The Institute for Corpuscular Physics (IFIC), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of València, held on Monday, 24 November, the institutional ceremony commemorating its 75th anniversary, an event that took place at the Marie Curie Auditorium of the University of València’s Science Park (PCUV).

The ceremony was conducted by Blanca Vicent Beneito, member of IFIC’s Communication and Outreach Committee, and featured the notable presence of the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant; the President of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino; the Rector of the University of València, María Vicenta Mestre; the Regional Secretary for Universities of the Generalitat Valenciana, María Esther Gómez; and IFIC’s management team.

The authorities were welcomed by the center’s management before the official start of the program. The inaugural event began at 12 p.m. and brought together more than two hundred attendees, including representatives from the scientific, academic, and political spheres, as well as institute staff.

One of the main highlights of the day was an emotional journey through IFIC’s history and the recognition of its scientific milestones, from its early developments and pioneering research lines to its participation in major international collaborations in particle physics and nuclear physics. Nuria Rius and Sergio Pastor, representing the management team, explained the institute’s evolution over seven and a half decades and its impact on science both within and beyond Spain.

The program also included a round table on particle physics and nuclear physics, moderated by Blanca Vicent Beneito. Participants included Carmen García, CSIC research professor and recipient of the 2024 National Research Award in Physical Sciences 'Blas Cabrera'; María José Costa, CSIC research professor and director of the National Centre for Particle, Astroparticle and Nuclear Physics (CPAN); César Domingo, CSIC scientific researcher; and Avelino Vicente, IFIC researcher and permanent lecturer at the University of València.

Additionally, as part of this anniversary celebration, the institute premiered its new corporate video, an audiovisual production that presents IFIC as a pioneering international research center and highlights its significant contributions to society. IFIC is accredited as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence, the highest recognition of scientific excellence awarded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities in Spain, and is made up of nearly 400 professionals from 38 countries, including more than 100 PhD candidates.

During the closing speech, Minister Diana Morant emphasized the role of science as “the great hope for solving all the challenges facing humanity and society” and praised IFIC as a pioneering center of excellence in particle, nuclear, and astroparticle physics: “Without your work, our country would not be able to bring light into the shadows for society.” Morant also described IFIC as “an example of the success of joint research centers, which multiply capabilities by bringing them together, creating stronger science with greater impact on local communities.”

In this regard, both the President of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino, and the Rector of the University of València, María Vicenta Mestre, also highlighted that IFIC is a clear example of the success of joint research centers, with research groups largely composed of members from both institutions and shared resources.

For their part, the institute’s management expressed their gratitude to all those, both inside and outside IFIC, “who have contributed to making this celebration so important for us a true success.” “Thank you very much for your participation and support. We are more motivated than ever to face future challenges with the collaborative spirit and enthusiasm that have driven us for these 75 years and will continue to be our hallmark,” they stated.

At the end of the event, a reception was offered to attendees, conceived as a space for meeting and celebration among institutional representatives, researchers, and collaborators of the center.