Transparency
index
1. Institutional organisation and administrative structure
The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation (IEEC — Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) was established in 1996 (976 number in the Foundations Register of the Generalitat de Catalunya) and has been part of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) and the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC) since its inception. Its purpose is to collaborate and participate in the development, promotion, and dissemination of all kinds of activities, studies, and projects related to space technology and scientific research from space, for the benefit of all people, entities and institutions that show interest in getting to know them.
The IEEC studies all areas of knowledge and technology applied to the space sector and space sciences, including astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, Earth Observation, and space engineering. Its mission is to boost the frontiers of space research from the scientific and technological fields for the maximum benefit of society.
The specific objectives of the IEEC are:
To become an internationally recognised centre for attracting talent and fostering collaborations, both locally and globally.
To be an efficient agent of knowledge, innovation, and technology transfer in its field.
To carry out campaigns to raise society’s awareness of science through the communication of scientific culture.
By resolution of the Department of Economy and Knowledge of the Generalitat de Catalunya ECO/2405/2015, of 21 October, the IEEC was recognised as a CERCA centre of the Generalitat in accordance with Law 7/2011, fiscal and financial measures.
In accordance with Article 3 of its Statutes, the IEEC is affiliated to the Administration of the Generalitat de Catalunya and is related to it through the Department of Research and Universities.
The IEEC is currently an entity with majority participation of the Generalitat de Catalunya, which is considered a public sector foundation in accordance with Article 174.1. b) of Law 5/2017 and has been affiliated to the Generalitat, as stated in the Government agreement GOV/98/2020, of 28 July, which provides for the affiliation of public sector foundations to the Administration of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
The deeds of incorporation of the entity, the deeds of amendment of the IEEC Statutes, and the internal operating regulations can be consulted below (in Catalan):
The IEEC organizational chart can be found below:
1.1 Governing bodies
1.1.1 Board of Trustees
President
Hble. Ms Núria Montserrat Pulido
Minister of Research and Universities
Generalitat de Catalunya
Secretary
Mr Joan Gómez Pallarès
General Director of Research
Generalitat de Catalunya
Mr Oriol Alcoba Malaspina
Director General of Industry
Generalitat de Catalunya
Mgfc. Dr Joan Guàrdia Olmos
Rector
Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
Mgfc. Dr Francisco Javier Lafuente Sancho
Rector
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
(UAB)
Mgfc. Dr Daniel Crespo Artiaga
Rector
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya ·
BarcelonaTech (UPC)
Ms María Eloísa del Pino Matute
President
Spanish National Research
Council (CSIC)
The presidency of the Board of Trustees corresponds to the Councilor of the Department of the Generalitat de Catalunya who is in charge of research powers, Hble. Sra. Núria Montserrat Pulido.
Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the Universitat de Barcelona (ICCUB).
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC).
Center for Space Research Studies (CERES- UAB)
Space Science and Technology Research Group (CTE-UPC).
The Board of Directors (a committee made up of the directors/deputy directors of each research units) is composed of the following members:
Dr Ignasi Ribas Canudas
Director of the IEEC
Dr Aldo M. Serenelli
Acting Director of the ICE-CSIC
Dr Xavier Luri Carrascoso
Director of the ICCUB
Dr Lluís Font Guiteras
Director of the CERES-UAB
Dr Juan Ramos Castro
Director of the CTE-UPC
1.1.3 Director of the IEEC
The Director of the IEEC is designated and dismissed by the Board of Trustees from among the members of the Research Units of the IEEC and presides over the Board of Directors. His/her functions are regulated in art. 8 of the IEEC Operating Regulations as well as any other that may be delegated by the Board of Trustees.
Dr Ignasi Ribas Canudas
IEEC’s Director (2017-present)
1.1.4 Management Team
It is the role of the management team to advise the Director of the IEEC and carry out those tasks and responsibilities that the Director entrusts to them.
