We interview Begoña Maria Bosch Canals, Director of the Bioengineering Department at UIC Barcelona.
With a solid academic and scientific background, Begoña Maria Bosch Canals, Director of the Bioengineering Department at UIC Barcelona, leads a pioneering area that combines research, teaching, and technological innovation applied to health and cosmetics. From the development of regenerative biomaterials to the creation of the Master’s in Cosmetic Science & Engineering, her work drives the connection between science, sustainability, and well-being, training the next generation of professionals who will transform the future of the beauty sector.
Name, position and company:
Begoña Maria Bosch Canals, Director of the Bioengineering Department at UIC Barcelona
Tell us about the organisation you work for. What is its story?
UIC Barcelona is a university that welcomes more than 8,000 students and offers 16 bachelor’s degrees, 30 international double degrees, and a wide range of master’s degrees, postgraduate programmes, and continuing education courses. Since 1997, at UIC Barcelona we have combined academic rigour with an enriching university life and a transformative personal experience.
The Bioengineering Department offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Bioengineering —unique in Spain— and two master’s degrees: the University Master’s Degree in Bioengineering Applied to Human Health and the Master’s in Cosmetic Science & Engineering. In addition, we work closely with the Bioengineering Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIT), our research group in Biomaterials for Tissue Regeneration, which develops biomaterials and devices capable of stimulating tissue regeneration processes, mimicking the natural phases of repair through the use of scaffolds, molecules, and cells.
What does your day-to-day work involve?
Every day is a new challenge and an opportunity to learn something different. My work combines academic management, coordination of training programmes, and research.
As a researcher, it also involves finding solutions to new technological challenges, especially in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, where science and creativity come together to improve people’s health and well-being.
But above all, my greatest motivation is teaching and conveying enthusiasm to young people. I am inspired by being able to help change the world from the scientific and educational side, encouraging new generations of engineers and scientists to think creatively, sustainably, and innovatively.
What differential value do you bring?
In our department, we seek to integrate cutting-edge research with teaching, turning each scientific advance into applied knowledge. An essential part of our research focuses on the development of new biomaterials, controlled-release systems, and sustainable solutions for the cosmetics and biomedical industries. This approach enables us to transfer real innovation to the sector, providing technologies that combine efficacy, safety, and respect for the environment.
In addition, UIC Barcelona has an ideal size: we are an international and approachable university, with multiple collaborations with companies and research centres, both national and international, while maintaining close relationships between faculty, students, and staff.
In the case of the Bioengineering degree, we are the only university programme in Spain that combines engineering, biology, and technology with an approach applied to health, cosmetics, and sustainability, training highly qualified profiles capable of connecting science with real market needs.
What challenges do you foresee in the coming years?
We are living at a time when society demands new sustainable solutions, as set out by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In bioengineering, we work precisely in this direction: developing materials, technologies, and processes that are more environmentally friendly.
In cosmetics, this translates into new sustainable formulations, biodegradable packaging, or more efficient active ingredients. In health, we seek regenerative materials and biomedical devices that improve patients’ quality of life. The challenge is to continue innovating, but always with ethics, sustainability, and social impact in mind.
What does being part of the Beauty Cluster bring to you as an organisation and as a professional?
Being part of the Beauty Cluster allows us to be in direct contact with the entire value chain of the cosmetics sector —from formulation to packaging and technological innovation— which is essential for a university like ours.
As an organisation, it gives us a real view of the market and emerging trends, allowing us to orient both teaching and research towards the current and future needs of the sector. It also provides an ideal environment to establish collaborations with companies interested in developing new materials, sustainable technologies, or advanced active delivery systems.
On a personal level, being part of the Beauty Cluster is a constant source of learning and inspiration. It allows me to share knowledge, discover new perspectives, and connect with professionals who share the same passion for innovation, science, and sustainability in cosmetics. It is a dynamic community that fosters joint growth between academia and industry, which I consider essential to move forward.
Back to you. How did you arrive in the beauty sector?
My academic background is in Pharmacy, and later I completed a PhD in Bioengineering, focused on the development of biomaterials for tissue regeneration. Based on this experience, and considering that the skin is the largest and most exposed organ of our body, we saw a natural opportunity to apply our knowledge in regenerative materials to the cutaneous field.
From the department, we decided to develop biomaterials aimed at skin regeneration, which led us to create an innovative cosmetic product, currently protected by a patent.
This project marked the beginning of our relationship with the beauty sector and inspired us to launch the Master’s in Cosmetic Science, which already has two editions and which combines science, innovation, and sustainability to train the future professionals of the sector.
Speaking of ‘beauty’, how would you define it?
For me, beauty goes far beyond physical appearance. A beautiful person is someone who possesses virtues, inner balance, and passion for what they do. Authentic beauty has much to do with attitude, with the way one relates to others, and with how one contributes positively to their environment.
However, I also believe that physical care is part of overall well-being. Taking care of ourselves, feeling good about ourselves, and maintaining healthy habits is not only an aesthetic matter but also one of health and longevity. Science and cosmetics have precisely this power: to help us preserve skin health, prevent premature ageing, and improve our quality of life.
Any hobby, superpower, or hidden passion you’d like to share?
I play the piano, and it’s something I love because it allows me to disconnect, relax, and, in a way, balance the more scientific side of my daily life with creativity. I also love playing padel with my husband and friends.
But, without a doubt, my true superpower is being the mother of four wonderful children, who give meaning to everything I do and teach me every day the value of patience, joy, and curiosity.
What is the last book you read or film you watched?
The last book I read is “El hombre en busca de sentido” by Viktor Frankl, a work I recommend to everyone.
As for films, the last one I watched is “American Underdog”, which tells the true story of Kurt Warner. It is a very inspiring film about perseverance, faith, and how it is never too late to achieve your dreams. I recommend it as well.
Business is based on…
…having a good team, people you fully trust and who share the same vision and purpose as you. Projects grow when there is motivation, commitment, and mutual trust, when everyone rows in the same direction and truly believes in what they do.
For me, success does not depend solely on a good idea or technology, but on the people who make it possible. A cohesive team, with passion and shared values, is the foundation on which truly enduring projects are built.
