INSTITUT CARTOGRAFIC I GEOLOGIC DE CATALUNYA

Their core work

ICGC is Catalonia's official cartographic and geological survey agency, responsible for producing maps, geospatial data, and subsurface geological information for the region. In EU projects, they contribute expertise in remote sensing, photogrammetry, 3D mapping, and geological services including groundwater and geo-energy assessment. They apply these capabilities to practical challenges like multi-hazard emergency management, wildfire resilience planning, and building pan-European geological data infrastructure.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ICGC's early H2020 work (2017–2019) centered on foundational geological services — subsurface mapping, geo-energy, raw materials, and groundwater through GeoERA, alongside multi-hazard data exchange in HEIMDALL. Their more recent activity shifts decisively toward above-ground environmental challenges: wildfire resilience, landscape restoration, bioeconomy, and territorial management in FIRE-RES. The trajectory shows a move from cataloguing what's underground to actively managing what happens on the surface, especially under climate stress.

ICGC is pivoting its geospatial and geological expertise toward climate adaptation, particularly wildfire prevention and post-fire landscape recovery — a field with growing EU funding priority.

How they like to work

ICGC participates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as a regional public agency contributing specialized data and mapping services rather than leading research agendas. With 110 unique partners across 35 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia (averaging ~28 partners per project). This makes them a reliable, low-friction partner that fits well into big multi-country initiatives where geospatial or geological data is needed.

Despite only 4 projects, ICGC has built an impressively wide network of 110 partners across 35 countries, reflecting their participation in large pan-European consortia. Their reach spans nearly all EU member states with no visible concentration beyond their home base in Spain.

What sets them apart

ICGC brings something rare to EU consortia: an official government mapping and geological agency with both above-ground (cartography, remote sensing, photogrammetry) and below-ground (geo-energy, groundwater, raw materials) expertise. Unlike university labs, they are the authoritative source of geodata for Catalonia, meaning partners get access to operational-grade spatial data and production-level mapping infrastructure. Their Mediterranean location also makes them a natural testbed for wildfire, drought, and landscape management research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FIRE-RES
  Their largest grant (EUR 398K, over half their total H2020 funding), signaling a major strategic commitment to wildfire resilience and climate adaptation.
• GeoERA
  Pan-European effort to unify geological survey data across the continent — positions ICGC within the network of national geological services.
• VOLTA
  MSCA-RISE staff exchange project focused on 3D geospatial innovation, reflecting investment in building next-generation mapping capabilities.