IPHES-CERCA Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social

What IPHES-CERCA Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social does

IPHES-CERCA (Fundació Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social) is a non-profit research foundation headquartered in Tarragona, Spain, established in December 2004 by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), and the Ajuntament de Tarragona. The institute conducts transdisciplinary research into human paleoecology and social evolution, integrating humanities, social sciences, geosciences, and biosciences. Its technical infrastructure comprises ten specialized laboratories and service modules — including archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, multi-scale microscopy, lithic technology, palaeoanthropology 3D scanning, conservation, zooarchaeology, biomarkers, palaeontology, and a collections service — alongside three research groups (Human Palaeoecology in the Plio-Plistocene; Subsistence, Technology and Human Evolution; Prehistoric Socioecology and Cultural Changes). Active field research is conducted at world-renowned archaeological sites including Atapuerca, Abric Romaní, Barranc de la Boella, and Camp dels Ninots, with international field projects across Southern Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and East Asia.

The foundation's business model is a hybrid of public-grant dependency and complementary commercial and educational revenue. The primary funding source is competitive public grants from regional (Catalan), national (Spanish), and supranational (EU) bodies; secondary streams include Knowledge Transfer Technology (KTT) services sold to private industry in cultural heritage, sustainability, and digital multimedia, private sponsorships and donations, and educational program revenue. Academic programs — Bachelor's degrees in History (URV) and Anthropology and Human Evolution (URV/UOC), an Erasmus Mundus Master's in Quaternary Archaeology and Human Evolution, and a Doctoral Programme in the Quaternary and Prehistory — are co-delivered with partner universities. The institute holds the María de Maeztu Excellence accreditation (2024-2031) and the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research seal (since 2017, full approval 2025), and operates as a member of the CERCA network of Catalan research centres. Leadership transitioned in 2024, with Marina Mosquera Martínez succeeding Robert Sala as Director.

Name

IPHES-CERCA Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social

Legal name

Fundació Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA)

Website

https://iphes.cat

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IPHES-CERCA is a Tarragona-based, non-profit transdisciplinary research foundation studying human evolution and paleoecology, serving academic, public, and private-sector clients through specialized laboratories, international field projects, and co-delivered university degree programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Archaeological Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Scientific & Laboratory Reference (Chemistry, Biology, Physics; Methods & Protocols) (EDAGAGAG)

Keywords

• Paleoecology research
• Quaternary archaeology
• Human evolution studies
• Knowledge transfer services
• Archaeological laboratory analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Tarragona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Competitive Funding: Primary funding from regional (Catalunya), national (Spain), and international (European Union) public competitive sources for research projects, activities, and predoctoral personnel.
2. Knowledge Transfer Services: Services provided to private industry, primarily experience-based industry including cultural heritage, sustainability, management, and digital multimedia sectors.
3. Sponsorships and Donations: Private sector funding through sponsorships and donations to support research activities, field campaigns, doctoral programs, outreach exhibitions, and educational activities.
4. Educational Programs: Revenue from bachelor's, master's, and doctoral educational programs offered in collaboration with partner universities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IPHES-CERCA is a transdisciplinary research institute that conducts scientific research on human paleoecology and social evolution, integrating humanities, social sciences, geosciences, and biosciences. It operates specialized laboratories (archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, microscopy, lithic technology, 3D scanning, zooarchaeology, biomarkers) and conducts international field research at major archaeological sites. The institute also delivers academic programs (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral) in partnership with universities and offers knowledge transfer services (KTT) to private industry in cultural heritage, sustainability, and digital multimedia sectors.

