The State Research Agency (AEI), an agency dependent on the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU), has awarded this Monday, at the Cubo Azul Auditorium of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the accreditation as “Severo Ochoa” Centre of Excellence to the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC).
The IAC revalidates this accreditation for the fourth time, a recognition of its international scientific leadership, the quality of its research, and its role in the management of world-leading astronomical infrastructures. On this occasion, it will receive 4.5 million euros to develop its strategic plan over the next four years, in addition to funding for 10 predoctoral contracts.
Created in 1975, the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands is a public research body that manages two of the world's best international observatories. Its mission includes conducting and promoting astrophysical research, developing and transferring technology, disseminating astronomical knowledge, and training specialized scientific and technical personnel.
The center belongs to the public consortium comprising the General Administration of the State, the Government of the Canary Islands, the University of La Laguna (ULL), and the CSIC and operates in a decentralized manner to maximize both laboratory research and direct observation thanks to the excellent quality of the Canarian sky.
Its headquarters are in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, which also houses IACTEC, while the Astrophysics Center of La Palma (CALP) houses the La Palma supercomputer, a node of the Spanish Supercomputing Network.
The set of its two astronomical observation complexes constitutes the so-called European Northern Observatory (ENO), which includes the Teide Observatory (Izaña, Tenerife) and the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (Garafía, La Palma), which houses one of the largest concentrations of telescopes in the world, including the Gran Telescopio Canarias (Grantecan), the largest segmented optical and infrared telescope on the planet.
The 2025 call for “Severo Ochoa” Centres of Excellence and “María de Maeztu” Units of Excellence has a total funding of 77.5 million euros. Centers accredited as “Severo Ochoa” will receive 4.5 million euros each, and “María de Maeztu” units will receive 2.25 million euros to develop their strategic plans over four years.
In this edition, 16 accreditations have been granted and 142 predoctoral contracts will be financed, aimed at training emerging research talent in recognized centers and units.