Josep Colomé
Director of the Area for the Promotion of the Space Sector of Catalonia
IEEC
Mercè Vall-llossera
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC)
Pilar Montes
IEEC
Gonzalo Seco
Marc Ribó
Professor
University of Barcelona (UB)
Jordi Portell
Deputy Technical Coordinator
Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB)
1.2 Advisory Body
Science Advisory Board
The Science Advisory Board is an advisory body of the Foundation. Its aim is to ensure the quality of the scientific and technological activities of the IEEC that are submitted to its consideration, and that, when entrusted to it, it is the evaluation body of these activities. This body cannot exercise management or representation functions of the Foundation.
The Scientific Advisory Board is composed of an indeterminate number of independent researchers of recognised prestige in areas of the IEEC activities. Currently is comprised by the following members:
Athena Coustenis
Jade Morton
University of Colorado Boulder
USA
Jürgen Schmitt
Roser Pelló
Júlia Figa
Lisa Kaltenegger
Directora
Carl Sagan Institute, Cornell
USA
Xavier Lobao
1.3 Internal organisational structure. IEEC personnel
Direction, management, administration, and services personnel: personnel who work in the Direction and different areas of administration, management, and services of the IEEC: Management Area, Legal Area, and Area of Promotion of the Space Sector of Catalonia, as well as in the different offices, the Communication Office, the Knowledge Transfer (KTT) Office, and the Project Management Office, and at the Montsec Observatory.
Scientific personnel: research personnel who participate in the development of their own or external scientific or technological research projects.
Engineering personnel: personnel who, with different degrees of specialisation, carry out activities related to technological services with high added value in the space sector.
1.4 Calls and results selective processes
You can consult the personnel calls currently open, as well as the conditions, deadlines and material necessary for the submission of applications, in the following link:
1.5 Senior officials relationship
1.6 Agreements, conventions or pacts of an official, labour and union nature
1.7 Catalogue of services provided, existing service letters
1.8 Agreements relating to the creation, participation and operation of public bodies, public societies and foundations, consortia and other entities linked to the Public Administration
1.9 Participation channels and participatory procedures in progress
2. Decisions and actions of legal relevance
3. Accounting, economic, budgetary and patrimonial information
3.1 IEEC budget
3.2 Remuneration, compensation and allowances; and the property of senior officials and management staff of public bodies
3.3 Annual accounting and audit reports
3.4 Information relating to asset management
Real estate
The IEEC has no real states of its own. The spaces where the Foundation develops its activity (c/ Esteve Terradas, 1, pl.2, desp. 212, 08860 Castelldefels) are rental spaces for which the IEEC signed a lease with its owner.
4. Planning and programming
4.1 Strategic plan of the IEEC
4.2 Annual Report
5. Public procurement
The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) for the purposes of Law 9/2017, of 8 November, on Public Sector Contracts, which transposes into Spanish law the Directives of the European Parliament and of the Council 2014/23/EU and 2014/24/EU of 26 February 2014 (hereinafter, LCSP), is part of the public sector and is considered a contracting authority not a public administration, and therefore the aforementioned public procurement regulations apply to it.
The IEEC’s contractor profile is hosted on the contracting platform of the Generalitat de Catalunya, which publicises the tenders processed by this entity, their award, formalisation, and all relevant information relating to the contracts that are held.
The IEEC’s contractor profile can be consulted at the following link:
6. Partnership agreements
(11) Scholastic collaboration agreement between the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia.
(10) Framework of collaboration agreement between the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation and the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Barcelona.
(9) Cooperation agreement between Aeroports Públics de Catalunya and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia for the development of aerospace activity at the Lleida-Alguaire Airport: specific for the build up of a rocket propulsion – Launcher test center (Phase 1).
(8) Adhesion of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation to the Framework Agreement for the approval of suppliers for the workplace equipment’s supply.
(7) Agreement for actions in scientific-technological infrastructures of the CERCA system and for the development of a platform to access them.
(6) Adhesion of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation to the Framework Agreement for approval of equipment suppliers with iOs or MacOs operating system, ultralight, touch, convertible, tablet, gaming laptops, mini PCs, desktop NAS, external hard drives and associated services.
(5) Collaboration agreement between the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation (IEEC) to regulate its link to the UPC as a linked research entity of the UPC.
