History
The Department of Electronic Engineering (DIE) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) belongs to the Higher Technical School of Telecommunications Engineers (ETSIT) based on the “Ciudad Universitaria” Campus (Northwest of Madrid). The Department is responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate training, mainly in the areas of analog and digital electronic circuits, digital systems and microelectronics in several degrees: Telecommunication Engineering (accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology –ABET– and with full recognition at Master’s level), Telecommunication Technologies and Services Engineering, Engineering Biomedical, Materials Engineering and Master’s Degree in Electronic Systems Engineering.
The Department of Electronic Engineering has a staff of 41 members (teaching and administration and services staff) and 42 graduate students working towards their doctorate and 6 postdoctoral fellows. These students include origins such as Latin America, Germany, India, China, etc. Around 15 students carry out their final degree or Master’s projects each year. Teaching activities cover the following subjects: Analog and Digital Electronics, Microprocessors, Digital Systems, Integrated Circuit Design, CAD, Microelectronics, Nanotechnology, High Speed Electronics, Neurosensory Engineering, Biomedical Image Processing and Technological Innovation (See Teaching section - Subject Catalog).
The research facilities include a variety of PC-based servers and workstations, microprocessor development systems, VLSI design stations, integrated circuit test system, speech treatment laboratory and recording room, and a variety of basic electronic instrumentation. There is also a set of public domain and commercial CAD tools (as members of the EUROPRACTICE consortium, funded by the European Commission). Likewise, a close relationship is maintained with the ISOM (Institute of Optoelectronic Systems and Microtechnology), to which the processing facilities (including molecular epitaxy systems –MBE–) and optical and electrical characterization (PL, Raman, DLTS, Hall, 1/f noise) were provided. Finally, there is access to a mechanical and printed circuit design workshop and manufacturing facilities, allowing for rapid PCB development and hardware prototyping.
Research activities focus on: III-V devices for microwave devices and opto-electronic applications; design of embedded systems and wireless applications; VLSI integrated circuit design; digital architectures; speech synthesis and recognition; technical aids for the disabled; and treatment of biomedical images (See research groups).
This research activity is carried out in four Research Groups recognized by the UPM: HISEL (High Speed Electronics Lab) (linked to ISOM); LSI (Laboratory of Integrated Systems); GTH (Group Speech Technology and Machine Learning) and BIT (Biomedical Image Technologies). They have a close relationship with the electronics and microelectronics industry located in the Madrid region, where 90% of the business activity in the Spanish information technology and Defense Industry is based (Alcatel, Telefónica I+D, Indra, etc.). In the field of technical aids for deaf people, cooperation with the Ministry of Social Services has been fruitful for many years. The Department of Electronic Engineering is also very active in several EU-funded programs: Framework Programme, EUROPRACTICE, Personnel Mobility, etc.