The Institut Catala de Nanociencia I Nanotecnologia (ICN2) is a flagship research institute within the CERCA network of centres created and supported by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia to raise Catalan science to the premier international level. The patrons of ICN2 are the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat), the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Its core activities are Frontier Basic and Applied Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Technology Transfer, and Public Outreach. Currently, ICN2 numbers some 200 staff from over 30 countries, of which about 170 are researchers. In addition to the theoretical and experimental groups involved in the project, ICN2´s activities in graphene include thermal management, photovoltaic, biosensors and energy applications, gathering about 40 researchers (permanent staff, postdoc and Ph.D. students). ICN2 achievements were recognised in 2014 with the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditation, the most prestigious award targeting research centres in Spain.

ICN2 is strongly involved in Graphene and two-dimensional materials research. It includes the theoretical study and development of multiscale computational methodologies (combining ab-initio with tight-binding models) to simulate charge, spin and phonon transport in realistic models of structurally and chemically modified graphene (and two-dimensional)-based materials and devices. Additionally research is engaged in the development and demonstration of novel graphene spintronic devices, or the use of graphene and other carbon materials in biosensing and bioelectronics applications, such as low cost and large scale technology for the fabrication of graphene solution-gated field effect transistors as well as graphene electrodes, and their characterization in aqueous environment and in cell cultures based on CVD graphene or the use of graphene derivatives for electrochemical biosensors. Finally, hybrid materials including graphene are also investigated for applications in energy (supercapacitors) and photovoltaics.

ICREA, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, is a foundation supported by the Catalan Government and guided by a Board of Trustees. ICREA was created in response to the need to seek new hiring formulas that would make it possible to compete with other research systems on a similar footing by focusing on hiring only the most talented and extraordinary scientists and academics.