Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece Casa Batlló, in Barcelona
Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece Casa Batlló, in Barcelona
ICFO under the Spotlight in Nature
ICFO is one of the driving forces of national science according to a feature article
in Nature.
July 24, 2008
ICFO’s rapid expansion, variety of research lines, and liaison with industry are some of the features highlighted in an article published in Nature focusing on research in the Barcelona area.
In an interview conducted by the magazine’s correspondent, Quirin Schiermeier, ICFO Director, Lluís Torner, said that a change of mind about science has taken place in Spanish society, which now supports extra investments in research. Schiermeier reports on the rapid growth of ICFO since 2003, the international composition of its research groups, and the development of research tools in different fields such as medical imaging, environmental sensors for pollution, quantum computing, and solar energy. The article also draws attention to the activity carried out by Radiantis, ICFO’s spin-off, and reports on the prospects of further expansion by the Institute.
Barcelona is a “Mediterranean science hub”, according to Nature. As proof of this, the article cites several thriving research centers, in addition to ICFO, including the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (BBRP), which houses the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Barcelona Science Park, the Autonomous University of Barcelona's Science and Technology Park, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and the ALBA Synchrotron.
According to the article, Spanish scientific buoyancy is due to the 60% increase in science funding promoted by the newly elected government in 2004 and the tackling of the bureaucracies that obstructed change and froze out new young talent. The regional Government of Catalonia was a forerunner of this change by launching a science initiative in the early 2000s that resulted in several new institutes (all public–private foundations located in and around Barcelona) and by increasing its financial contribution to research. The report also refers to research initiatives that make room for newcomers implemented by Mr Andreu Mas-Colell (Catalonian Minister for Universities and Research from 2000 to 2003, and future Secretary General of the European Research Council).
Nature highlights the success of such research policy by mentioning the number of ERC starting grants awarded to young investigators based in the area - 24 granted in Spain. One of these grants was awarded to ICFO group leader Prof Antonio Acín.
In an interview conducted by the magazine’s correspondent, Quirin Schiermeier, ICFO Director, Lluís Torner, said that a change of mind about science has taken place in Spanish society, which now supports extra investments in research. Schiermeier reports on the rapid growth of ICFO since 2003, the international composition of its research groups, and the development of research tools in different fields such as medical imaging, environmental sensors for pollution, quantum computing, and solar energy. The article also draws attention to the activity carried out by Radiantis, ICFO’s spin-off, and reports on the prospects of further expansion by the Institute.
Barcelona is a “Mediterranean science hub”, according to Nature. As proof of this, the article cites several thriving research centers, in addition to ICFO, including the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (BBRP), which houses the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Barcelona Science Park, the Autonomous University of Barcelona's Science and Technology Park, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and the ALBA Synchrotron.
According to the article, Spanish scientific buoyancy is due to the 60% increase in science funding promoted by the newly elected government in 2004 and the tackling of the bureaucracies that obstructed change and froze out new young talent. The regional Government of Catalonia was a forerunner of this change by launching a science initiative in the early 2000s that resulted in several new institutes (all public–private foundations located in and around Barcelona) and by increasing its financial contribution to research. The report also refers to research initiatives that make room for newcomers implemented by Mr Andreu Mas-Colell (Catalonian Minister for Universities and Research from 2000 to 2003, and future Secretary General of the European Research Council).
Nature highlights the success of such research policy by mentioning the number of ERC starting grants awarded to young investigators based in the area - 24 granted in Spain. One of these grants was awarded to ICFO group leader Prof Antonio Acín.