The Research Group on Economic Geography was created in 1993 within the Department of Geography(Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) and during all these years it has developed research on several fields of Economic Geography: industry location factors and location theory, knowledge economy and innovative cities, gender and economical development, and air transport.

Main goals of GEC research

  • To analyze the territorial impact of new economy enterprises in urban and mountain areas.
  • To study and determine the social flows and their relation with economic activity.
  • To analyze the impact of the local development policies on local growth and economic structures.
  • To study women’s work and the creation of social capital.

 Main areas and fields of research

  • Location Theory
  • Industrial Geography
  • New Economic Space
  • Information Technologies
  • Global Spaces
  • Regional Planning
  • Urban Areas
  • Local Development
  • Geographical Information Systems
  • Social Capital and Gender
  • Air Transportation and Infrastructure Development

R&D projects and research grants

“Retos para las ciudades del siglo XXI: una agenda de investigación para la construcción de espacios urbanos sostenibles e innovadores”
Principal Investigator: Montserrat Pallares-Barbera
Period: 2017-2018
Financed by: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
Identifier: CSO2016-81718-REDT

“Ciudades en la era del cambio y calidad de vida. Tendencias, obstáculos y resultados de competitividad e innovación del espacio urbano en Barcelona”
Principal Investigator: Montserrat Pallares-Barbera
Period: 2016-2020
Financed by: Ministerio Economía y Competitividad
Identifier: CSO2016-74888-C4-2-R

“Estrategias socioterritoriales y bases para un espacio urbano resiliente. Calidad de vida, actividad económica y nueva competitividad”
Principal Investigator: Montserrat Pallares-Barbera
Period: 2014-2016
Financed by: Ministerio Economía y Competitividad
Identifier: CSO2013-46863-C3-2-R

“Geografia Aplicada”
Principal Investigator: Montserrat Pallares-Barbera
Period: 2014-2017
Financed by: Generalitat de Catalunya – Government of Catalonia
Identifier:2014SGR1090

“Transport and urban development. Wind energy technology reconsideration to enhance the concept of smart cities (WINERCOST)”
Principal Investigator: Charalampos Baniotopoulos
Period: 2013-2018
Financed by: European Union
Identifier: TU1304

“Transportation and Urban Development. Fostering knowledge about the relationship between information and communication technologies and public spaces supported by strategies to improve their use and attractiveness (CYBERPARKS)”
Principal Investigator: Carlos Smanniotto Costa
Period: 2013-2018
Financed by: European Union
Identifier: TUD1306

“Competitividad, crecimiento y procesos restructurales en espacios urbanos. Nuevas líneas de interpretación de la actividad económica (URBANECAT)”
Principal Investigator: Montserrat Pallares-Barbera
Period: 2010-2013
Financed by: Ministry of Education, Spanish Government
Identifier: CSO2010-17178

“Geografia aplicada”
Principal Investigator: Antoni F. Tulla
Period: 2009-2013
Financed by: Generalitat de Catalunya – Government of Catalonia
Identifier: 2009SGR0106

“Seminario Internacional sobre Aeropuertos y Territorio”
Principal Investigator: Antoni F. Tulla
Period: 2009
Financed by: Ministry of Education, Spanish Government
Identifier: CSO2008-04458-E

“Annual Congress of the IGU Commission on the Dynamics of Economic Spaces”
Principal Investigator: Montserrat Pallares-Barbera
Period: 2008
Financed by: Ministry of Education, Spanish Government
Identifier: SEJ2007-30622-E

“Factores territoriales de competitividad en las actividades de nueva economía sobre el desarrrollo local y urbano (FACTNER)”
Principal Investigator: Montserrat Pallares-Barbera
Period: 2006-2009
Financed by: Ministry of Education, Spanish Government