(4) Collaboration agreement between the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and isardSAT S.L. for the installation and operation of equipment at the Montsec Observatory.
(3) Agreement of intent signed between Aeroports Públics de Catalunya and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) for the development of aerospace activity at Lleida-Alguaire Airport.
(2) Collaboration agreement between the Fundació Institució Catalana de la Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC).
(1) Agreement about collaboration on calibration and environmental monitoring for preparing the implementation of the Chereknov Telescope Arry Observatory.
7. Subsidy activity
The entity’s subsidising activity can be consulted below:
‘NewSpace Catalonia’ scholarships to attend the International Space University’s SSP 2025 summer programme
Open
The International Space University (ISU) organises the Space Studies Program (SSP), which offers an 8-week development experience during the summer months for the final stages of higher education students.
In the framework of the Talent and Society programme’s goals, the Government of Catalonia and the IEEC offer 3 scholarships (‘NewSpace Catalonia Scholarships’), additional to those offered by the ISU itself and the European Space Agency (ESA), to attend the SSP.
The amount for the NewSpace Catalonia Scholarships is 7,000 euros each. The NewSpace Catalonia Scholarships are set at a flat rate in order to partially offset the costs associated with participation in the programme. Candidates will have to cover approximately 3,000 euros, travel expenses to the SSP headquarters and medical insurance. Hosting and meals during the whole programme are included in the tuition fee.
Awards for the Best Master’s Thesis (2023/24) and Best PhD Thesis (2022/23 and 2023/24)
closed
The IEEC opens a call for applications for the following awards: Best Master’s Thesis (TFM) defended during the academic year 2023/24 (from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024) and Best Doctoral Thesis (PhD) defended during the academic years 2022/23 or 2023/24 (from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2024). The works must be related to any of the topics specific to the Institute’s research lines: astrophysics, cosmology, Earth observation, navigation and space technology.
To take part in this call, the works should have been defended within the master’s and doctorate programmes, respectively, of any of the universities that are part of the IEEC Board of Trustees (UB, UAB and UPC).
In the case of the TFM, the essential requirement is that at least one of the people directing the work must be a member of the IEEC at the time of defending the work, and the IEEC logo must be included in the document. In the case of the PhD Thesis, the essential requirement is that the author of the work must be a member of the IEEC at the time of the defense of the work, and the IEEC logo must be included in the document.
Call for grants for internships in companies and research centres in NewSpace projects (2024)
closed
The IEEC and the Government of Catalonia have opened a call for grants to companies, start-ups and research centres in Catalonia for the selection of students on internships in the NewSpace field. This call is part of the actions of the Talent and Society programme of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia, which promotes activities aimed to attract, generate and retain talent with the ability to develop solutions in the NewSpace field.
One of the objectives of the programme is to promote internships in companies, start-ups and research centres in the NewSpace field, as a key element for the connection between universities and companies. Furthermore, the aim is to favour small companies and research centres in Catalonia that have difficulties hiring interns with their resources.
Award for the best Master’s Thesis (TFM) (2022/2023)
closed
The IEEC announces the ‘Award for the best Master’s Thesis (TFM)’ for works whose themes are aligned with its lines of research: Astrophysics, Cosmology, Earth Observation, Navigation, and Space Technology.
Works defended during the academic year 2022-23 (from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023) at any of the academic institutions that form the IEEC are eligible for this call. It is a prerequisite that at least one of the directors of the work is a member of the IEEC at the time of the defence of the work, and the IEEC logo must be included in the report.
Funding of student internships in companies and research centres in NewSpace projects (2023)
closed
The IEEC and the Generalitat de Catalunya call for 8 grants to companies (SMEs), start-ups and research centres in Catalonia for the recruitment of trainees in the NewSpace field. This call is part of the actions of the Talent and Society programme of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia, which promotes activities aimed to attract, generate and retain talent with the ability to develop solutions in the NewSpace field.
The aim of this grant is to promote the region’s space ecosystem and to enable small companies, start-ups and research centres to fund internships for university students in this field. The amount of the Pràctiques NewSpace grant will be of a maximum of 2,000 € each.
