The Severo Ochoa accreditation

In July 2020, ICIQ was accredited as a “Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence” by the State Research Agency of the Ministry of Science and Innovation. This is the second time the institute obtains this recognition after having received it in 2014. The Severo Ochoa accreditation recognizes units and research centers that excel for being situated among the best in the world in their respective fields of research. Being recognized as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence is not only a recognition of scientific excellence but also a significant source of funding. This recognition represents an annual allocation of 1 million euros during a period of 4 years.

Sustainability Through Advanced Catalysis

Our society is immersed in a critical transition towards sustainability and a circular economy. A successful transition to a sustainable chemical sector requires going beyond a single dimension for energy and resource efficiency and recovery. We believe that advanced catalysis can be a key enabler for the generation of advanced innovative catalysts, materials, and processes that can deliver sustainable solutions for circular ecosystems.

Catalytic activation and valorization of chemical feedstock– towards a circular economy: we will focus on the discovery of fundamentally new catalytic technologies that will rapidly and reliably enable the valorization of feedstock by converting small carbon-based molecules (CO₂, methane, light alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes) into value-added chemicals.

Renewable energy vectors and feedstock from sunlight- towards a Hydrogen-based economy: we will develop fast, robust, and scalable catalysts and materials for the electrocatalytic and sunlight-mediated hydrogen production from water, as well as for CO₂ reduction, to prepare a new generation of fuels such as methanol or volatile hydrocarbons. This action will contribute to decrease the dependence on fossil fuels.

Moreover, the implementation of the Severo Ochoa Strategic Plan will have an important impact on:

• The alignment of ICIQs scientific goals with the future Horizon Europe through a more collaborative and translational approach to research, more internationalized, better gender-balanced, and even more committed with the principles of Responsible Research and Innovation.
• ICIQ’s recognition for the quality of our scientific training and for the support ICIQ offers to the development of research careers at all stages.
• The strength of our internal structures to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology to the business sector so that our research can translate into effective innovations.

Contact: Dr. Sonia Sayalero, ICIQ’s Severo-Ochoa program coordinator.

This project has received funding from the Spanish State Research Agency/Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Severo Ochoa” Centres of Excellence Program 2019 (CEX2019-000925-S, MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, 2020-2024).