Explore the ICMAB research units that bring together advanced materials science expertise, research groups and scientific capabilities across energy, electronics and health.

ICMAB research units structure the institute’s scientific activity into focused areas of expertise in advanced functional materials, nanoscience, chemistry, physics, modelling and materials characterization.

Each unit brings together research groups, researchers, technical capabilities and scientific methods around shared materials challenges, creating a coherent research ecosystem connected to ICMAB’s strategic lines in energy, electronics and health.

This overview page is designed as a gateway to the units and the research groups working within them.

Research units act as scientific containers: they connect research groups, methods and facilities around shared materials science questions.

A dynamic overview of the ICMAB research units. Each card links to a unit page with its scientific focus, groups, projects, people and research environment.

Research units contribute to the institute’s strategic scientific priorities in materials for energy, electronics and health.

Use this page to navigate from the broad ICMAB research ecosystem to specific units, groups and scientific capabilities.

Research units are the gateway to ICMAB’s research groups, people, projects and scientific infrastructure.

Explore the ICMAB research groups advancing materials science through interdisciplinary teams, scientific excellence and shared research infrastructure.

ICMAB research groups are the core scientific teams where researchers, technicians, postdoctoral fellows and students work together to develop advanced functional materials and understand their structure, properties and applications.

The groups are organised within the ICMAB research ecosystem and contribute to strategic research lines in materials for energy, electronics and health, while using shared scientific and technical services for synthesis, processing, characterization and modelling.

Research groups are connected to broader research units and strategic lines, creating a coherent scientific structure for collaboration, infrastructure and impact.

Browse ICMAB research groups and access their dedicated pages to learn more about their scientific focus, people, projects and publications.

Different audiences use the research groups overview in different ways. The page should help scientists, students, industry partners and institutional visitors quickly identify the most relevant group or research area.

Use the research group directory to identify scientific teams, or explore research units and strategic lines for a broader view of the ICMAB research ecosystem.

ICMAB scientific and technical services provide advanced materials characterization services, preparation platforms and expert research support for internal and external scientific users.

The ICMAB Scientific and Technical Services bring together specialised laboratories, platforms and expert staff supporting advanced materials research.

The services cover materials characterization services, microscopy, spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, magnetometry, nanofabrication, thin film deposition, biological characterization and soft matter preparation.

This overview page works as the main entry point for researchers, technical users, industry partners and external scientific users who need to identify the right platform, understand available capabilities and contact the appropriate service team.

A coordinated scientific services ecosystem for sample preparation, fabrication, measurement, analysis and technical guidance across advanced materials research workflows.

Use this overview to access the specific service page that best fits your sample, technique or research question.

The STS ecosystem supports researchers from material synthesis and fabrication to structural, morphological, physical, spectroscopic, thermal and biological characterization.

Each Scientific and Technical Service has its own access procedure, request form, technical contacts and usage conditions. The recommended first step is to visit the specific service page and contact the service team before sending samples or booking equipment.

For external users, the team can help define feasibility, measurement conditions, quotation needs and expected outputs.

A professional scientific services environment embedded in a leading materials science institute, combining advanced equipment, experienced technical staff and close interaction with research groups.

ICMAB-CSIC
Campus de la UAB
08193 Bellaterra
Barcelona, Spain

For specific measurements, please contact the corresponding service team from each service page. For general enquiries, use the institutional contact channel.

41.5020,2.1102

ICMAB-CSIC Scientific and Technical Services

ICMAB-CSIC has been recognised as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, one of the highest distinctions for research institutes in Spain. The current excellence programme, MATRANS42, reinforces ICMAB’s leadership in advanced functional materials for electronics, energy and health.

The Severo Ochoa accreditation recognises ICMAB as a research institute of international excellence in materials science. This distinction supports long-term scientific strategy, breakthrough research, talent development, knowledge transfer and societal impact.

Through the MATRANS42 programme, ICMAB strengthens its role as a leading centre for advanced materials research and innovation in Spain and Europe.

The ICMAB became a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence in 2016 (FUNMAT), becoming one of the top research centers in Spain in Materials Science. We renewed the seal of excellence in 2020 (FUNFUTURE) and again for the third consecutive time in 2024 (MATRANS42).

MATRANS42 ("MATerials TRANSition FOR TOmorrow’s world") is a research project led by the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB) under the Severo Ochoa excellence program.

The project focuses on developing innovative and sustainable materials to address global challenges in electronics, energy, and health.