Awards for the best Master’s Thesis (2021/22) and best Doctoral Thesis (2020/21 and 2021/22)
closed
The IEEC announces the ‘Award for the best Master’s Thesis (TFM)’ and ‘Award for the best Doctoral Thesis (TD)’ for works whose themes are aligned with its lines of research: Astrophysics, Cosmology, Earth Observation, Navigation, and Space Technology.
Any TFM that has been defended during the academic year 2021/22 and any TD that has been defended during the academic years 2020/21 or 2021/22 in any of the academic institutions that form the IEEC are eligible for this call. The author and/or the director of the work must be a member of the IEEC.
8. Codes of conduct and good practices
Code of Conduct CERCA centres
The IEEC is adhered to the Code of Conduct of the CERCA centres, which defines the principles of action that must guarantee the commitment to good practices in the scientific and management fields of the CERCA centres.
Anti-harassment plan
The IEEC is committed to respecting the rights of individuals and to establishing optimal working conditions, and ensures equal opportunities for women and men and non-discrimination of any kind in any area of the organisation.
9. Internal alert system
Internal Alert System for Regulatory Infringements and Conducts Against Public Integrity of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia
In accordance with Law 2/2023, of 20 February, which regulates the protection of individuals who report regulatory infringements and the fight against corruption, the IEEC makes available to the public an Internal Alert System (IAS).
10. Other calls
Call for the selection of a technology demonstrator payload (IOD) to be embarked on the low Earth orbiting satellite mission GENEO-02
closed
This call for IOD selection will bring companies, organisations or research centres based in Catalonia the opportunity to present one of its innovative technologies in order to be integrated into the platform of this new satellite, with the aim of validating it in orbit, accelerating its introduction into the market or demonstrating its additional capabilities.
(11) Scholastic collaboration agreement between the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia.
Objective
The purpose of this agreement is to establish the framework for collaboration between the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) in aspects of teaching collaboration.
The specific objective of the agreement is the promotion of teaching collaboration between both institutions through the figure of Associate Professor provided for in articles 138 et seq. of the Consolidated Text that approves the Academic Staff Regulations of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) approved by the Council of Government on 17 November 2010 and modified for the last time by the Council of Government on 30 January 2020, in the Master’s Degree in High Energy Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology of the UAB during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Parties to the agreement
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya.
Date of signature
17 November, 2022
Validity
his agreement will be valid during the 2022-2023 academic year.
(Art. 139.2 RPA: The minimum duration of the appointment will be one academic semester and the maximum of three years -3 academic years-, except for agreements of a shorter duration. In this case the duration of the appointment cannot exceed that of the agreement.
Documents
(10) Framework collaboration agreement between the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation and the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Barcelona (Cambra Oficial de Comerç, Indústria, Serveis i Navegació de Barcelona).
Objective
The purpose of this Agreement is to regulate the collaboration of the parties to promote the space sector (in particular the called New Space Economy) as a key tool for the generation of business opportunities and the transfer of knowledge and technology to other business sectors, taking into account the main axes of each entity.
Parties to the agreement
Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Barcelona and Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia.
Date of signature
December 29, 2021.
Validity
The validity period of this Agreement will begin on the same day of its signature and will be valid for 1 year. Before the end of said period, the parties may agree to extend it for successive periods of one (1) year up to a maximum of 4 additional years, unless expressly waived in writing by either party with a minimum notice of three (3) months before the due date or the date of its extensions.
Documents
(9) Cooperation agreement between Aeroports Públics de Catalunya and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia for the development of aerospace activity at Lleida-Alguaire Airport: specific for the build up of a rocket propulsion – Launcher test centre (Phase 1).
Objetctive
This agreement is the voluntary assumption, and in the exercise of their respective powers, of specific commitments by Aeroports de Catalunya and the IEEC in order to develop the PROJECT with regard to the performance related to the build up of a rocket propulsion – Launcher test centre at Lleida-Alguaire Airport in its first phase.
Parties of the agreement
IEEC and Public Airports of Catalonia
Date of signature
February 4, 2022.
