• Severo Ochoa Excellence program

    Through strategic actions we are reinforcing our leadership in fundamental physics and driving societal impact.

  • Particle Physics

    Pushing the frontiers of knowledge by making precise measurements in the ATLAS experiment at the LHC.

    ATLAS Detector

  • High Energy Astrophysics

    Addressing open questions through gamma-ray observations from the most energetic phenomena in the universe.

    The MAGIC Telescopes

  • Observational Cosmology

    Shedding light on the nature of the mysterious dark energy, responsible for the current accelerated expansion of the universe.

  • Neutrino Physics

    Understanding the fundamental phenomena that produced the observed asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe.

  • Gravitational Waves

    The beginning of a new era in the exploration of the universe.

    Aerial view of Virgo

  • Medical Imaging

    Using our expertise with sophisticated radiation detectors to develop advanced medical imaging devices.

    VIP

  • Quantum Computing Technologies

    Achieving an advantage over conventional computers to solve problems which are ubiquitous in society.

    QCT Lab

  • From particles to the Cosmos

    IFAE conducts experimental and theoretical research at the frontiers of fundamental physics.

Highlights

ARRAKIH simulation

Highlight

ARRAKIHS, the first ESA Science Programme mission led by Spain, enters its development phase ahead of its 2030 launch

June 11, 2026

ARRAKIHS has entered its development phase ahead of its planned launch in 2030 and will explore the low surface brightness Universe to study galaxy formation and dark matter. IFAE contributes to the mission by leading the characterization and calibration of its infrared detectors.

Highlight

The new LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA Catalog sets new records in precision gravitational astronomy

May 26, 2026

The LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA Collaboration published today a new catalog of gravitational wave events. A total of 161 events, detected between April 2024 and the end of January 2025, have been added to the collection, bringing the total number of gravitational wave signals detected to date to 390. IFAE is a member of the Virgo and LIGO collaborations.

Circles of light on the night sky. A telescope dome atop a mountain is below the center of the circle.

Highlight

DESI Completes Planned 3D Map of the Universe and Continues Exploring

April 15, 2026

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument has completed its planned five-year mission, mapping more than 47 million galaxies and quasars to create the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe to date, far exceeding its original target of 34 million objects. The project includes the participation of the Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE).

The IFAE Severo Ochoa Program

Latest news, milestones, open positions and highlights from the IFAE Severo Ochoa Excellence Program.

SO Award

SO News

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News

Meeting

Medipix meeting in Barcelona

June 11, 2026

IFAE hosted the Medipix Collaboration Meeting in Barcelona, bringing together over 50 international participants for scientific discussions and visits to IFAE laboratories, IMB-CNM, and ALBA Synchrotron.

Artist in residence

George Mahashe begins artist residency at IFAE

June 5, 2026

Artist and researcher George Mahashe has begun a two-month residency at IFAE within the Platform Dalí programme, exploring connections between scientific research, image-making and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

Recognition

IFAE Communication Unit recognised as a UCC+I by FECYT

May 28, 2026

IFAE’s Communication Unit has received provisional recognition from FECYT as an official Unit of Scientific Culture and Innovation (UCC+I), acknowledging its work in science communication, outreach and education, and the collaborative efforts of IFAE research groups in bringing science closer to society.

Project Milestone

Qilimanjaro contributes to new quantum computing milestone at BSC

May 28, 2026

Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, the spin-off of IFAE, BSC and UB has contributed to the deployment at BSC of a system constituted by a new 35-qubit quantum computer, along with another 20-qubit quantum computer for uninterrupted operation, with Manel Martínez acting as Project Leader within the Qilimanjaro-GMV consortium.

Visit

Tsung-Dao Lee Institute delegation visits IFAE

May 22, 2026

IFAE welcomed a delegation from the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute to discuss the scientific activities of both institutions and explore possible future collaborations in areas of shared research interest.

Visit

Visit of the Director General for Research to IFAE

May 14, 2026

Teresa Sanchis, Director General for Research of the Government of Catalonia, visited IFAE to learn more about the institute’s research and technical capabilities, including the Technical Division and PIC.

Events

  • MastercosmosBCN Poster

    Education

    MastercosmosBCN

    Postgraduate Program in High Energy Physics, Astrophysics & Cosmology

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  • MastercosmosBCN Poster

    Education

    MMRES

    Full-time one-year programme with highly flexible and personalised hands-on research training in a multidisciplinary research environment.

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  • Master in Quantum Science & Technology Poster

    Education

    Master in Quantum Science & Technology

    Aimed at graduates in Physics, Physical Engineering or equivalent degrees who want to continue specialization studies in Quantum Science and Technologies.

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