Lluís Torner
Welcome to our web page.
This is our gateway to the world, most likely the window through which you will meet us for the first time. We hope you find everything you are looking for.
ICFO is a young research institution that aims to advance the very limits of knowledge in Photonics, namely the science and technology of harnessing Light. Light, especially laser light, is one of the major enabling technologies currently available to humankind. Our research thrusts target the global forefront of photonics, and aim to tackle important challenges faced by society at large. We focus on current and future problems in Health, Energy, Information, Safety, Security and caring for the Environment.
Our most valued assets are our PhD students and post-doctoral researchers. They are bright, ambitious young women and men, with a talent for discovery and strong moral values, who aim to achieve difficult but important goals. Central to our mission is the training of the next generation of scientists and technicians through courses, seminars, access to cutting-edge experimental infrastructures, and mentoring by researchers that are among the best in the world in their field. This training aims to equip talented students with unique capabilities that help them become future leaders, either in the academic or in the industrial world.
ICFO’s core spirit is ingenuity, fascination for the unknowns, and hard work, attitudes shared by many researchers around the world with whom ICFO researchers continuously interact and correspond.
Listen to your heart: If you share these values and ambitions and you like working with light, surf our web to identify the challenge that most interests you, and get on board. A new project is about to leave port to take you on an exciting intellectual trip.
Lluís Torner
Director
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Photonics, the science of the generation, transmission and manipulation of light, is a fascinating and dynamic field that is considered one of the Key Enabling Technologies of our time with applications in almost all areas of our lives, including but not limited to health, energy, information, communication, and security.
In 2002, the Government of Catalonia and the Technical University of Catalonia – Barcelona Tech launched a research center which aimed to attract talented scientists from around the world to conduct both basic and applied research in Photonics at the highest level. ICFO's founding objectives were to advance the science of light and develop advanced light-based technologies which would create new understanding, new solutions, and new tools to help industry and society at large to tackle today’s main challenges.
ICFO’s first facilities were located in rented space, however rapid growth in size and scope warranted an independent, purpose built facility. The Government of Catalonia donated land for the current facilities in the Mediterranean Technology Park in Castelldefels (Barcelona), allowing for the construction of a 14000 m2 state of the art building. ICFO’s facilities were developed thanks to three separate building projects made possible by funding from the Governments of Catalonia and Spain, the European Union and Cellex Foundation Barcelona. Research at ICFO is supported on a base funding basis by the founding institutions and by competitive projects from national and international funding agencies as well as private institutions and enterprises.
ICFO has earned international recognition for the quality of its scientific output, with outstanding publications in leading journals, a healthy patent portfolio, and research groups made up of highly qualified and motivated scientists from around the world. ICFO is committed to research excellence and is convinced that scientific careers in general, and physics in particular, are beneficial for business, bringing positive returns in terms of innovation and growth for the economy and a positive impact for society as a whole.
The Government of Catalonia and Technical University of Catalonia Barcelona Tech launch the center, with the mission to conduct wide-scope, basic and applied research at the highest international level in several branches of the Sciences and Technologies of Light.
The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is central to the strategy and high-level evaluation procedures accompanying research conducted at ICFO. The SAB is composed of internationally distinguished scientists, and advises ICFO's Director and Board of Trustees on key matters concerning the scientific development of the Institute.
Ignacio Cirac
Max-Planck for Quantum Optics
Germany
President
Paul Corkum
National Research Council
Canada
Katarina Svanberg
Lund University Hospital
Sweden
Peter Zoller
University of Innsbruck
Austria
Kerry Vahala
CalTech
USA
Maria Yzuel
Universitat Autònoma de
Barcelona
Spain
E. W. Van Stryland
University of Central Florida,
CREOL
USA
Rolf Tarrach
University of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Xiaowei Zhuang
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Harvard
USA
Margaret Murnane
JILA & University of Colorado
USA
The offices and laboratories of ICFO are located in a dedicated building situated in the Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia (PMT, Mediterranean Technology Park), in the seaside town of Castelldefels, in the metropolitan Barcelona area. The PMT is located next to the Canal Olímpic, ten minutes away from the beach.
To reach ICFO, you can use several means of transportation, as detailed below. For further information, please visit the following websites: RENFE - Barcelona Local Trains, Castelldefels City Council, and Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona. Other helpful webs are the QDQ Guide and the Barcelona City Council web.
The GPS coordinates of the Mediterranean Technology Park are: Lat=41°16'32.51'', Lon=1°59'20.57'' Consult Google Maps.
The Castelldefels train station is just 300 metres from the PMT and connects it to Barcelona by the RENFE Rodalies (local trains) line R2. Four to six trains run every hour from Barcelona-Passeig de Gracia and Barcelona-Sants stations. Travel time is 20-30 minutes.
RENFE - Local trains schedule
Station to ICFO map
The PMT is 10 minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from downtown Barcelona. C-32 motorway (formerly A-16): exit 46, see map. C-31 motorway (formerly N-246): Canal Olímpic exit, see map. There is a parking area next to the ICFO along the Olympic Canal.
Ràdio Taxi Castelldefels; 45 vehicles.
Tel: 936 653 557
...from "El Prat" Airport, Barcelona
Taking a taxi from the airport would be the best option. Approximate price: 15-20 €. Directions for the driver: Take C-31 motorway (formerly N-246) to Castelldefels. Canal Olímpic Exit
... from Girona Airport (RyanAir)
Take A-7 motorway to Barcelona. When approaching Barcelona, follow "Ronda de Dalt - Llobregat" signs. This road links with the C-32 motorway. Exit at 46 - Castelldefels. Then follow the signs to either Canal Olímpic or UPC Campus.
Barcelona Bus - Single Ticket 11 € / Return ticket 19 €. Travel time 1h 10min. Bus stops at the Estació del Nord Bus Station, located in Alí Bei St. Take the metro from there to Passeig de Gracia or Sants Estació and the RENFE local train (see above) to Castelldefels.
Última actualització: 13 de febrer de 2017
L'ICFO no disposa d'informació de Cartes de serveis i catàlegs de serveis d'acord amb el que preveu l'article 59 de la Llei 19/2014.
Pressupost d'ingressos i despeses per a l'any 2017
Pressupost d'ingressos i despeses per a l'any 2016
Pressupost de l'any 2015, aprovat per la Generalitat de Catalunya segons l'Ordre ECO/183/2014, de 16 de Juny de 2014, per la qual es dicten les normes per elaborar els pressupostos de la Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC núm. 6647)
Pressupost d'ingressos i despeses per a l'any 2015