The Business Innovation Scientific Unit (UCIE) of the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Valencia (UV), has secured funding for the 2026–2028 period under the programme for Strengthening Scientific Units for Technology Development and Knowledge Dissemination to Businesses (UCIE), promoted by IVACE+i Innovació (Valencian Innovation Agency).

The project “Strengthening the IFIC UCIE”, which received a score of 90 out of 100, was the highest-rated proposal in the call and will receive €359,493.12 in funding to develop, over the next three years, a knowledge and technology transfer strategy based on the needs of the regional business community.

The call provides funding for specialised structures aimed at transforming research results into innovation with an impact on businesses, promoting collaboration between research centres, technology institutes and companies to accelerate the transfer of knowledge to the market.

“We are very grateful for the support received from IVACE+i and for the confidence placed in this project. Receiving the highest possible score is an important recognition of the strategy defined for the coming years and further reinforces our commitment to pursuing an approach aligned with the innovation objectives of the Valencian Community,” said Ana Delgado and César Senra, UCIE managers for technology transfer and innovation.

Excellence in research with business impact

In recent years, the integration of technology transfer into the Institute’s strategy has enabled the launch of more than 35 innovation projects and the establishment of over 30 collaborations with companies in the Valencian Community through R&D contracts, technology co-development projects and technology transfer agreements. This activity has resulted, among other achievements, in the creation of a spin-off company, the signing of technology licensing agreements and the joint development of new patents with companies and research institutions.

IFIC’s current capabilities cover strategic areas including medical physics, advanced scientific instrumentation, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, microelectronics, smart sensing, and technologies for the space and energy sectors, with applications in key industries for the Valencian economy.

A new stage for technology transfer at IFIC

The new project marks a shift from a model based primarily on offering technologies developed by the centre towards a market-driven approach, in which the identification of specific challenges faced by the business community will guide the development of new technological solutions. To this end, the UCIE will organise sector-specific events, collaborative projects and technology validation activities in real-world environments.

“We would also like to thank the Institute for its support and commitment to technology transfer, which is essential for enabling us to continue moving forward and turning the project’s objectives into results with a real-world impact,” Delgado and Senra added.

With this new funding, the IFIC UCIE consolidates its role as a bridge between research excellence and business innovation, helping to transform the knowledge generated at the Institute into solutions with economic and social impact that can contribute to the competitiveness of the Valencian Community’s business sector.