ICFOstepstone (GA713729) is a Marie Sklowdowska-Curie-COFUND action under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, awarding 25 INCOMING Fellowships of 36 months to outstanding graduate students who wish to obtain a doctoral degree.
ICFO (
http://icfo.eu(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) is a research centre devoted to the science and technologies of light with fundamental and applied research programs that address standing issues such as health, renewable energies, information technologies, security and industrial processes, among others. As an institution, ICFO strives to be a resource for science, technology and talent, and to provide its researchers with unique skills to become successful and independent future leaders, both in the academic and industrial worlds. National and international researchers come to ICFO with a wide range of backgrounds in scientific disciplines related to Optics and Photonics and their applications, including Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology. They are given access to ICFO’s cutting edge facilities, a stimulating international and interdisciplinary environment, as well as high-level training and extended administrative and technical support.
The Severo Ochoa distinction awarded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, as well as 15 ICREA Professorships, 42 European Research Council grants and 4 Fundació Cellex Barcelona Nest Fellowships, demonstrate the centre’s dedication to research excellence, as does the institute’s consistent appearance in top worldwide positions in international rankings. From an industrial standpoint, ICFO participates actively in the European Technological Platform Photonics21 and is also very proactive in fostering entrepreneurial activities and spin-off creation. The centre participates in incubator activities and seeks to attract venture capital investment. ICFO hosts an active Corporate Liaison Program that aims at creating collaborations and links between industry and ICFO researchers. To date, ICFO has created 11 successful start-up companies and has 4 spin-offs currently in incubation.
ICFO researchers receive career advice while at ICFO and benefit from the numerous partnerships ICFO maintains with the academic and industrial worlds. ICFO's strong Corporate Liaison Program and wide network of international partners are testament to the strategic importance the Institute places in maintaining close ties with the industrial world.
ICFOstepstone aimed at:
❖ A superior level of PhD-training, including the triple “i” dimension.
❖ A top layer of co-funded excellence in research training.
❖ Provide the EU with a generation of top-scientists in Photonics, one of the 5 European Key Enabling Technology, to face the global challenges in the international high tech-competition.
