The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), through its Severo Ochoa Excellence Programme, announces the selection of three Proof of Concept (PoC) projects aimed at accelerating the translation of frontier research into practical applications.
This initiative is designed to strengthen the valorisation of scientific results by supporting activities that bridge the gap between fundamental research and innovation. By providing dedicated funding for research development and knowledge transfer, ICIQ reinforces its commitment to generating societal and economic impact from excellent science.
“Proof of Concept projects are a key instrument to transform high-quality research into tangible outcomes,” stated Prof. Antonio M. Echavarren, Scientific Director of the Severo Ochoa Excellence Programme and ICIQ Group Leader. “They foster collaboration and enable our researchers to explore the innovation potential of their results in alignment with our scientific priorities.”
The selected projects address core areas of the Severo Ochoa Excellence Programme, including sustainable catalysis, renewable energy through photo- and electrochemical approaches and molecular medicine, with particular emphasis on this last one. In line with this framework, each project is jointly led by Group Leaders and specialised research and technical staff.
Proposals were assessed exclusively on the basis of excellence, considering their innovation potential, the robustness of the proposed methodology and the quality of project leadership and collaboration. The evaluation process was overseen by an external committee proposed by the ICIQ Scientific Advisory Board and chaired by Prof. Thomas Carell (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Germany), ensuring alignment with the institute’s strategic objectives.
Each project has received funding of up to €200,000 for a maximum duration of 36 months and is expected to start between April and early May 2026, within the framework of the Severo Ochoa Excellence Programme.
The selected projects are:
> Multi-functional sensor for prompt diagnosis and therapeutic guidance of biofilm-associated infections, lead by Prof. José Berrocal and Prof. Beatriz Prieto-Simón.
> Electrochemical autonomous laboratory for functional materials discovery. A proof of concept for CO₂ to HCO₂H, lead by Prof. Julio Lloret-Fillol and Dr. Fernando Bravo.
> New-to-nature post-translational protein modification, lead by Prof. Marcos G. Suero and Dr. Francesc Xavier Caldentey.
Through this call, ICIQ reaffirms its commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and the effective transfer of knowledge to address scientific and societal challenges.
This initiative has received funding from the ‘Agencia Estatal de Investigación del Ministerio de Ciecia, Innovación y Univerisades’ through the “Severo Ochoa” Centres of Excellence Programme 2024 (CEX2024-001469-S, MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).
La entrada ICIQ Severo Ochoa Excellence Programme supports three Proof of Concept projects to advance innovation and valorisation se publicó primero en ICIQ.