By leveraging cutting-edge research in synthesis, processing, characterization, and modeling, MATRANS42 aims to create transformative materials with real-world applications.

Additionally, the project emphasizes knowledge transfer, industry collaboration, and societal impact, promoting innovation, open science, and gender diversity to ensure long-term scientific excellence and sustainability.

The associated research programme brings together the researchers in three research lines:

• Materials for Electronics → Developing advanced materials for electronic applications, including molecular electronics and oxide-based systems.
• Materials for Energy → Focusing on sustainable energy storage, superconductivity, and conversion technologies.
• Materials for Health → Innovations in bioactive materials, theranostics, and biomedical applications.

Main Objectives of MATRANS42

SG1: Actions for Breakthrough Research

• Develop transformative and sustainable materials with unprecedented properties.
• Focus research on three strategic areas: Materials for Electronics, Energy, and Health.
• Utilize ICMAB’s expertise in synthesis, processing, characterization, and modeling to advance the field​

SG2: Facilitate Knowledge Transfer

• Strengthen intellectual property management and boost innovation.
• Increase patent applications and spin-offs to ensure real-world impact.
• Improve industry collaborations to transition cutting-edge research into marketable technologies​

SG3: Consolidate Strategic Projects Unit

• Secure long-term funding for high-impact research projects.
• Streamline administrative processes to enhance efficiency and decision-making.
• Provide dedicated resources and support to researchers for securing competitive grants​

SG4: Enhance Social Impact

• Promote science outreach and public engagement through media and educational initiatives.
• Develop a "Materials Inspire" Open Data Library to make scientific research accessible.
• Improve gender diversity and inclusivity in scientific leadership and research teams​

The ICMAB excellence accreditation supports a research strategy focused on transformative materials for electronics, energy and health.

1. Train and Support Staff
To maintain excellence, MATRANS42 will implement an enhanced training schedule for all staff promoted by our new Talent Office. This includes leadership programs, mentoring for emerging researchers, and structured career development paths. The goal is to nurture future leaders and create a collaborative research environment that fosters innovation.

2. Encourage Knowledge Transfer and Innovation
A major focus of the project is strengthening the Knowledge Transfer Unit to ensure research results lead to real-world applications. This includes increasing patents and spin-offs, hiring additional personnel specialized in industry collaborations, and improving infrastructure to support prototype development.

3. Boost Large-Scale Funding Applications
To sustain high-impact research, MATRANS42 will provide dedicated support for securing large-scale grants, particularly ERC Advanced and Synergy grants. The Strategic Projects Unit will assist researchers in preparing competitive proposals and managing projects efficiently.

4. Promote Interdisciplinary Collaboration
A key challenge is reducing fragmentation in research activities. To address this, MATRANS42 will pre-assign resources to interdisciplinary teams, ensuring a streamlined research process. This will foster an open innovation approach, utilizing expertise from multiple disciplines.

5. Enhance Social and Scientific Impact
The project aims to broaden public engagement and outreach by expanding its Communication & Outreach Unit. It will also monitor and promote gender diversity in research leadership and ensure that materials science contributes to addressing societal challenges in health, energy, and electronics.

The SOMM Alliance (Alliance of Severo Ochoa Centres and María de Maeztu Units) is a collective of Spain's leading research institutions recognized for their excellence. Established to promote and enhance the quality and impact of Spanish scientific research, SOMMa aims to:

• Elevate the national and international profile of Spanish science: By showcasing the groundbreaking work of its members, SOMMa seeks to position Spain as a global leader in research and innovation.

• Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices: The alliance promotes collaboration among its members and with the broader international scientific community, fostering the sharing of insights, technologies, and methodologies.

• Strengthen the Spanish R&D+i system: Through cooperation with other research centers across Spain, SOMMa endeavors to bolster the nation's research, development, and innovation infrastructure.

• Influence science policy: The alliance serves as a unified voice in Spanish and European science policy discussions, advocating for the interests and needs of the research community.

The Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) is a distinguished member of the SOMMa Alliance. As a multidisciplinary research center, ICMAB-CSIC focuses on cutting-edge research in functional advanced materials, with applications spanning energy, electronics, and nanomedicine. Its involvement in SOMMa underscores its commitment to scientific excellence and collaboration.

Through the alliance, ICMAB-CSIC benefits from enhanced visibility, access to a network of top-tier research institutions, and opportunities to influence science policy at both national and international levels. This collaboration amplifies ICMAB-CSIC's efforts to advance materials science and contribute to addressing global challenges.