ICIQ

The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), conceived with the aim of becoming a reference centre for Chemistry within the European Research Area, is the research institute that provides the talent and leadership needed to improve citizens' quality of life through the application of chemistry at the frontiers of knowledge. Our mission is to lead, from the vantage point of molecular science, cross strategies for solving major social and economic problems, thereby contributing to the establishment of a knowledge-based economy and improving citizens' quality of life.

Welcome from Prof. Miquel A. Pericàs, Director of The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ)

The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia represents one of the very first fruits of the new scientific policy of the government of Catalonia (Spain) aimed at creating new research centres in strategic areas. ICIQ, in particular, has been created with the ambition of becoming a reference for chemistry in the European Research Space. If you regularly follow the chemical literature, you have probably noticed that a considerable part of contributions from Spanish institutions arise from research work carried out in Catalonia. Not so well known but not less important, Catalonia hosts the most important accumulation of chemical industries (from petrochemical to biotech) in Southern Europe. Our society faces important challenges in the XXI century, among which health and environmental concerns are of outmost importance. Chemistry will play an essential role in both of these challenges. To succeed, our increasingly knowledge-based economy will require a solid and strong chemical industry; currently 150.000 jobs in Catalonia (and more than 2 million in the EU) directly arise from the chemical industry. In order for this industry to be successful in the future, it must take a sustainable approach based on the rational use of feed-stocks and raw materials. For this, fundamental chemical research needs to be funded and novel approaches into transforming matter must be developed. We at ICIQ consider that catalysis is the key activity for sustainable chemistry. Catalytic processes can minimize raw materials and energy consumption, and can lead to the selective formation of target products with minimal generation of wastes. In line with this consideration, we have taken catalysis as one of our main research topics. If you devote some time to navigate our website, you will realize that our approach to Catalysis involves multiple perspectives and methodologies, giving a fundamental importance to the molecular recognition phenomena underlying the catalysis event. Our interest in molecular rrecognition does not restrict, however, to its implication in catalysis. Thus, the second research topic of ICIQ includes the derivations of Supramolecular Chemistry towards the creation and explotation of smart molecular systems, within the context of the bottom-up approach to molecular nanotechnology. Complementary to our research focus, attention has been paid to the development of a simple and efficient organizational model for ICIQ, able to overcome known difficulties normally associated with larger and more traditional research institutions. ICIQ, in summary, has been created with a clear mission and tailored for excellence in chemical research. It is our compromise to contribute to the high-level formation of the best professionals and academics within the new chemistry, offering to creative, young researchers the possibility to develop their careers.

Miquel A. Pericàs