Maria Beatriz Lopez Ibanez

Maria Beatriz Lopez Ibanez is a Professor in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Automation Engineering at the University of Girona, where she also belongs to the Institute of Computing and Applications. She leads the Artificial Intelligence applied to Medicine and Health laboratory within the eXiT Research Group in Control Engineering and Intelligent Systems. Her academic journey began with a Computer Science Engineering degree from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in 1986, followed by a PhD in Computer Science from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in 1993, with thesis work conducted at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

Her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, particularly decision support systems using case-based reasoning, machine learning techniques such as data mining and knowledge discovery, and optimization methods for resource allocation including auctions and meta-heuristics. These methodologies are applied across diverse domains: health and medicine, business processes, energy, sustainability, and mobility. Her work bridges theoretical innovation with real-world impact, evidenced by her co-founding of the company Newronia in 2011, driven by former PhD students from UdG.

The trends in her publications reflect a strong emphasis on intelligent systems for healthcare, integrating genetic and family history data into clinical workflows. Her articles span interdisciplinary areas combining computer science, medical informatics, and operational research, demonstrating consistent contributions to both foundational AI and applied solutions in health and industrial domains.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Article Award by the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA), 2014
• Second Prize in the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute Competition on 'Health Innovation' for the NoaH project, 2015
• ITEA 2017 Award for the Success of SMEs in the MOSHCA Project
• Accredited Advisor Label in 'Technology, Health and Life Sciences' by the Generalitat de Catalunya, 2018

Dr. López has been actively involved in research leadership and mentorship. She has participated in 9 international projects, 25 national research calls, over 16 research support initiatives, and 20 industry-funded projects, showcasing her ability to secure and manage diverse funding sources. While specific advisees are not listed, she has supervised master's and final degree projects and co-founded a spin-off based on doctoral research, indicating a strong record of student guidance and innovation transfer. She also contributes to the academic community through service on scientific committees of prestigious international conferences and journals.

She leads the Artificial Intelligence applied to Medicine and Health laboratory, part of the eXiT research group, which focuses on developing intelligent systems for real-world challenges, particularly in healthcare and sustainable systems. This lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, linking academic research with industrial and clinical applications.