universitat Politècnica de València
Bassel Noureddine – Universitat Politècnica de València
Josep Prieto – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Ane Ripoll – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Jessica Rodriguez – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Miguel Saiz – ESADE Business School
Samuele Simone – Università degli Studi di Milano Statale / OPTIT
Mario Soto – Universitat Politècnica de València
Santiago Tejada – Universitat Politècnica de València
Antonio R. Uguina – Decide4AI
Ivan Vaquero – BUOH
Jaime Venne – Insylo
Alicia Vila – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Oriol Vila – Insylo
Lucas Yoshida – Georgia Institute of Technology
Jingjing Yu – Universitat Pompeu Fabra
