Calls for projects
Applied research, innovation, and technology transfer from GUTEC University
The “Project Calls” section is the official point of contact for the submission, financing, and implementation of initiatives in the fields of applied research, technological innovation, and real-world case studies with industry within the GUTEC University ecosystem. The aim is to transform real-world industry challenges into projects with verifiable results, clear methodology, and transferable outcomes, connecting students, teachers, laboratories, and companies in an international and impact-oriented dynamic.
At GUTEC, a call for proposals is not a general announcement, but a framework for implementation. Each call for proposals defines a priority topic, quality criteria, a timeline, and an evaluation system. This ensures that the selected projects have a clear purpose, genuine technical feasibility, and tangible value for the market: guidelines, prototypes, standards, playbooks, models, dashboards, procedures, publications, or implemented pilot projects.
What is a “call for applications” in GUTEC?
A call for proposals is an open (and sometimes targeted) invitation to submit project proposals within a specified period. The call for proposals may be initiated by:
A GUTEC Laboratory (Lab) (e.g., BIM & Digital Twins Lab, Geotechnics & Tunnels Lab, Hydrology & SUDS Lab, MEP & Energy Systems Lab, Data Centers & OT-Cyber Lab, Cleanrooms & Hospital Engineering Lab),
An academic school (master’s/engineering programs with integrative projects),
A company or institution that poses a real challenge (challenge-based projects).
An international consortium in which GUTEC participates as a partner
Each call for proposals includes clear rules: who can participate, what is funded (if applicable), what deliverables are required, how it is evaluated, and what rights are generated over the results.
What are Project Calls for Proposals used for?
Calls for proposals exist to channel innovation in a structured way. In practice, they allow:
- Developing real solutions for complex problems in the construction and engineering sector, where technical evidence and traceability matter.
- Create professional portfolios for students and teams, with deliverables that demonstrate real competence in the international market.
- Produce high-value publications and working papers that become applied references.
- Promote collaboration with companies through pilot projects with measurable results and transferable documentation.
- Develop internal standards and methodologies that can be replicated in multiple countries, consistent with GUTEC's global approach.
Types of calls for proposals at GUTEC.
To ensure that the website is clear and professional, it is advisable to present the calls for proposals by type. At GUTEC, the most common types are:
These are projects driven by a Lab, with a specific technical objective and defined deliverables. They tend to focus on developing methodologies, guidelines, prototypes, or tools. They usually require a rigorous approach, with hypotheses, methodology, results, and final documentation ready for transfer.
Typical examples by lab:
In BIM & Digital Twins: CDE governance, automated QA/QC, scan-to-BIM, data models for assets, operational dashboards.
In Geotechnics & Tunnels: instrumentation, alert criteria, back-analysis, waterproofing, urban excavations.
In Hydrology & SUDS: storm water modeling, SUDS plans, maintenance, urban resilience, and nature-based solutions.
In MEP & Energy: commissioning, retro-commissioning, IAQ, BMS control, electrification, and data-driven efficiency.
In Data Centers & OT-Cyber: IST, operational continuity, alarm governance, OT/IT segmentation, operational security.
In Cleanrooms & Hospitals: pressures, critical HVAC, validation, sustained operation, and efficiency in critical environments.
A company or institution presents a real challenge. GUTEC structures the project as an applied case study with deliverables, and the work is carried out by mixed teams (students + tutors + experts). This format is particularly powerful for talent and employability, because the result is aligned with real market needs.
Examples of challenges: reducing operational incidents in a portfolio, defining a corporate BIM playbook, designing a rainwater resilience plan for a campus, preparing a commissioning plan for a critical asset, or designing a claims prevention framework for international contracts.
Projects associated with master's/engineering programs, where students develop a complete project using professional methodology and under supervision. These projects are published in case study format when they meet certain criteria and there are no confidentiality restrictions.
Calls for proposals aimed at building something demonstrable: a dashboard, a control prototype, an implemented methodology, a minimum operational digital twin, a BIM-GIS integration, a QA/QC pipeline, or a failure prediction model. Speed, validation, and usefulness are prioritized.
The goal of these calls for proposals is to produce high-value documentation: guides, standards, checklists, templates, playbooks, and procedures. They are ideal for organizations that want to increase maturity without starting with a technical pilot.
Calls for proposals aimed at collaboration between countries, entities, and organizations, in which GUTEC participates as an academic and technical partner. They are structured with clear governance, dissemination criteria, and, where applicable, regulatory and cultural adaptation mechanisms.
Usual priority areas for calls for proposals.
