2AID aims to accelerate and modernize chemical discovery through the combined use of artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics, and advanced chemistry. The project seeks to develop new intelligent tools capable of designing, analyzing, and optimizing more sustainable materials, fuels, and chemical processes. The project, funded with a total of €1.9 million, brings together five interconnected research subprojects, including the following two led by ICIQ researchers:
The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) will participate in an awarded collaborative project under the 2025 “Proyectos de Investigación en el Ámbito de la Inteligencia Artificial” call by the State Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación – AEI, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades).
The collaborative project, titled 2AID – Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Driven Discovery of Sustainable Fuels, Industrial Feedstocks, and Materials, is led by Dr. Juan Vicente Alegre Requena from the Instituto de Síntesis Química y Catálisis Homogénea (ISQCH), a mixed research institute from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Universidad de Zaragoza (UNIZAR).
RAISE – Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Intensified Synthesis and Experimentation (AIA2025-163492-C53)
Prof. Julio Lloret-Fillol, ICREA Professor and Senior Group Leader at ICIQ, is the Principal Investigator (PI) of this project focused on developing an Agentic Robot Orchestration laboratory capable of carrying out electrochemical, photoelectrochemical and photochemical experiments with minimal human intervention. The system combines:
– Discover of new CO₂ electroreduction catalysts.
– AI-driven decision-making, powered by large language models integrated into modular experimental workflows.
– Real-time optimisation, using machine learning algorithms to identify efficient catalytic conditions.
– Edge computing, enabling fast control and analysis directly on experimental hardware.
The project will leverage ICIQ’s HTE (Hight Throughput Experimentation) unit and the group’s robotic platform, enabling rapid, data-rich discovery of catalysts for sustainable fuel and chemical production.
AHEAD-‑P – Artificial Intelligence and High-throughput Experimentation Accelerated Discovery of New Polymeric Materials for Applications in Smart Damage Sensing, Sustainability and Green Energy Production (AIA2025-163492-C54)
Dr. José A. Berrocal, Group Leader at ICIQ within the Starting Career Programme, and Dr. Carla Casadevall, Assistant Professor and Group Leader at the URV and ICIQ (Associated Researcher), are co-PIs of the AHEAD-P subproject. This one aims to develop next-generation polymeric materials and photocatalysts for clean energy and CO₂ conversion using an AI-guided closed-loop workflow. The project will:
– Design mechanosensitive polymers that report structural damage visually.
– Discover earth-abundant photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction.
– Build polymeric nanoreactors that mimic photosynthetic compartments.
– Integrate robotic experimentation to autonomously optimise performance.
These materials will ultimately be used in advanced energy devices such as electrolyzers and photo-reactors.
Spain’s 2025 Research Projects within the AI scope call is part of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2024–2027. The call seeks solutions aligned with the Spanish National AI Strategy (ENIA) across nine priority themes, from theoretical/technical AI to AI & impact on the environment and AI for physical systems.
Los proyectos AIA2025-163492-C53 y AIA2025-163492-C54 han sido financiado por MICIU /AEI/10.13039/501100011033 /
La entrada ICIQ advances AI-powered research with participation in a collaborative project funded by the State Research Agency (AEI) se publicó primero en ICIQ.