Research centres in Barcelona

ALBA Synchrotron light facility

This third-generation scientific infrastructure, the most important in the Mediterranean, is committed to scientific excellence, progress and the well-being of society.

ALBA Synchrotron
Barcelona Supercomputing Center

The BSC-CNS is housed in the MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. Manufactured by IBM, it works in fields that range from medical research to astrophysics.

BSC-CNS - MareNostrum
National Genome Analysis Centre

The NGAC, where researchers from around the world work together, aims to carry out DNA sequencing projects to improve people’s quality of life and health.

National Genome Analysis Centre
Barcelona Biomedical Research Park

Consisting of 7 centres which perform excellent science and 1,400 people from 55 different countries (35% of the staff are foreigners),. the PRBB explores the most important scientific and biomedical questions

Barcelona Biomedical Research Park

Barcelona, a focal point for research

Fostering scientific research in Catalonia comes from an impetus for competitiveness to promote economic growth, progress and social well-being.

The tools for achieving this competitiveness include: a home-grown research-centre model in Catalonia, policies for attracting and keeping talent, large-scale research infrastructures and a wide political and institutional consensus that brings stability to the system.

The research, development and investigation (RDI) system throughout Catalonia is made up of:

12 universities (7 public, 4 private and 1 online) and 36 university research institutes
40 research centres in Catalonia (CERCA) devoted to excellence in research
21 centres belonging to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
11 IRTA centres (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology)
9 hospital institutions that carry out excellent research in biomedicine
16 scientific and technological parks for the transfer and use of knowledge
13 large research-support infrastructures (GISR)
1.652 research groups

Data extracted from the Generalitat's website

CERCA Centres

Created around a university system, CERCA centres enjoy a home-grown model of Independence and flexibility and conduct cutting-edge research aiming for scientific and economic impact onand improvements to social and individual well-being.

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CISC Centres

As the biggest public institution in Spain and the third biggest in Europe, the Spanish National Research Council (CISC) works towards developing scientific and technological progress.

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ICREA

A talent-hiring programme that helps to attract and keep the best researchers from around Catalonia since 2001. ICREA employs 258 researchers in all fields of knowledge, from philosophers to astrophysicists, that perform their research in 49 different host institutions in Catalonia.

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Hospital institutions

They provide support for health centres in research, scientific-and medicinal training and the development of knowledge, promoting links with universities, institutions and industries around the world.

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TECNIO technology centres

These are expert technological centres forindustrial research and technology transfer. They contribute to a new model, based on innovation, excellence and differential technology.

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IRTA

This institute contributes to the competitiveness, modernisation and sustainable development of the food, agricultural and aquaculture sector which helps to improve people's well-being

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Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC)

The Josep Carreras Institute is one of the few monographic centres dedicated to the fight against leukaemia. Its objective is to find new treatments, improve the lives of patients and create international synergies.

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ACER

The Catalan Association of Research Bodies (ACER) aims to establish Catalonia as an international benchmark in all areas of knowledge, focusing its activities on RD.

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