Product overview

IPHES-CERCA is a transdisciplinary research institution that offers a comprehensive portfolio of knowledge transfer services (KTT) to external clients, including specialized archaeological and paleoecological laboratory analyses. The core KTT services include Archaeobotany, Geoarchaeology, Multi-scale Microscopy, Conservation, Lithic Technology analysis, 3D scanning and digitization, Photography, and Zooarchaeology. These services are delivered through dedicated research units and laboratories. The institution also conducts research through three main research groups (Human Palaeoecology, Subsistence/Technology, and Prehistoric Socioecology) and maintains field projects at significant archaeological sites including Atapuerca, Abric Romaní, Barranc de la Boella, and others. Additionally, IPHES offers educational programs ranging from bachelor's degrees to doctoral studies in partnership with URV and other institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Web Evoluciona: A project by IPHES focused on science communication about human evolution

Products and services

• KTT Services (Knowledge Transfer Services) Knowledge transfer services provided to external clients, including specialized archaeological analysis and consulting services in cultural heritage, sustainability, management, and digital multimedia sectors.
• Bachelor's Degree in History (URV) Undergraduate degree program in History offered in collaboration with Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV).
• Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology and Human Evolution (URV/UOC) Undergraduate degree program in Anthropology and Human Evolution offered jointly by Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).
• Inter-University Master's Degree in Quaternary Archaeology and Human Evolution (Erasmus Mundus) International Master's program in Quaternary Archaeology and Human Evolution delivered in collaboration with European universities under the Erasmus Mundus framework.
• Doctoral Programme in the Quaternary and Prehistory PhD program dedicated to research in Quaternary studies and prehistoric archaeology.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2004Founding partner of the non-profit foundation. The Minister of Research and Universities chairs the Board of Trustees. Funding provided through the Department of Research and Universities at regional level.
• Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2004Founding partner providing academic infrastructure, campus facilities (Edifici W3), and educational program collaboration. The URV Rector serves on the Board of Trustees.
• Ajuntament de Tarragona (City of Tarragona)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2004Founding municipal partner providing local support and governance. The Mayor of Tarragona serves on the Board of Trustees.
• CERCA (Catalan Research Centres Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPHES is a member of the CERCA network, representing Catalonia's network of leading research institutions. The network provides coordination, visibility, and collaborative opportunities among Catalonia's research centers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas): Spain's largest public research institution encompassing multiple institutes with related research groups in archaeology, paleontology, and evolutionary biology. Broader portfolio than IPHES, but overlapping research areas and shared funder base.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Major US institution with significant Human Origins Program conducting paleoanthropology and archaeology research. Operates at much larger scale with broader portfolio, but directly comparable in core research areas.
• Natural History Museum London: Major UK institution conducting human origins research as part of a broader natural history mission. Overlaps with IPHES on paleoanthropology, archaeological collections, and public engagement, but with substantially larger resources and global brand recognition.
• American Museum of Natural History: Major US institution with Division of Anthropology conducting human evolution research and archaeology. Broader institutional scope encompassing natural sciences, but overlapping research activities and similar educational programming.
• University of Cambridge Department of Archaeology: Major UK university department with extensive research programs in human evolution, prehistoric archaeology, and Quaternary studies. Broader academic scope than IPHES, but directly comparable research areas and educational programming.

Direct peers

• Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology: German research institute conducting transdisciplinary human evolution research integrating comparative primatology, genetics, and archaeology. Closest international peer in scope and methodology, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies (Cambridge): UK research center specifically focused on human evolutionary studies with transdisciplinary approach combining biological and social sciences. Direct peer in research scope, with comparable mission and similar field research programs.
• CNRS - UMR 5199 PACEA: French CNRS research unit focused on prehistory, culture, environment, and anthropology. Directly comparable transdisciplinary approach to human evolution and paleoecology, with strong field research programs across Africa and Europe.
• CENIEH (Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana): Spanish national research center in Burgos dedicated to human evolution research with similar mission, scope, and institutional model. Direct peer operating in overlapping research domains including paleoanthropology, taphonomy, and Quaternary studies.

Regional players

• Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont: Catalan sister research institute within the same CERCA network focused on vertebrate paleontology. Similar institutional structure, governance model, and regional funder base, with complementary rather than overlapping research areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iphes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/iphes
• Facebookfacebook.com/iphes.cat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iphes-cerca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IPHES-CERCA Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social