ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences


ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences is a research center devoted to the science and technology of light. Located in Castelldefels, ICFO was created in 2002 by the Government of Catalonia and the Technical University of Catalonia.
The Institute carries out research and trains scientists and technologists. ICFO collaborates with research centers, universities, hospitals, and a range of private companies in Spain and abroad. ICFO currently hosts about 400 researchers in 26 research groups working in over 60 laboratories. Available to them are a Nanophotonics Fabrication lab, Super-Resolution Light Microscopy & Nanoscopy Lab, an Advanced Engineering Lab and a range of other support facilities. All research groups and facilities are located in the Mediterranean Technology Park in the metropolitan area of Barcelona.

Research

Research at ICFO encompasses four broad thematic areas: nonlinear photonics, quantum photonics, nanophotonics,and biophotonics. Researchers work in a great variety of fields, including quantum information technologies, nanophotonic devices, remote sensors, optoelectronics, integrated optics, ultrafast optics, biophotonics, and biomedical optics. Projects are run as part of both medium- and long-term programs.

Research Areas

The research at ICFO focuses on the science and technology based on light for applications in Health, Renewable Energy, and Information Technologies.

Light for health

The Super-resolution Light Microscopy & Nanoscopy facility at ICFO is a Euro‐BioImaging specialized imaging facility node, providing biological and medical imaging services for life scientists world-wide. Available techniques include super resolution STORM and STED, Lattice light sheet, Light sheet fluorescence, Raman and SERS, Fluorescence, Multiphoton, Optical Tweezers and Femtosecond nanosurgery. ICFO’s SLN facility is part of the European CORBEL and LaserLab research infrastructures.
ICFO collaborates with local hospitals, healthcare centers, biomedical research centers, universities, and corporations alike, acting as the local BioPhotonics Hub.

Light for energy

Photonics is at the core of light-harvesting concepts and technologies like photovoltaics and solar cells. To tackle the challenges in energy efficiency, researchers at ICFO are developing new approaches to renewable energy applications. Examples of on-going projects include low-cost highly efficient transparent solar cells, organic LEDs, transparent photonic devices, smart windows, energy efficient optoelectronic devices, photoelectric, thermoelectric and electromechanical transducers, and energy efficient sensors. The center also performs research in nanophotonics, such as nano-structured materials, nano-cavities, nano-antennas, and nano-photonic devices.

Light for Information

ICFO conducts experimental and theoretical research in classical and quantum communication systems, developing new photonic materials and quantum technologies.

Education

ICFO offers projects for undergraduate and graduate students: The Summer Fellows and Student Internship Programs offer undergraduate students to broaden their education and research training by collaborating with ICFO researchers, and Master students have the opportunity to accomplish their Master Thesis at ICFO.
ICFO participates in local and international Master and PhD Programs:
  1. Master in Photonics offered by UPC ; UAB ; UB ; and ICFO.
  2. Erasmus Mundus Master Course EUROPHOTONICS.
  3. PhD Program offered by UPC and ICFO.
  4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate in Photonics Engineering, Nanophotonics and Biophotonics.

    Industrial Collaborations and Spin-offs

ICFO maintains a range of industrial collaborations and has to date helped to generate six spin-off companies:
Radiantis ,
Cosingo- Imagine Optics Spain S.L. ,
Signadyne,
ProCareLight ,
HemoPhotonics , and
QuSide .
The institute is member of the European Photonics Industry Consortium and takes part the European Technology Platforms Photonics21 and ETP Nanomedicine. It participates in the Southern European cluster in Photonics and Optic SECPhO.