The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) has been chosen to coordinate the Plan Complementario for Astrophysics and High Energy Physics, a strategic programme that aims to develop advanced technologies for the exploration of the Universe and its components.
Last week, the Plan Complementario for Astrophysics and High Energy Physics was presented in Barcelona. This is a strategic program whose objective is to develop advanced technologies for the exploration of the Universe and its components and which is integrated into the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación i Resiliencia of the Spanish Government. The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) is leading the project, which will run until September 2025.
The event took place at the Faculty of Sciences of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), with the presence of the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant; the Minister for Research and Universities of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Joaquim Nadal; the rector of the UAB Javier Lafuente; the director of IFAE, Eugenio Coccia, the scientific coordinator of the Plan Complementario for Astrophysics and High Energy Physics, Ramon Miquel, and the representatives of the other six autonomous communities involved.
With a budget of more than 39 million euros, seven autonomous communities will work together on this plan, co-governed and co-financed by the autonomous communities themselves, with the main objective of making a qualitative leap in Spanish participation in the next generation of projects and international leaders in astrophysics and high-energy physics, with a particular emphasis on the most technological aspects.
The Institut de Física d’ALtes Energies (IFAE) has been chosen to coordinate this fund. The Autonomous Communities of Catalonia, Andalucía, Cantabria, the Valencian Community, Aragon, the Balearic Islands, and the Community of Madrid are also participating.
In his speech, Councilor Nadal highlighted the satisfaction of the Government that this complementary plan is led from Catalonia and coordinated by IFAE. Minister Diana Morant emphasised the role of the state’s research centers in scientific production in astrophysics and high-energy physics.
The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, the Minister of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Joaquim Nadal and the Director of the IFAE, Eugenio Coccia Credit: Oriol Vila
Advanced technologies for the exploration of the Universe and its components
The astrophysics and high-energy physics programme of the Plan Complementario focuses on the study of the origin and subsequent evolution of the Universe, integrating two complementary scientific areas: astrophysics, which is responsible for study of the structures of the cosmos, and high energy physics, which studies the basic components of matter.
Eugenio Coccia, Director of the IFAE, noted the experience of the IFAE in large international collaborations in experimental physics, the passion that drives researchers to discover the most fundamental aspects of nature and the responsibility to look for real impacts in knowledge and industry.
Ramon Miquel, Scientific Coordinator of the Plan Complementario, expressed that he valued the fact that the programme combines astrophysics and high energy physics, two disciplines that share objectives, and thanked the commitment to basic science. “Without basic science there is no applied science, since there is nothing to apply”, he said.
Ramon Miquel, Scientific Coordinator of the Plan Complementario for Astrophysics and High Energy Physics, in his presentation. Credit: IFAE
The programme focuses specifically on the most technological aspects and has outlined priority lines of action focused, among others, on the development of cutting-edge instrumentation for future experiments in particle and nuclear physics and astrophysics, gravitational wave experiments, and large astronomical mapping projects. Study subjects such as dark matter and neutrino physics are also prioritised, without forgetting more technological areas such as the development of mini satellites or applications in computing and artificial intelligence.
Learn more on the IFAE website.