BARCELONA INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS SCIENCE

What BARCELONA INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS SCIENCE does

Barcelona Institute of Materials Science (ICMAB — Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona) is a multidisciplinary public research institute established in 1987 and headquartered on the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) campus in Bellaterra, Spain. It operates as one of more than 120 institutes under the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain's largest public research organization, and carries the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence designation, renewed three consecutive times in 2016, 2020, and 2024 (currently via the MATRANS42 project, 2024-2027). The institute conducts fundamental and applied research in functional advanced materials — including synthesis, processing, characterization, and modeling — with application focus areas spanning Energy, Electronics, and Nanomedicine, organized under flagship programmes such as M4HTH Smart Nanomedicine, M4NRG Clean Energy, M4ELC Sustainable Electronics, and FunMem.

ICMAB's core offering is a portfolio of ten Scientific and Technical Services — including electron microscopy (SEM-TEM), X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, thin film deposition, scanning probe microscopy, low-temperature magnetometry, soft materials characterization, biological analysis (Bioservice), and the Nanoquim 10,000-class cleanroom — which are made available to external academic and industry users on a fee-for-service basis. Beyond laboratory services, the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Unit supports industry collaboration, patent licensing, prototype development, and spin-off creation; recent commercial outputs include the Delbios Pharmaceuticals SL spin-off (2025) and technology-transfer engagement with Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech.

The institute employs 300+ permanent staff (researchers, technicians, support) with more than 500 people working on campus annually including students and visiting researchers, and produces more than 300 publications in high-impact journals per year. Revenue is not commercially disclosed; the model is funded through CSIC institutional support, competitive national and European grants (Severo Ochoa, MSCA, ERC, national research funding — €2.2 million captured in 2025), fee-for-service laboratory access, and licensing/spin-off returns. Customers are heterogeneous: academic institutions (UAB, BNC-b partners including ALBA Synchrotron), government and industrial partners in energy (Fundación Ciudad de la Energía/CIUDEN), pharmaceuticals (spin-offs), and quantum technology firms. Outreach, science communication, and doctoral training (DocFam+, INPhINIT) function as additional channels supporting talent pipeline development and public engagement.

Name

BARCELONA INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS SCIENCE

Legal name

Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona

Website

https://icmab.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

ICMAB is a CSIC public research institute in Barcelona conducting functional advanced materials R&D for energy, electronics, and nanomedicine, offering fee-for-service laboratory facilities, doctoral training, and technology-transfer and spin-off support to academic and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Materials Science Research and Scientific Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAGADAJ

Elemental Impurities & Trace Metals (ICP-MS)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services

Keywords

• Materials science research
• Scientific technical services
• Nanofabrication cleanroom
• Energy materials development
• Nanomedicine characterization

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (CSIC): ICMAB is an institute of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), receiving institutional funding from this public research organization
2. Research Grants: Competitive funding from national and international sources including Severo Ochoa programme, European projects, and national research funding
3. Scientific and Technical Services: Fee-for-service laboratory and characterization services offered to external academic institutions and industry partners through the Scientific and Technical Services department
4. Technology Transfer and Licensing: Revenue from patents, licensing agreements, spin-off companies, and collaborative R&D projects with industry partners

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ICMAB is a public multidisciplinary research institute that conducts functional advanced materials research and provides a portfolio of ten Scientific and Technical Services — including electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, thin films, scanning probe microscopy, magnetometry, soft materials characterization, biological testing, and a 10,000-class Nanoquim cleanroom — to academic and industrial clients. It supplements these analytical services with a Prototype Laboratory offering 3D modeling, additive manufacturing, electronic circuit prototyping, and computer simulations, and runs the Severo Ochoa MATRANS42 research programme in energy, electronics, and nanomedicine. Technology transfer and licensing of ICMAB-generated patents support spin-off creation and industry collaboration.

Product overview

ICMAB (Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona) operates as a multidisciplinary public research institute under CSIC, offering a comprehensive portfolio of Scientific and Technical Services rather than commercial products. The institute provides access to 10 specialized laboratory services including electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, thin film fabrication, scanning probe microscopy, soft materials characterization, magnetometry, and a cleanroom facility (Nanoquim Platform). These services are available to both academic researchers and industry partners, functioning as fee-for-service analytical and characterization offerings. The institute also conducts fundamental research in functional advanced materials for energy, electronics, and health applications through its Severo Ochoa research program (MATRANS42).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bioservice Biochemical and biological analysis services for materials research, supporting biomedical and health-related materials development for academic and industrial clients.
• Electron Microscopy Service (SEM-TEM) Provides advanced scanning and transmission electron microscopy capabilities for nanoscale characterization of materials structure and morphology.
• Low Temperatures and Magnetometry Service Offers low-temperature experimental setups and magnetometry measurements for studying magnetic properties of materials.
• Nanoquim Platform A 10,000-class cleanroom facility providing nanostructure fabrication and microelectronics processing capabilities for researchers and industry partners.
• Preparation and Characterization of Soft Materials Specializes in synthesis, processing, and characterization of soft matter including polymers, gels, and organic materials.
• Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) Provides atomic force microscopy and other scanning probe techniques for surface characterization at nanoscale resolution.
• Spectroscopic Techniques Laboratory Offers a range of spectroscopic analysis methods for studying electronic, optical, and vibrational properties of materials.
• Thermal Analysis Laboratory Provides thermal characterization services including DSC, TGA, and thermal conductivity measurements for materials analysis.
• Thin Films Laboratory Offers thin film deposition and characterization services using various techniques including sputtering, evaporation, and sol-gel methods.
• X-ray Diffraction Laboratory Provides X-ray diffraction analysis for crystal structure determination and phase identification of materials.
• Prototype Laboratory Engineering support including parametric 3D modeling, FDM additive manufacturing, part machining, electronic circuit design and manufacturing, and computer simulations for fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and structural mechanics, offered to industry partners via the Knowledge Transfer Unit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 publications in high-impact journals annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Barcelona Nanocluster in Bellaterra (BNC-b)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch network including UAB, CSIC (ICMAB, IMB-CNM and ICN2), and IRTA, part of the UAB Research Park (PRUAB) and ALBA Synchrotron. Aims to share advanced scientific equipment and promote nanoscience and nanotechnology.
• ALBA SynchrotroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Barcelona Nanocluster Bellaterra, providing access to synchrotron radiation facilities for advanced materials characterization.
• Fundación Ciudad de la Energía (CIUDEN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative project on organic photovoltaics under real-world conditions to inform energy transition policies. Project led by Sergi Riera-Galindo.
• SOMM AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of Severo Ochoa Centres and María de Maeztu Units. ICMAB is a distinguished member working to elevate national and international profile of Spanish science and facilitate exchange of knowledge and best practices.
• CIC biomaGUNEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center whose Director Luis Liz-Marzan serves on ICMAB's Scientific Advisory Board.
• Delbios Pharmaceuticals SLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew ICMAB-CSIC spin-off company focused on pharmaceutical applications of advanced materials. Secured Neotec 2025 funding.
• Qilimanjaro Quantum TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuantum technology company that ICMAB researchers visited to explore potential collaborations and technology transfer opportunities.
• European Research Council (ERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding agency for Frontiers Science Journalism Residency Programme. ICMAB is an official host institution for early-career science journalists.
• TECNIOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTechnology transfer agent network in Catalonia. ICMAB's technology transfer activities supported through TECNIO membership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icmabcsic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/IcmabCat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icmabcsic
• Instagraminstagram.com/icmab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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