Industry & Transfer / Collaborative R&D

How to Collaborate

Work with ICMAB-CSIC through contract research, scientific consultancy, competitive collaborative projects and technology licensing.

Ways to collaborate with ICMAB

ICMAB offers several ways for companies and other organisations to collaborate with its research groups, scientific and technical services, and technology-transfer ecosystem.

Collaboration can combine research-group expertise, scientific and technical services, and the wider technology-transfer ecosystem according to the organisation’s challenge and stage of development.

Contract R&D

A defined project addressing a technological challenge or developing a material, process, device or application.

Consultancy

Scientific and technological advice supporting decisions, feasibility and problem-solving.

Collaborative projects

Competitive European, Spanish and Catalan programmes involving companies and research organisations.

Licensing

Industrial partnerships to develop, validate or commercialise protected ICMAB technologies.

Contract Research and Development

Companies can commission a defined research and development project to address a specific technological challenge or develop a new material, process, device or application.

New material or formulation development.

Process optimisation.

Prototype and device development.

Performance and reliability studies.

Customised experimental programmes.

Development of intellectual property and technology-transfer opportunities.

Contract Consultancy

ICMAB researchers can provide scientific and technological consultancy to support decision-making and problem-solving.

Technology assessment.

Scientific and technical advice and services provided by teams of expert technicians and scientists.

Materials and process selection.

Feasibility studies.

State-of-the-art and technology-landscape analysis.

Failure analysis.

Support for technology roadmaps and innovation strategies.

Collaborative Projects

ICMAB collaborates with companies through a broad range of competitive funding programmes at European, Spanish and Catalan level. These programmes support different stages of the innovation process, from early-stage research and breakthrough technologies to experimental development, technology validation, prototyping, industrialisation and market-oriented applications, all of them involve companies:

Programme names and formats have evolved over time. The instruments below are current examples in 2026 rather than an exhaustive catalogue.

European Union

European collaborative R&D and technology transfer programmes, involving companies, universities, research organisations and technology centres. Extensive experience with technology transfer funding instruments across successive European Framework Programmes, although their names and specific formats have evolved over time. To date, 2026, examples include:

EIC Pathfinder: high-risk, multidisciplinary research for breakthrough technologies.
EIC Transition: maturation and validation of promising research results towards demonstrators and market applications.

Spain

R&D, innovation and technology transfer programmes funded by Spain's leading public funding organisations, including CDTI, AEI and CSIC. Extensive experience across a broad range of funding instruments, whose names and specific characteristics have evolved over time. Current examples include:

Misiones Ciencia e Innovación (CDTI): large, strategic, company-led cooperative R&D projects addressing national challenges.
Public-Private Collaboration Projects (AEI): experimental development projects involving companies and research organisations.
CSIC COCREA (CSIC/Converge): co-creation and co-development projects between companies and CSIC research groups.

Catalonia

R+D Empresarial (ACCIÓ, formerly Nuclis): grants for industrial research and experimental development projects led by companies based in Catalonia. Through its TECNIO unit NANOMOL, ICMAB offers specialised scientific and technological capabilities that can support eligible subcontracted R&D activities within funded projects.

Clusters

Cluster participation connects companies and knowledge organisations across complementary value chains and can support the formation of collaborative projects.

SECPHO

the photonics, optics and imaging cluster, offering access to companies, research organisations and collaborative-project opportunities in deep tech and photonics.

Clúster de Materials Avançats de Catalunya — MAV

the advanced-materials cluster, connecting companies and knowledge organisations working on materials, manufacturing processes and technology transfer.

Intercluster projects

members of SECPHO, MAV and other accredited clusters can build projects across complementary value chains, with potential access to public funding through Catalan, Spanish and European cluster programmes.

Licensing to third parties

ICMAB develops innovative technologies with potential applications across multiple industrial sectors. As a research centre, we maintain a portfolio of protected technologies covered by different intellectual property instruments at various stages of technological maturity.

We are actively seeking industrial partners interested in licensing these technologies and accelerating their path to market. Our portfolio includes both early-stage innovations and more advanced technologies ready for further development, validation or commercial exploitation.

If your organisation is looking for innovative solutions, new product opportunities or technologies that can strengthen your competitive advantage, we would be pleased to explore potential collaboration and licensing opportunities.

Interested in our technology portfolio?

Contact our KTT Office to explore research collaboration, consultancy, competitive projects or technology-licensing opportunities with ICMAB.

Contact our KTT Office