Validity
Validity: The duration of this agreement will correspond to the duration of the “AGREEMENT OF INTENT BETWEEN PUBLIC AEROPORTS DE CATALUNYA AND THE INSTITUTE OF SPACE STUDIES OF CATALONIA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AEROSPACE ACTIVITY AT THE LLEIDA AIRPORT- ALGUAIRE”, dated March 5, 2021.
Extension
This agreement has been extended for a period of one year, until March 5, 2023, coinciding with the duration of the Agreement of Intent between Aeroports Públics de Catalunya and the IEEC for the development of the space activity of the Lleida-Alguaire airport.
Documents
(8) Adhesion of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation to the Framework Agreement for the approval of suppliers for the supply of workplace equipment.
Objective of the Adhesion Agreement
Adhesion Agreement of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation to the Framework Agreement for the approval of suppliers for the supply of workplace equipment (exp. 19/ 19) which has been processed and awarded by the CSUC in accordance with the specifications that regulate the tender and the legislation in force and applicable to the case.
.
Parties of the agreement
IEEC and Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya (hereinafter, CSUC).
Date of signature
November 9, 2021.
Validity
The validity of the agreement will correspond to the validity of the Framework Agreement.
Extension
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Documentos
(7) Agreement for actions in scientific-technological infrastructures of the CERCA system and for the development of an access platform
Objective of the agreement
The purpose of the agreement is the creation of a platform to access to the scientific and technical infrastructures and/or services derived from the CERCA system, which will be called CERCA GINYS, where the participation rules for the of CERCA centres are established, and information on scientific and technical infrastructures is generated and accessible.
The preparation of a map of scientific and technical infrastructures and the financing of institutional strengthening actions are also the objective of this agreement.
Parties of the Agreement
IEEC, I-Cerca and 27 other CERCA centres.
Date of signature
November 15, 2021.
Validity
The agreement will be valid until March 31, 2023.
Extension
___
Documentos
(6) Adhesion of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation to the Framework Agreement for approval of equipment suppliers with iOs or MacOs operating system, ultralight, touch, convertible, tablet, gaming laptops, mini PCs, desktop NAS, external hard drives and associated services.
Objective of the adhesion agreement
The purpose of the agreement is the adhesion of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation to the Framework Agreement for the approval of equipment suppliers with the iOS or MacOS operating system, ultralight laptops, touchscreens, convertibles, tablets, gaming laptops, Mini PCs, desktop NAS, external hard drives and associated services (exp. 19/05) processed and awarded by the CSUC in the terms provided for in the specifications that regulate the bid and the current legislation applicable to the case.
Parties of the Agreement
IEEC and Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya (hereinafter, CSUC).
Date of signature
October 13, 2021.
Validity
The validity of the agreement will correspond to the validity of the Framework Agreement.
Extension
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Documents
(5) Collaboration agreement between the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia Foundation (IEEC) to regulate its link to the UPC as a linked research entity of the UPC.
Objective of the Agreement
The purpose of this collaboration agreement is to establish the framework of relations between both parties and to regulate the conditions for the assignment of UPC personnel to the IEEC, as well as the monitoring mechanisms and link control.
Parties of the agreement
IEEC and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).
Date of signature
July 17, 2021.
Validity
This agreement will have an initial duration of four years calculated from the date of signature, and may be extended by express decision of the parties adopted in writing before the end date of the agreement or its extensions for a maximum period of up to (4) more years.
Extension
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Documents
(4) Collaboration agreement between the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and isardSAT S.L. for the installation and operation of equipment at the MOntsec Observatory (OdM).
Objective of the Agreement
The purpose of this collaboration agreement is to establish the collaboration framework for the installation and operation of equipment intended for the calibration of satellites on the OdM’s land.
Parties of the agreement
isardSAT, S.L.*
*Collaboration agreement signed within the framework of art. 34 Law 14/2011, of June 1, on Science, Technology and Innovation.
Date of signature:
March 18, 2021.
Validity
This agreement will enter into force on the day of installation of the EQUIPMENT, which will be documented in a document signed by both parties, and will be valid for five years.
At any time before the end of the term provided for in the previous section, the signatories of this agreement can unanimously agree to extend it for a period of up to five additional years, which will have to be formalised through an addendum to the agreement.
