The first ACER Award ceremony was held on March 21 at La Pedrera in Barcelona. In its first edition the ACER Award was given to three leading figures who played a key role in the creation and development of the European Research Council (ERC): Fotis Kafatos, first president of the ERC; Federico Mayor Zaragoza, president of the European Research Council Group (2003-2005) that led to the creation of the ERC; and Janez Potocnik, Commissioner responsible for Science and Research (2004-2010).

The awardees with Lluís Torner, ACER president, and Andreu Mas-Colell
Minister of Economy and Knowledge of Generalitat de Catalunya

The Catalan Association of Research Centres (ACER), of which ICIQ is a member, is an independent association of institutions with legal personality located in Catalonia which count research as their principal mission. The collective vocation of the associated organisations is to contribute to defining the scientific and research priorities and policies in Catalonia, and to optimise their management and implementation in their respective areas. ACER’s ultimate goal is to contribute to establishing the region as an international benchmark in scientific and technological research.