INSTITUTO DE FISICA DE ALTAS ENERGIAS

Their core work

IFAE is a leading Spanish research centre specializing in high-energy physics, astroparticle physics, and quantum computing technologies. They build and operate advanced particle detectors for major international facilities (CERN, CTA, KM3NeT), develop superconducting qubit systems for quantum simulation, and contribute to large-scale astronomical observation infrastructure. Their work spans from fundamental research on neutrino oscillations, dark matter, and gravitational waves to applied detector technologies with potential for technology transfer in imaging and sensing.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), IFAE operated as a broad-spectrum participant in research infrastructure projects — detector upgrades (AIDA-2020), astronomy clusters (ASTERICS), science cloud procurement (HNSciCloud), and postdoctoral training (P-SPHERE covering topics from smart cities to cultural heritage). From 2019 onward, their focus sharpened dramatically toward fundamental particle physics (flavour physics, neutrino oscillations, dark matter), multi-messenger astronomy (gravitational waves, gamma-ray astrophysics), and a new push into quantum computing with superconducting qubits. The trajectory shows a research centre that consolidated from general infrastructure support into deep specialization in fundamental physics and quantum technologies.

IFAE is expanding from traditional particle physics into quantum computing hardware, making them a strong partner for projects bridging fundamental physics expertise with emerging quantum technologies.

How they like to work

IFAE overwhelmingly operates as a specialist participant (12 of 15 projects), joining large international consortia rather than leading them — their 165 unique partners across 29 countries confirm this. They coordinated only twice: Light-Trap (a focused sensor upgrade) and AVaQus (quantum computing), both cases where they brought unique technical capability. This profile indicates a reliable, technically deep partner that contributes specialized hardware and physics expertise without requiring a leadership role.

IFAE has built an extensive network of 165 unique consortium partners across 29 countries, reflecting deep integration into Europe's particle physics and astrophysics communities. Their connections span major facilities (CERN ecosystem), ESFRI infrastructures (CTA, SKA, KM3NeT), and Japan-Europe research networks (JENNIFER series).

What sets them apart

IFAE sits at the intersection of three domains that rarely overlap in a single institution: particle physics detector hardware, astroparticle observation infrastructure, and superconducting quantum computing. Their detector expertise (silicon photomultipliers, calorimeters, infrared sensors) has direct applications beyond physics — in medical imaging, environmental monitoring, and security. For consortium builders, they offer the rare combination of hands-on hardware capability with deep theoretical physics grounding, backed by connections to virtually every major European research infrastructure.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AVaQus
  Their largest-funded project (EUR 580k) and one of only two they coordinated — marks IFAE's strategic entry into quantum computing with superconducting qubit technology.
• ESCAPE
  Major open science cluster connecting all key ESFRI astronomy and particle physics infrastructures (CTA, SKA, KM3NeT, CERN, ESO) — positions IFAE at the crossroads of Europe's big-science data ecosystem.
• JENNIFER2
  Japan-Europe collaboration on neutrino physics and flavour physics beyond the Standard Model — demonstrates IFAE's global reach and access to non-European research networks.