Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation

The Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació, FCRI) is a private, non-profit entity founded in 1986 in Catalonia, Spain. Its purpose is to disseminate research and innovation throughout society, fostering a scientific culture, encouraging scientific and technical vocations, strengthening public-private relations, and supporting entrepreneurship in the research and innovation field. The foundation operates as a bridge between the public, the Catalan research and innovation system, and the productive sector, aiming to increase citizen interest in science and technology. The FCRI is governed by a mixed public-private board of trustees (patronat) that includes, among others, the Generalitat de Catalunya (the Catalan regional government), Fundació "la Caixa", IberCaja, Endesa, BBVA, Telefónica Investigación y Desarrollo, Esteve, Irestal Group and AMGEN. This composition reflects its role as a meeting point for public administration, financial institutions, large corporations and the research community. The foundation's mission is to become a valuable and reference agent in understanding and strengthening R&D&I structures in Catalonia, articulating versatile and concise proposals of broad scope, especially in science communication and dissemination, the creation of vocations and STEM training, and the promotion of knowledge transfer and understanding between the scientific and business spheres, both public and private. The FCRI organises its activity around three main areas: Scientific Vocations, Dissemination and Communication, and Innovation. In each area it develops different programmes encompassing a wide spectrum of activities, projects and sub-programmes. Through these, it works with administrations, educational institutions, companies and research centres to bring science closer to society and to connect academia with industry. As a private foundation with a public-private board, the FCRI is not a listed company and does not trade on any stock exchange. It operates primarily in Catalonia and its working language and institutional context are Catalan and Spanish. Its official website is fundaciorecerca.cat.

The Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI) was born in 1986 as a private entity in Catalonia, Spain. From its inception, it was conceived as a bridge between the Catalan research and innovation system and society at large, with the aim of disseminating research and innovation and fostering a scientific culture. Over the decades, the foundation developed a mixed public-private board of trustees (patronat) that brought together the Generalitat de Catalunya, financial institutions such as Fundació "la Caixa", IberCaja and BBVA, corporations such as Endesa, Telefónica Investigación y Desarrollo, Esteve, Irestal Group and AMGEN. This governance model reflects the foundation's role as a meeting point for public administration, private enterprise and the research community. The FCRI structured its activity around three main areas: Scientific Vocations, Dissemination and Communication, and Innovation. In the area of Scientific Vocations, it works with administrations and various institutions to systematise the presence of science in schools and to increase vocations in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). It supports and updates primary, secondary and baccalaureate teachers in introducing the scientific method in schools, and provides platforms and spaces for debate, good practices and recommendations on science teaching for educational team leaders and teachers. In the area of Dissemination and Communication, the foundation develops high-impact knowledge transmission formats, both in-person and online, to create a scientific culture in Catalan society. It organises large-scale science dissemination actions such as the Setmana de la Ciència (Science Week) and the Premis Nacionals de Recerca (National Research Awards), the latter recognising research activity, communication initiatives, scientific patronage, public-private cooperation in R&I and the creation of science-based companies. It also creates communication spaces between scientists and society and generates science popularisation campaigns in innovative formats. In the area of Innovation, the FCRI sensitises industry about public-private cooperation through projects for the updating and transfer of knowledge from research to business, connecting academia and business in various formats, while fostering the entrepreneurial and innovative vocation of a scientific nature. In parallel, it promotes the strategic role of women in the research and innovation system and monitors and studies the current reality and future trends in research, education and entrepreneurship in the scientific field. As of the available evidence, the foundation remains active, with its official website at fundaciorecerca.cat, and continues to pursue its mission of strengthening R&D&I structures in Catalonia.

• 1986

  The Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI) is founded as a private entity in Catalonia, Spain.

• The foundation operates with a mixed public-private board of trustees including the Generalitat de Catalunya, Fundació "la Caixa", IberCaja, Endesa, BBVA, Telefónica Investigación y Desarrollo, Esteve, Irestal Group and AMGEN.

• The FCRI organises the Setmana de la Ciència (Science Week) and the Premis Nacionals de Recerca (National Research Awards).

A private, public-private-backed foundation acting as an expert intermediary between the Catalan research and innovation system and society, focused on scientific culture, STEM vocations and knowledge transfer.

• Setmana de la Ciència (Science Week)

  A large-scale science dissemination event organised by the FCRI to create scientific culture in Catalan society.

• Premis Nacionals de Recerca (National Research Awards)

  Awards recognising research activity, communication initiatives, scientific patronage, public-private cooperation in R&I and the creation of science-based companies.

• Scientific Vocations programmes

  Programmes that work with administrations and institutions to systematise the presence of science in schools and increase STEM vocations, including teacher support and training.

• Dissemination and Communication programmes

  High-impact knowledge transmission formats, in-person and online, creating spaces for communication between scientists and society and generating science popularisation campaigns.

• Innovation and public-private cooperation projects

  Projects for the updating and transfer of knowledge from research to business, connecting academia and business and fostering entrepreneurial and innovative vocations.

1. 1Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació - Viquipèdiaca.wikipedia.org