ICFO: Severo Ochoa Institute of Excellence

In 2011, the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain launched the highly prestigious Severo Ochoa Centres of Excellence program, aiming to identify the top world-class research institutions in the country and allocate dedicated funding for them to conduct a cutting-edge research project for a period of four years. ICFO was among the first eight centers to receive this important distinction. Four years later ICFO has earned the renewed support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation with its second Severo Ochoa distinction, carrying with it financing for a million euros annually for the next four years. The evaluation process was based on an analysis of the strategic research plans 2016-2019, with ICFO scoring 99.85 points out of a total of 100. In the opinion of the evaluators, the original eight centers, all of whom have been awarded the Severo Ochoa distinction again in this call, have not only renewed their leading positions in international research, but have also consolidated their scientific leadership during the years in which they enjoyed the aid from the Severo Ochoa program. Accredited centers stand out both for the international visibility of their scientific contributions, and for their capacity to innovate and build relationships with the business sector.