The University of Barcelona is the largest public institution of higher education in Catalonia, catering to the needs of a large number of students and delivering a broad and comprehensive offering in higher educational courses. The UB is also the principal centre of university research in Spain. As an institution dedicated to innovation and teaching excellence, UB comprises eighteen faculties, one university school and various affiliated university institutes and units that contribute to the creation, transmission and diffusion of culture and scientific, technical and professional knowledge. The University has 106 departments and 23 institutes and research centres involved in 663 active research projects. The UB's research institutes promote and organize interdisciplinary and specialized research activities in different fields of science, technology and the arts.