The announcement was made by the Minister for Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, during the accreditation ceremony held at the UVic-UCC Assembly Hall. According to the Minister, BETA Tech’s entry into the CERCA system strengthens a research model that is deeply rooted in the local territory and focused on transforming knowledge into practical solutions for the agri-food sector and rural communities.

€800,000 to drive the green and digital transitions

The Ministry of Research and Universities will provide €800,000 to support the project Strategic Infrastructures to Promote Sustainability and Innovation in Rural Areas during the 2026-2027 period. The aim is to consolidate an ecosystem of scientific and technological infrastructures capable of accelerating the green and digital transitions of rural regions.

The investment will support the deployment of an environmental genomics platform to monitor biodiversity and pathogens; an innovation hub with open pilot plants for validating circular bioeconomy technologies; a digital experimentation laboratory equipped with artificial intelligence tools for sustainability applications; and a soil ecotoxicology laboratory based on the One Health approach.

Enhanced research and knowledge transfer capacity

Joining the CERCA system will give BETA Tech access to CERCA Institution support programmes in areas such as open science, knowledge transfer, internationalisation and specialised training. It will also strengthen the centre’s capacity to collaborate with businesses, public administrations and other research organisations.

Based in Vic, BETA Tech works to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the productive sector through applied research and innovation. Its integration into the CERCA system consolidates a scientific project focused on generating local impact and contributing to the sustainable development of agri-food systems and rural areas.

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IFAE’s Governing Board nominated Prof. Mario Martínez as the new director of the Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) at its meeting on September 4, 2026. He will take office on November 1, 2026.

Mario Martínez is an ICREA Research Professor and has been Deputy Director of IFAE since 2023. He has been at the institute for more than two decades and has held several scientific and management responsibilities at IFAE and within major international research collaborations.

Throughout his career, Mario Martínez has held a number of scientific leadership positions at both national and international level. He served as Director of IFAE’s Experimental Division, as Scientific Manager of the Spanish High Energy Physics programme, and as Scientific Delegate of Spain at the CERN Council. Mario Martínez has also served on scientific committees at CERN, including the LHC experiments committee (LHCC). Since 2025, Mario Martínez has been the Scientific Director of IFAE’s Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence programme, which supports strategic actions in research, innovation and infrastructure to strengthen IFAE’s leadership in fundamental physics and increase its societal impact.

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The investment will transform a former industrial building into a 3,122 m² research centre spread across four floors, almost three times the size of the Institute’s current premises. The project includes new laboratories, research spaces, offices, training facilities and areas dedicated to knowledge transfer.

Construction is scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2029 and responds to the need to expand facilities that have become increasingly constrained by the sustained growth of ICAC’s scientific activity since its establishment in 2003. The new headquarters will strengthen the centre’s research and advanced training capabilities, while also supporting the development of new lines of research.

The location will also foster synergies with the future archaeological park of the Palaeochristian Necropolis and with other scientific and cultural institutions in Tarragona.

Through this initiative, ICAC is preparing for the coming decades with facilities designed to support its continued growth and to reinforce its position as an international centre of excellence in classical archaeology, while also contributing to the regeneration and revitalisation of the Tabacalera complex.

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With a total budget of €199,266, the funded projects focus primarily on language welcome packs and integration initiatives for researchers and professionals joining the centres. These initiatives include Catalan language courses, language exchange partnerships, conversation groups, cultural activities, excursions, and resources designed to support the learning of both the language and scientific terminology in Catalan.

Managed by AGAUR, the grants form part of the Plan to Strengthen the Catalan Language in Catalonia’s University and Research System and complement other existing measures aimed at encouraging the use of Catalan.

The call also supports innovative science communication projects, including Atapuerca in Catalan, dedicated to human evolution; Light for a Cleaner Planet, a digital platform on photonics and sustainability for schools; Paleoparlem, focused on the dissemination of palaeontology; and Research on Stage, which uses theatre as a tool to promote the use of Catalan in multicultural scientific environments.

This funding scheme further strengthens the commitment of CERCA centres to research that is internationally engaged while also reinforcing the presence and use of Catalan throughout the country’s scientific and academic communities.

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The aim is to identify scientific results capable of being transformed into solutions with tangible impact, whether in industry, the marketplace, or the development of public policy.

Promoting Knowledge Transfer from the Start of a Research Career

The PIONER Awards seek to foster a culture of knowledge transfer from the earliest stages of researchers’ careers. The call is open to researchers from CERCA centres who obtained their doctoral degree between 14 October 2025 and 14 July 2026, and who can present a concrete proposal for applying the results of their thesis.