At the end of the validity of this agreement isardSAT S.L. will be obliged, if so requested by the IEEC, by authentic writing, to remove the EQUIPMENT.
Extension
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Documents
(3) Agreement of intent signed between Aeroports Públics de Catalunya and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) for the development of aerospace activity at the Lleida-Alguaire Airport.
Objective of the Agreement
The purpose of this agreement of intent is to establish the working bases for the collaboration between Aeroports de Catalunya and the IEEC in the project to create the business development area linked to the outer space that is expected to host the Lleida-Alguaire Airport.
Parties to the agreement
IEEC and Public Airports of Catalonia.
Date of signature
March 5, 2021.
Validity
The duration of this agreement will be one year from the date of its signature.
The duration will be less than one year if the objectives set in this agreement are reached earlier.
If the maximum duration of one year is exceeded without the parties agreeing to an extension, the agreement will be terminated.
Extension
This agreement has been extended for a period of one year, until March 5, 2023.
Documents
Agreement of intentions
Signed extension document (4/03/2022).
(2) Collaboration agreement between the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies Foundation (Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i Estudis Avançats, ICREA) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC).
Purpose
The purpose of the agreement is to establish the framework of collaboration between ICREA and the IEEC for the development of actions in the field of research proposed by the IEEC and approved by the ICREA Board of Trustees through the secondment of ICREA research staff to the IEEC .
Parties of the agreement
IEEC and ICREA
Date of signature/h3>
October 23, 2020.
Validity
The agreement enters into force on November 1, 2020 and is valid for 5 years, extendable by express agreement of the parties.
Documents
Agreement about collaboration on calibration and environmental monitoring for preparing the implementation of the Chereknov Telescope Arry Observatory
.
Parties of the agreement
IEEC and Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory gemeinnützige GmbH..
Date of signature
March 1, 2020.
Validity
This agreement including Annex 1 will take effect from 1 March 2020 and will terminate on 28 February 2021; it may be renewed by means of a written amendment signed by both parties specifying particularly the purpose of the extension and the terms and conditions of this financing.
Extension
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Documents to be published
Ignasi Ribas
Director of the CTE-UPC
Ignasi Ribas is the Director of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and professor at the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He holds a bachelor degree (1995) and a doctorate (1999) in physics from the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and did a postdoctoral stay at Villanova University (Pennsylvania, USA) with a Fulbright scholarship (2000-2001). Later, he was an assistant professor at the UB (2002), a Ramón y Cajal fellow at the ICE-CSIC (2004), obtained the position of Senior Scientist at the same institute (2007) and was promoted to Scientific Researcher (2012) and to Professor of Research (2020).
The research activity of Dr. Ribas focuses primarily on the discovery and characterization of exoplanets, with the ultimate goal of finding new planets similar to our Earth, for the eventual search for life. He has high-level responsibilities on several European Space Agency’s (ESA) space missions and astronomical instruments, such as the CARMENES spectrograph (project scientist) and the CHEOPS missions (board member), PLATO (tracking coordination) and Ariel (co-PI), and also coordinates the development of nanosatellite projects as part of his role as Director of the IEEC.
Dr. Ribas has published more than 300 research papers in international journals, including Nature and Science, which have received more than 20,000 citations. He has been a guest speaker at more than twenty conferences in different fields and has directed eight doctoral students. Likewise, he has been a member of the ESA Astronomy Working Group (2009-2011), president of the IAU Division G on Stars and Stellar Physics (2012-2015) with more than 2,500 affiliated astronomers, adviser in the area of Space Research of the Spanish Ministry of Economics and Competitiveness (2011-2013), and member of several evaluation committees of funding agencies and international infrastructures.
He was awarded the City of Barcelona Prize for Experimental Sciences and Technology in 2018 and the Johann Wempe Prize of the Astrophysikalishes Institut Potsdam (Germany) in 2007. He is very committed to outreach and dissemination of scientific results through participation in radio and television programmes, collaborating with written media, giving astronomy seminars and courses in schools, amateur clubs, libraries, civic centres, museums, etc.