ICFO was founded by the Government of Catalonia and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), which are members of its board of trustees together with the Cellex and Mir-Puig Foundations, philanthropic entities that have played a fundamental role in the advancement of the institute. Located in the Mediterranean Technology Park in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, the institute currently hosts more than 450 people, organized into 26 research groups in 80 cutting-edge research laboratories.
The lines of research cover several areas in which photonics plays a decisive role, with an emphasis on basic and applied topics relevant to medicine and biology, advanced imaging techniques, information technologies, a range of environmental sensors, tunable and ultrafast lasers, quantum science, photovoltaics and the properties and applications of nanomaterials such as graphene, among others.
As part of its mission to conduct high-level and excellent research, ICFO also makes it a priority to train the next generation of scientists and technologists. ICFO is also very proactive in promoting business activities, creating spin-offs and promoting collaborations and links between industry and the centre’s researchers.
