We are thrilled to announce that the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) has been accredited as a María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence in the 2024 Call by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. This prestigious recognition marks the third time ICCUB has been honored with the María de Maeztu accreditation, following its initial award in 2014.
This distinction highlights organizations with highly competitive research programs that are among the best in the world in their respective scientific areas. The evaluation and selection process are conducted independently by an international scientific committee of widely recognized researchers, who select both Severo Ochoa centers and María de Maeztu units under the same rigorous criteria. ICCUB is one of the 17 organizations (9 Severo Ochoa centers and 8 María de Maeztu units) selected in this annual competitive call.
"It is the third time the ICCUB has obtained the Maria de Maeztu award, not an easy feat," says Xavier Luri, director of the ICCUB. "It is not only an acknowledgement of the outstanding science produced by our researchers, but also of the long-term vision and the continuous search of excellence at the ICCUB. This award will allow us to expand our contributions to many key scientific challenges."
The accreditation provides funding to research organizations that demonstrate international scientific impact and leadership, actively embrace knowledge transfer, and collaborate with the business sector. Efforts in open access policies to scientific publications, outreach, and knowledge diffusion are also recognized.
The María de Maeztu recognition is valid for four years and provides more than 500.000€ annually. This funding will allow the ICCUB to realize its strategic Research Plan, attract scientific talent and foster our outreach and communication initiatives.
"This award provides ICCUB the means to realize its ambitious scientific vision over the next 4 years," says Licia Verde, scientific director of the ICCUB. "To me this represents a strong vote of confidence in the quality and impact of past work and the potential of the institute to push the frontiers of the science of the cosmos. I am excited for what the next 4 years will bring. ICCUB team, our best work is yet to come!"
As a Unit of Excellence, ICCUB will remain in the SOMM Excellence Alliance, which promotes Spanish Excellence in research and enhances its social impact at national and international levels.
The Institute of Cosmos Sciences Strategic Plan
The funding will be used to address several scientific challenges:
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Exploring physics beyond the current standard models of particles and cosmology: This involves a coordinated approach that integrates theoretical modeling, precision measurements, and sophisticated data analysis techniques to uncover new physics.
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Studying the physics involved in producing gravitational wave sources: By researching the origins and processes of gravitational wave events, ICCUB seeks to provide novel insights into the strong gravity regime and the nature of compact binary coalescences. This research will be supported by ICCUB's active participation in major collaborations and surveys, enhancing our understanding of the universe's constituents.
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Exploiting quantum resources for science and technology: This includes advancing quantum communication, computation, and hardware development. The goal is to harness quantum entanglement and superposition to drive innovations in communication security and computational capacity, positioning ICCUB at the forefront of the second quantum revolution.
In addition to these scientific endeavors, the funding will support various institutional activities, including:
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Boosting recruitment strategies and talent acquisition with a focus on gender balance.
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Providing comprehensive training programs for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
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Expanding the Mental Health and resilience program.
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Attracting diverse funding sources, fostering international leadership, and enhancing knowledge and technology transfer.
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Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to ensure a supportive and inclusive environment.
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Expanding outreach and communication efforts to new formats and activities to reach wider audiences, while increasing inclusivity by adapting materials and workshops.
This recognition is a testament to the collective effort and unwavering commitment to excellence of all our researchers, as well as an inspiration for future scientific achievements.
Awarded Severo Ochoa Centers and Maria de Maeztu units
The centers and units that have received the María de Maeztu accreditation are: the Universitat Pompeu Fabra's Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, the Universidad de Barcelona's Institut de Ciències del Cosmos, the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela's CIMUS - Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas, the Universidad de Valencia's Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, the Fundación IMDEA Software's IMDEA Software Institute, the Fundación Privada Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social's Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona's Institut de Ciencia i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA), and the Universidad de Sevilla's Instituto Universitario de Investigación de Matemáticas de la Universidad de Sevilla (IMUS).
The Severo Ochoa accreditations have been awarded to: the Institut de Física d'Altes Energies, the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas Carlos III, the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), the Fundació Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ), the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, the Instituto de Ciencias Fotónicas, the Fundación Donostia International Physics Center, the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM), and the Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD).
Acknowledgements
Grant CEX2024-001451-M funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