Although each call for proposals defines its own theme, the website can reflect “recurring priority areas” for positioning and clarity. At GUTEC, these are usually grouped into:
BIM, CDE, MEP coordination, scan-to-BIM, digital twins, BIM-GIS, data & AI for engineering.
pathology, envelopes, dampness, acoustics, IAQ, energy retrofits, fire safety performance.
conservation, SHM, urban geotechnics, tunnels, urban drainage, flooding, climate resilience.
electrification, BMS, commissioning, data-driven efficiency, data centers, operational continuity.
segmentation, hardening, change management, detection, and response.
Hospitals, cleanrooms, validation, and sustained operation.
PM, costs, control, PPP, claims, dispute resolution, technical compliance.
How the application process works.
Call for applications now open
During the opening period, teams submit their proposals using a form. For projects involving companies, an NDA or additional briefing may be required.
A committee (Lab + academic management + experts) evaluates proposals using clear criteria. In calls for proposals involving industry, the company also participates in the selection process when appropriate.
flooding, rain resilience, nature-based solutions, operation and maintenance of SUDS.
The selected projects move on to the start-up phase: definition of final scope, roles, deliverables, schedule, risks, and success criteria. Mentoring and access to resources are assigned.
Each project is managed with milestones and reviews. GUTEC promotes professional execution: documentation, version control, technical validation, and traceability.
The project concludes with a delivery package. If it meets standards and there are no restrictions, it is published as a working paper, case study, or technical guide.
Evaluation criteria.
Proposals are evaluated using a professional approach. Typical criteria include:
Relevance of the problem and clarity of the objective.
Technical feasibility and realism of the plan.
Methodological rigor and consistency of approach.
Quality and usefulness of the proposed deliverables.
Potential impact on industry or applied knowledge.
Team capacity (profiles, availability, experience).
Scalability and international replicability.
Risk management (technical, operational, data, permits).
Compliance with standards and regulations (where applicable).
Ways to participate.
At GUTEC, projects can include different profiles:
Students (master’s/engineering) integrated into teams with technical roles
Faculty and tutors as quality and methodology managers
Applied researchers affiliated with labs
External professionals such as advisors, reviewers, or co-authors
Companies as sponsors, data providers, or validation environments
Participation can be individual or in teams. For complex projects, a team format is recommended, with complementary profiles (e.g., BIM + MEP + operations + data).
Typical deliverables required.
To standardize quality, GUTEC defines “standard” deliverables. Depending on the call for proposals, the following may be required:
A main technical document (working paper, guide, case report).
A methodological annex (assumptions, data, parameters, limitations).
Templates or checklists (if applicable).
Functional prototype or demo (if applicable).
Executive presentation for stakeholders.
Implementation plan or roadmap (if applicable).
Bibliography and technical references.
Executive summary in English or multilingual (when international).
Financiación, becas y apoyo.
Según la convocatoria, puede existir apoyo en forma de:
Acceso prioritario a recursos de laboratorio, tutorías y revisión técnica.
Becas parciales para participantes seleccionados (según programa).
Patrocinio por empresas (pilotos, retos, cátedras).
Acceso a datasets, infraestructuras y entornos de prueba.
Co-publicación y difusión como activo profesional.
En la web conviene presentarlo como “apoyo disponible según convocatoria”, para mantener flexibilidad.
Intellectual property, confidentiality, and use of results.
For projects involving industry or sensitive data, GUTEC defines a protection framework:
If confidential information is involved, work is carried out under agreements and only anonymized or non-publishable content is published.
If the project generates a prototype or methodology, its use is defined from the outset: internal, shared, licensed, or published.
Authorship and contribution are always traceable, with clear recognition of participants.
In public calls for proposals, the focus is usually on dissemination through publications and guides, with licenses for academic/professional use as appropriate.
Ethics, compliance, and security.
GUTEC applies integrity criteria. In projects involving security (infra-critical, OT-cyber, hospitals), a responsible approach is required: defensive methodologies, non-disclosure of operational details that increase risk, and compliance with best practices.
In projects with environmental or urban impact, documentation of assumptions and impact assessment with a responsible approach is promoted.
Extended FAQs
Yes, in open calls. In others, you can participate as an external collaborator or with a company. It depends on the call.
Not always. They are published when they meet quality criteria and there are no confidentiality or IP restrictions.
It depends on the type: from short pilot projects to more extensive applied research projects. Each call for proposals sets its own schedule.
What happens if my proposal is good but does not fit within this call for proposals?
Yes. It is structured as an Industry Challenge, with agreed objectives, criteria, confidentiality, and deliverables.