Applications will remain open until 8 September 2026 at 5.00 pm. In addition to demonstrating scientific excellence, candidates will be expected to present a clear vision of the potential impact of their work.

Selection Process and Awards

The selection process will take place in two stages. Following an initial assessment, ten finalist projects will be selected and announced on 18 September 2026. These finalists will then be invited to present their proposals before an external jury at the final event.

The six highest-rated projects will each receive a prize of €1,000, with the support of the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRI).

Project Preparation and Presentation

As in previous editions, participants will have access to an optional pitching training session, designed to help them communicate their proposals effectively to a jury that may not necessarily have expertise in their specific field.

The final event, including the presentation of the finalist projects and the PIONER Awards 2026 ceremony, will take place on 8 October 2026.

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IBEC is an internationally recognised centre for interdisciplinary biomedical research, bringing together more than 400 researchers from 34 countries. Its work focuses on understanding, analysing and controlling biological systems, with the aim of generating advances that improve health and quality of life.

The selected candidate will be responsible for defining the Institute’s scientific and technological vision, leading its strategic plan and ensuring the excellence of its research activities, as well as its sustainability and international positioning. The role also includes institutional representation, the management of human and financial resources, and the promotion of knowledge transfer and innovation.

The call is open to both internal and external candidates. Applicants are expected to demonstrate an outstanding international scientific career, proven leadership skills, experience in team management and a solid understanding of global research systems.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit a vision statement for the Institute and participate in a final interview with the selection committee.

• Application deadline: 20 July 2026
• Expected appointment: September–October 2026

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Today, the CERCA Institution welcomed group of students from the VHIR Master’s programme in Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship on a visit aimed at introducing them to how the research system in Catalonia operates and the role played by CERCA centres within it.

During the session, the Institution’s main areas of activity were presented, with a particular focus on innovation and knowledge transfer, especially in the biomedical field. The importance of connecting research with the healthcare system and the market was also highlighted, along with the role of transversal skills in fostering collaboration and multidisciplinary work.

The visit also provided an opportunity to showcase the working communities promoted by CERCA as key spaces for building partnerships and sharing knowledge across centres. The Master’s programme, promoted by VHIR, aims to train professionals capable of transforming knowledge into solutions with a tangible impact on the healthcare system.

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Dr Cañas holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Barcelona and brings over 25 years of experience in biomedical research, translational innovation and clinical research management. For the past nine years, he has served as Director of Commercial and Contract Clinical Research at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), where he led the transformation of the clinical research management model and the development of European strategic projects.

With this appointment, I3PT, a CERCA research centre, strengthens its commitment to consolidating its scientific position, advancing translational and clinical research, and enhancing knowledge transfer aimed at improving people’s health.

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Catalonia is strengthening its commitment to biomedical research with the start of construction of the new building dedicated to precision medicine at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park–Ciutadella (PRBB–Ciutadella), located on the former Mercat del Peix site. This strategic project reinforces Barcelona’s and Catalonia’s position on the international map of scientific excellence.
During the institutional event, the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, underlined the Government’s commitment to science as a driving force for economic and social progress—an approach reflected in sustained investment, institutional collaboration and a long-term vision.

A next-generation scientific hub

The PRBB–Ciutadella project foresees a total investment of €104 million for the period 2025–2029. Of this amount, €44 million corresponds to a grant from the Ministry of Research and Universities, while €60 million will be provided through government-backed loans. Barcelona City Council is contributing by granting surface rights for a period of 75 years, along with key initial investments to launch the project.

CERCA, talent and interdisciplinarity

The new facility will host approximately 950 researchers from five CERCA centres. The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) will relocate its entire activity to the site; IBEC will establish strategic research groups there; and teams from ICN2, the CRG and ICFO will also be integrated into the new building.

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These criteria establish the procedure for publishing studies and reports commissioned from third parties and apply both to government departments and to affiliated public‑sector entities.

The key aspects to be taken into account are as follows:

• Prior review of the document: the commissioning unit must determine whether the document can be published in full or whether anonymisation is required for justified reasons.
• Uploading to GEEC: a single document per file must be uploaded, in PDF format, named according to the file reference number, and attached to the mandatory task “Study/Opinion/Report”.
• Automated publication: the information will be automatically published on the Transparency Portal via the open data dataset.
• Deferred publication (if applicable): in duly justified cases, publication may be postponed by means of a supporting report.

At the link you will find the dedicated section of the GEEC User Guides (invoice management and file settlement), with step‑by‑step instructions on how to add this information in each case.

On a weekly basis, GEEC exports the information to the open data dataset, which is automatically published on the Transparency Portal.

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