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Dr. Ignacio Cirac and Mr. Anton Pont. Photo Credit: Fundació Gresol
Dr. Ignacio Cirac and Mr. Anton Pont. Photo Credit: Fundació Gresol

Dr. Ignacio Cirac awarded the 21st Gran Gresol Prize

The Gresol Foundation recognizes Cirac’s well deserved reputation as one of the most prestigious quantum physicists in the world.

June 27, 2017
Yesterday, June 26th, the Gresol Foundation awarded Dr. Ignacio Cirac with the 21st Gran Gresol Prize to recognize his brilliant work and outstanding achievements, considered landmark discoveries in his field which have positioned him as one of the most prestigious quantum physicists in the world.

Recipients of the Gran Gresol Prize are prestigious professionals that have brilliantly accomplished important achievements and are renowned within their professional field. Their work and expertise are considered not only an example for entrepreneurs but also a reference both at a national and international level. Previous recipients of this award include Joan Massagué, Ferran Adrià, Juan Antonio Samaranch, among others.

Dr. Cirac is director of the Theoretical Division of the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, based in Garching, Germany. He obtained a Ph.D. degree in Fundamental Physics from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Expert in quantum computing and its applications in the field of information, his research is focused on the quantum information theory. His work has been the subject of many awards, including the Prince of Asturias Prize for Scientific and Technical Research in 2006, the National Prize for Research Blas Cabrera in 2007, the Franklin Medal in 2010, the Niels Bohr Medal in 2013, the Wolf Prize in 2013 and, recently, the Theoretical Physics Prize of the city of Hamburg. He is also a Distinguished Invited Professor at ICFO and President of the institute’s Scientific Advisory Board

The award ceremony took place at the CaixaForum, the social and cultural center of the Obra Social "la Caixa". In attendance were entrepreneurs and members of the Gresol Foundation who, together with Jaume Giró, director general of the "la Caixa" Bank Foundation and other authorities such as Anton Pont, Honorary President of the Foundation, Valentí Farràs, Director of CaixaForum, and Josep Anton Ferré, director of URV, celebrated this award with the scientist.

Mr. Anton Pont, Dr. Ignacio Cirac, Mr. Jaume Giró, Mr. Josep Anton Ferré. Photo Credit: Fundació Gresol