Today, the Barcelona City Council and the “la Caixa” Foundation announced the projects selected in the latest edition of their joint call for emerging research. A total of 13 projects in the fields of health and sustainability will receive funding of nearly €2 million as part of the 2024–2027 Science and Innovation Strategic Plan. This plan aims to foster scientific talent and establish Barcelona as a leading city for research at national and European levels.

Among these projects, two are led by ICN2:

• Smart Windows for Urban Energy Efficiency (WINPRINT): coordinated by Dr Claudio Roscini (Nanostructured Functional Materials Group). The initiative will create multifunctional smart windows that control the amount of sunlight entering a building, helping to reduce energy consumption. The windows will also be produced using sustainable printing technologies and tested in public facilities. The project also aims to foster technology transfer and position Barcelona as a leader in green innovation. It will be carried out in collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and the ICN2 spin-off company Futurechromes.
  
  
• Ultrafast Diagnosis of Pathogens in Blood (MICROPIX): led by CSIC Prof. Laura M. Lechuga (Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group). This project aims to transform the diagnosis of blood infections and antibiotic resistance by developing a highly sensitive testing platform based on photonic biosensors. Integrated into a microchip, the system can detect a variety of pathogens and resistance markers in under 30 minutes. It will enable clinicians to adapt treatments, improve patient outcomes and promote the responsible use of antibiotics. MICROPIX will be developed in collaboration with the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC).

Having two ICN2 projects selected in such a competitive call is a remarkable success for the institute, demonstrating its dedication to creating real solutions in critical areas such as human health, energy efficiency and environmental protection. ICN2 would like to congratulate all the researchers involved and wish them every success in the next stages of their work.