25 Catalan researchers receive 2010 ICREA Academia award
This recognition, accompanied by a €50,000 stipend per award-winner, ensures the researchers’ dedication to research activities in a public university for five years.
BY BIOCAT
The third call for the ICREA Academia awards has recognized 25 Catalan researchers —five in the field of life sciences and medicine— for their research of excellence and leadership qualities. This ICREA Academia recognition, which comes with a €50,000 stipend, is aimed at ensuring researchers will be able to devote the majority of their time to research at a public university in Catalonia over the five years of the program.
The University of Barcelona (UB) had the most researchers recognized, 14 in total, followed by the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), with four; University of Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and University of Rovira i Virgili (URV), with three each, and the University of Girona (UdG), with one.
During the award ceremony, ICREA presented the evaluation report carried out by British agency Technopolis, which analyzes the institution’s 10 years of activity. The report shows that 85% of the 231 researchers that have joined the Catalan research system wouldn’t have come to Catalonia without this program. In fact, 89% of those hired still work in Catalan research centers, which shows they have put down roots. The report also points out that ICREA has developed a successful hiring model that correct defects found in the traditional system. This success mechanism attracts between 130 and 500 candidates each year to fill 21 positions.
Regarding the profile of researchers hired, the report highlights that nearly two thirds (64%) worked outside of Spain before joining ICREA, mostly in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The 2011 ICREA Academia call is now open.