The Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) has announced the research centres and units awarded in the 2024 call for Severo Ochoa and María de Maeztu accreditations. The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE), a CERCA centre located at the campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, has once again been recognised with the prestigious Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence distinction.

This is the third time IFAE receives this recognition, having previously obtained it in 2012 and 2016. The new accreditation will be valid for four years and brings a structural funding of 4.5 million euros to support the centre’s strategic research programme. In addition, the Severo Ochoa distinction complements the program with 1.25 million euros devoted to fund 10 new pre-doc fellowships and opens to IFAE the participation in future recruitment programs for postdocs, only available to Severo Ochoa centres.

“This recognition confirms the strength and coherence of our long-term scientific vision, as well as the impact of IFAE’s contributions to particle physics, cosmology, and applied physics,” said Mario Martínez, Scientific Director of the IFAE Severo Ochoa. “The Severo Ochoa accreditation gives us the momentum to pursue even more ambitious research goals.”

In the 2024 call, a total of 9 ‘Severo Ochoa’ accreditations and 8 ‘María de Maeztu’ distinctions were awarded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), based on the evaluation by an independent international committee. The initiative supports institutions that demonstrate scientific leadership, a high international impact, and a solid strategic plan for the future.

Fellow BIST (Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology) centres ICFO (Institute of Photonic Sciences) and ICIQ (Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia) have also been awarded the Severo Ochoa distinction in this call,

The Severo Ochoa award not only recognises IFAE’s outstanding research contributions in high-energy physics, astrophysics, cosmology, medical physics and quantum technologies, but also provides resources to strengthen the organisation, attract talent, promote good research management practices, and train new generations of researchers.

Eugenio Coccia, Director of IFAE, remarked: “Renewing the Severo Ochoa distinction for the third time is a major milestone for IFAE. It reflects the collective excellence of our research teams and reinforces our commitment to pushing the boundaries of fundamental science while training the next generation of scientists.”

With this renewed recognition, IFAE reinforces its position as a key player at the forefront of fundamental physics research and innovation, both in Spain and on the international stage.

The new accreditation also ensures IFAE’s continued participation in the SOMMa alliance (Severo Ochoa and María de Maeztu Alliance), which unites Spain’s leading research centres committed to excellence, global impact, and open, competitive science.