Research at ICFO is carried out by means of medium term programs and short term projects in a variety of fields including quantum information technologies, health, environment, safety, energy, nano-photonic devices, remote sensors, optoelectronics, integrated optics, ultrafast optics, bio-photonics and biomedical optics. Know how available includes novel laser sources, nanotechnology, OLEDs, light harvesting and solar cells, remote and harsh environment sensors, different advanced imaging techniques, near-field-optical methods, optoelectronics, solar cells, single-molecule detection, light-matter and light-tissue interactions, ultra secure communications, etc.

ICFO is currently going through a stage of expansion. By 2012 a staff of 300 researchers will be distributed among 25 research groups. Biophotonics will be one of the areas experiencing the greatest expansion with the launching of a Biomedical Photonics unit funded by a significant donation by the Cellex Foundation. ICFO research is cutting edge and applied. Even though the center is young, ICFO researchers have already published over 300 articles in high impact international journals.

ICFO participates in many different projects funded by the European Union, such as SCALA, QAP, QUROPE, PLAMOCOM, ASPRINT, BIO-LIGHT_TOUCH, etc., and in European networks such as EMALI, PHOREMOST, PLAMO-NANO-DEVICES, LASERLAB and acts as the national contact point of PHOTONICS4LIFE among others. ICFO is also involved in projects with the European Space Agency, and collaborates actively with other Spanish centers and universities. In particular, ICFO plays a leading role in nation-wide consortia financed by the so-called Consolider-Ingenio 2010 program, a very competitive program consisting of the best national research groups in every area of Science. ICFO is also the key partner in a broad range of industrial projects in different areas such as biomedicine, displays, sensing, solar cell technology, microscopy, ultra-secure optical communications, ultra-thin metal films, OLEDs, neurophotonics, dermatology, and cosmetics among others.

ICFO is also growing a strong Intellectual Property portfolio. ICFO researchers have registered a significant number of patents. ICFO’s current portfolio includes innovations in microscopy, optical manipulation, plasmon nanophotonic devices and compact sensors for hostile environment applications, just to name a few. ICFO also encourages its researchers to create spin-offs. The center also participates in incubation activities and seeks to attract investment venture capital.

ICFO welcomes partnerships with industrial corporations. One of our main goals is to act as a leading ally of the optics and photonics industry, by being a resource for science, technology and talented people.

We belong to EPIC and to IPCA, two international associations that promote the commercialization of photonic technologies, and we participate in Photonics XXI, the European Platform in Photonics). ICFO hosts a very active Corporate Liaison Program, the purpose of which is to create cooperation and synergies between industry and ICFO researchers. Many key players in the local and international industrial arena are members of this Program. We enthusiastically invite industries and corporations to set a long-lasting relationship with us, through common research projects, services or alliances. The ultimate aim is to build mutual knowledge and trust, and in thus boosting mutual benefits.