Topic analysis

5. Strategic analysis (SWOT)

STRENGTHS
 
  1. Uniqueness at national level regarding the focus of the institute (digital society).
  2. Interdisciplinary nature of the research carried out, balance between social sciences, humanities and engineering.
  3. Attractive location and flexibility in ways of working (online first).
  4. Horizontal structure that combines experience and youth.
  5. Flexibility, agility and a pro-change culture.
  6. Gender parity.
WEAKNESSES
 
  1. Our visibility as an institute could be better (communication policy, identity and brand).
  2. Difficulties attracting, maintaining and developing teams (temporary contracts, salaries, unequal dedication, attracting students and junior researchers).
  3. Insufficient support for the promotion of interdisciplinarity and cooperation between research groups.
  4. Excessive variety of subject areas within research groups.
  5. Difficulty transferring or giving value to research in some disciplines.
  6. Lack of tools to support research.
  7. Few sociability and community creation actions as an institute (new researchers).
  8. We need to improve attention to diversity and equity.
OPPORTUNITIES
 
  1. Strategic and institutional commitment to promoting research at the UOC (funding).
  2. Potential for development in the IN3's areas: ubiquity of digital technology in our societies.
  3. Uniqueness in the Catalan and Spanish environments (interdisciplinarity).
  4. Dynamism and capacity for specialization and adaptation of teams.
  5. Research with high potential for societal impact, and interrelation and exchange with the immediate environment.
  6. Several groups work on (and with) feminisms and the gender perspective.
  7. Very broad contact networks thanks to interdisciplinarity.
  8. European context conducive to the research model (e.g. Horizon calls).
THREATS
 
  1. High competition in the Catalan/Spanish environment making it difficult to attract and retain talent.
  2. The sustainability of the UOC's research policy, and dependence on the priorities of the university's management.
  3. Low levels of funding from Spanish/Catalan calls. Little public investment.
  4. Private nature of the university (no eligibility for certain calls).
  5. Legislative changes affecting the organization of research (science law, labour reform, etc.).
  6. Post-pandemic changes.