The Spanish State Research Agency has accredited CIC biomaGUNE as a “María de Maeztu” Unit of Excellence, the highest level of recognition for research units in Spain. The aim of this award is to provide funding and recognition for research units on account of their impact and scientific leadership on the international stage, as well as their active collaboration with their societal and business environment.
“María de Maeztu” Units of Excellence are world-renowned research centres and organisational structures in their respective scientific fields which run highly competitive research programs.
The assessment and selection process is conducted on an independent basis by an international scientific committee of researchers of renowned prestige.
The accreditation, which is valid for four years and renewable, includes funding to the unit of two million euros over the four year period. In CIC biomaGUNE, these funds will be invested in strengthening applied research, generating basic knowledge focused on biomaterials, developing talent and greater public and social visibility.
To achieve this recognition, CIC biomaGUNE had to comply with a series of excellence requirements, characterised by a high impact and level of competitiveness in the centre’s particular field of activity and in the scientific arena worldwide. The centre’s research activities are not only regularly subjected to scientific assessment by an external and independent committee of scientists, but also involve frontier research actions developed in line with a strategic program. Furthermore, the centre selects, trains and attracts talent at an international level, has active partnership and exchange agreements with other top-level research centres and universities, and promotes activities for the transfer and dissemination of knowledge to society at large.
Another distinguishing factor of “María de Maeztu” units of excellence is that they have a Scientific Director – Luis Liz Marzán, in the case of CIC biomaGUNE– of recognized scientific stature, in compliance with the highest standards of the sector, and of front-line leadership in terms of the organisation of research.
SOMMa Alliance
CIC biomaGUNE has also decided to join the Severo Ochoa-María de Maeztu (SOMMa) Alliance.
The SOMMa Alliance was set up in 2017 to increase the visibility of science in Spain both nationally and internationally, to promote the exchange of knowledge, technology and good practice amongst its members, the international scientific community and key stakeholders, to collaborate with all other research centres in Spain in strengthening the R&D+i system and to have a say in Spanish and European scientific policy.
To this end, representatives of research centres belonging to the SOMMa Alliance came together at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) on 15 November at the congress entitled “100xCiencia.3: bridging the gap between science and society”. At this event, particular attention was given to the importance of society’s role in science, bringing the issue to the attention of policymakers to find a solution to certain administrative issues affecting R&D+i units throughout the country.