The Governing Council of the Government of Catalonia has approved on April 16 the modification of the By-laws of the Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, confirming its participation in the centre’s Board of Trustees.

This approval guarantees compliance with the legal regime of the public sector and with the Science Law, which establishes that CERCA centres must be created by the Government of Catalonia or the latter must participate in them.

The composition of the Agrotecnio Board of Trustees, which was formed equally by trustees from the University of Lleida (UdL) and the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), is modified and three trustees from the Government of Catalonia are incorporated. Therefore, the new Agrotecnio Board of Trustees is made up of six trustees from the University of Lleida, three from the Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda; two from the General Directorate of Research and one from IRTA.

The President of the Board of Trustees is held by the Rector of the University of Lleida; and the first Vice-presidency, by the Minister of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda.

The Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM), created in 1984 by the Institut d’Estudis Catalans, is seeking applicants with a proven-track record in leadership, a distinguished record of scientific excellence and the innovative thinking necessary to lead a dynamic organisation.

Since its creation, there has been a close collaboration between the CRM and the three Mathematics departments in the Barcelona metropolitan area: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). A collective of the top researchers at these departments is adscribed to CRM. This has allowed this “new CRM” to obtain a Maria de Maeztu award (two times). Since the creation of the CRM own research structure in 2008 emphasis has been put on the applications of mathematics to life and physical sciences, as a complement to the existing scientific power in areas such as Analysis, PDEs and Dynamical Systems at the Universities.

Deadline for submitting applications: April 30th, 2024

Romer-Isart will succeed Lluís Torner, who has held this position since 2002.

 

ICFO’s director, Prof. Dr Lluis Torner, who founded the institute in 2002, informed the board of trustees in 2022 that he would be stepping down from his role, putting in motion the search for a new director.

On February 14, 2024, the Board approved the appointment of Prof Dr Oriol Romero-Isart as a new group leader, and director of the institute for the next 4 years. Romero-Isart, who obtained his PhD at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, has been working abroad during the last 15 years.

After a PostDoc at the Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Munich, he moved to Innsbruck to start his own research group in 2013. He is currently Professor at the University of Innsbruck, group leader at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) Innsbruck, and Deputy Managing Director of IQOQI. His research group focuses on topics in the fields of theoretical quantum optics and mesoscopic quantum physics in the context of quantum science and technology.

He will join ICFO in the Spring and will assume responsibilities as the appointed director on September 1st, 2024.

“I feel fortunate to have been appointed as the next director of ICFO and to have the privilege of serving a successful organization filled with talented and enthusiastic people, with a mission and culture that I strongly resonate with,” comments Prof. Romero-Isart.

 

 

With this addition, the total number of CERCA centres rises to 42

The Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) has been recognised as a Research Centre of Catalonia (Centre de Recerca de Catalunya (CERCA)) by the Catalan government’s Department of Research and Universities. The decision, officially published in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC), consolidates IBEI as a leading player in the field of research in Catalonia.

The path to this prestigious recognition began in 2021, when IBEI successfully passed a rigorous evaluation process. This positive evaluation highlights IBEI’s continued commitment to excellence in research and its contribution to scientific and social progress.

This recognition as a CERCA Centre represents a significant opportunity for IBEI. In addition to improving the visibility and impact of its research, IBEI will be able to establish new collaborations and consolidate its standards of excellence. In its current work, CERCA is made up of 42 research centres, and IBEI joins this prestigious network with the aim of making an outstanding contribution to the development of research and innovation.

The Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA) has successfully completed the selection process for the position of Director of the research centre. The appointment has gone to Vicenç Acuña, a researcher at the Institute since 2009 and currently head of the Resources and Ecosystems area.

With a PhD in Stream ecology obtained at the University of Barcelona in 2004, his main research interest are the ecology of temporary streams, the chemical fate and the ecological effects of emerging contaminants, the integrated management of the urban water system, and the nature-based solutions for water sanitation in urban areas. Thus, encompassing both basic and applied research, and fostering inter- and transdisciplinary research.

The new director’s main challenge will be to promote ICRA-CERCA’s research excellence in the field of natural and urban waters.

Succeeds Prof. Josep Paradells, who took up the management of the institute at the end of 2015

Dr Sergi Figuerola Fernández has been appointed new director of the i2CAT Foundation by the board of trustees in a meeting held last January 17th. Figuerola succeeds the professor of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) Josep Paradells, who led the entity since October 2015.

Sergi Figuerola is a Telecommunication Engineer and PhD in Telecommunication Engineering from the Department of Theory and Communication of Signals of the UPC, PDG-2019 for IESE and Master in Project Management for La Salle (URL). He joined the i2CAT Foundation in 2004 as coordinator of the Technologies Network Area, becoming director of the Networks and Distributed Applications Area in 2010 and Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) in 2013.

In the last twenty years, he has participated in leading roles in various research projects funded by the European Commission in the field of telecommunications, 5G and the new generation of the Internet, and has contributed to more than 50 scientific publications. Currently, he is a member of different technical programs of international conferences and evaluator of projects and national and international research programs. He will also participate as a coordinator in the definition of the New Space strategy of the Government of Catalonia.

In the words of the new director, “it is an honour to assume this role, and I am committed to working so that the centre continues to generate impact through research and innovation of excellence. The talent of the i2CAT team is the cornerstone, and I have the certainty I will continue to support an environment that promotes collaboration with the solid foundation of the mission, vision and values of the centre. i2CAT stands out because it acts as a unique link between the academic, public and private sectors, but now our goal is going further to contribute to the transformation of the Catalan ecosystem and creating an advanced digital society in Catalonia”.

Figuerola will work to “consolidate the institution, strengthen sectors and technologies and to position i2CAT as a leading European centre in R+D+I and prepare it for the future”.