Within the framework of ICIQ’s Severo Ochoa project, the institute launched the ICIQ Strategic Funds Call 2021 (ISFC’21) last May. “This is a seed funding to develop risky research, an opportunity to try new things, to explore new research lines that you would not necessarily test otherwise,” says Dr. Lorena Tomás, manager of the institute’s Research Projects Department. “If successful, it can give rise to breakthrough research that may open new opportunities and scientific challenges for ICIQ and its researchers.” In this 12-month programme, the awarded ICIQ group leaders will have the chance to develop their innovative proposals based on one (or more) strategic lines: Catalysis, Health, Energy, and Sustainability. The projects selected will be co-funded by ICIQ and the “Severo Ochoa” programme.

All projects were evaluated externally by an evaluation committee formed by some of the members of the ICIQ Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) chaired by Prof. Thomas Carell (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität).

The projects selected were from the following group leaders: Prof. Pau Ballester, Prof. Antonio M. Echavarren, Prof. Ruben Martin, Prof. Paolo Melchiorre and Prof. Marcos G. Suero.