During the ceremony, held in the Main Lecture Hall at the University of Havana, civil representatives such as the Minister for Higher Education for Cuba, Mr José Ramón Saborido Loidi; Dr Rubén Álvarez, President of the Unesco Biomaterials Chair, and academic representatives such as the rector of the University of Havana, Dr Gustavo José Cobreiro, were accompanied by all the deans of the different faculties in the University and a large number of members of the University’s teaching staff.   

The most prestigious international researchers from the field of biomaterials, Dr Gil’s area of expertise, also attended the event. They included the ex-president of the European Society for Biomaterials, James Kirkpatrick. 

Yaimarilis Veranes, president of the organising committee for the Biomat Conference, presented the award ceremony and underlined the fact that Dr Gil has helped to educate more than 200 Cuban professionals in different specialist areas. 

Xavier Gil was awarded the status of full professor by BarcelonaTech (UPC). At the same university he also held the position of vice-rector for Research and Scientific Policy and directed the Technical School of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona. He was formerly a member of the Executive Committee of Sectorial R+D as the representative for all vice-rectors for Research at Catalan universities, and was commissioner for the Government of Catalonia on a project to develop the Diagonal-Besòs Campus. 

Dr Xavier Gil is the fourth rector of UIC Barcelona and this Honoris Causa award adds new recognition to his professional background and prestige.