Letter from the Director
Dear friends,
Thanks for browsing the 2015 ICIQ Scientific Report. I hope you find the information useful.
2015 was the year of creation of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST). The ICIQ together with five other research centres (CRG, IRB Barcelona, ICFO, ICN2 and IFAE) set up BIST to promote joint research strategies, transfer of technology and graduate programmes. BIST is a scientific endeavor that I’m sure will position itself among the leading European research institutions.
I would also like to highlight the institute’s success in obtaining ERC funding; Dr. Julio Lloret-Fillol received an ERC Consolidator Grant and Profs. Núria López, Emilio Palomares and José Ramón Galán-Mascarós were each awarded an ERC Proof of Concept. Once again, ICIQ Group Leaders were able to raise funding for promising research projects. Congratulations to all of them!
As for the ICIQ family, one new leader, Dr. Mónica H. Pérez Temprano joined the institute through ICIQ’s Starting Career Programme (ICIQ-SCP) for incorporating talented young group leaders and helping them start an independent research career, while Dr. Julio Lloret- Fillol was appointed ICREA Research Professor and Prof. Piet van Leeuwen retired.
With respect to research achievements, the institute has continued to be very active, and 150 scientific papers were published during the year. The institute reached Hirsch index 101 in December and topped international rankings measuring scientific excellence (excellencemapping.net).
Finally, let’s not forget the set up of Ertflow, the ICIQ’s new technology development unit that aims to develop proprietary technologies related to catalysis and flow chemistry and to offer products and services to the fine chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries for the production of new high added value products and processes under flow conditions.
Let’s wait and see what next year has in store for us!
Best regards,
Miquel A. Pericàs