Albert Banchs appointed new Director of IMDEA Networks

He brings a wealth of academic and professional experience to the role, alongside a strong vision for the institute’s future

20 December 2024

IMDEA Networks Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Albert Banchs as its new Director. Dr. Banchs brings a wealth of academic and professional experience to the role, alongside a strong vision for the institute’s future.

An impressive academic and professional trajectory

Dr. Banchs obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC-BarcelonaTech) in 1997 and 2002, respectively. He currently serves as a Full Professor at the University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) and has been the Deputy Director of IMDEA Networks from 2008 until December 2024. His career spans notable roles at renowned institutions, including ICSI Berkeley, Telefónica I+D, and NEC Europe Ltd., where he gained extensive expertise in the field of network science. He has also been an Academic Guest at ETH Zurich, a Visiting Professor at EPFL, and a Fulbright scholar at the University of Texas at Austin.

With over 150 publications in top-tier conferences and journals and numerous patents to his name -some of which have been successfully licensed to industry- Dr. Banchs is an internationally recognized expert in network technologies. He has also led and contributed to multiple European research projects as a coordinator and technical manager.

A vision for excellence and societal impact

In his new role, Dr. Banchs aims to uphold IMDEA Networks’ reputation as one of Europe’s leading research centers in network science and technology. “My main goal is to maintain IMDEA Networks as one of the most recognized research centers in Europe, and to combine the excellence of our research with its practical application, ensuring that our results are transferred to industry and society to improve citizens’ lives,” he stated.

Dr. Banchs also emphasized the strategic importance of advancing network technologies. “Our priority is to improve networks. Networks have drastically changed the way we live over the last decade and will continue to do so in the future,” he added.

Acknowledging the legacy of Arturo Azcorra

Dr. Banchs succeeds Professor Arturo Azcorra, who has been instrumental in elevating IMDEA Networks to its current status as a European research powerhouse. “I am extremely grateful to Arturo for the work he has done at IMDEA Networks. He has not only positioned the institute at the forefront of European science but has also played a key role in establishing Madrid as a technology-oriented region,” Dr. Banchs noted.

IMDEA Networks looks forward to this new chapter under Dr. Banchs’ leadership, as the institute continues its mission to drive cutting-edge research and innovation in network science.