The IFIC to Host Spain’s First Hadron Therapy Research Infrastructure Based on a Carbon Ion Accelerator

Source: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation News

  • The Minister of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Diana Morant, closed an event on December 13 at the Corpuscular Physics Institute (IFIC) where an agreement was signed for the transfer of land from the University of Valencia (UV) to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). This transfer will enable the initiation of the first phase of a project to build a hadron therapy facility based on a carbon ion accelerator.
  • Morant emphasized that the Government of Spain “is making the largest investment in history in research aimed at curing diseases such as cancer.”

The Minister also announced that the Government will invest €21.8 million in Spain’s first hadron therapy research infrastructure based on a carbon ion accelerator. This pioneering technology, located at the IFIC, will play a critical role in the fight against cancer.

“Very few countries in the world are researching this promising technology. Today is a special day to send a clear message to the public: we are making the largest investment in history to research diseases like cancer,” Morant declared.

This announcement was made during the event where the agreement for land transfer from the UV to the CSIC was formalized. The project’s first phase focuses on constructing a carbon ion accelerator, with the IFIC serving as the host for this groundbreaking research facility.

The proposal at IFIC, a joint center of the CSIC and UV, involves developing a linear injector accelerator for carbon ions (C6+) with an energy of at least 10 megaelectronvolts per nucleon (MeV/n). This will form the initial stage of a comprehensive carbon ion facility. Once operational, this research infrastructure will support preclinical biomedical studies and radiobiology research.

Hadron Therapy: A Promising Cancer Treatment

Hadron therapy using protons or carbon ions is emerging as one of the most effective future therapies in radiological cancer treatments. It enables precise irradiation of tumor tissues with minimal damage to healthy tissue, a critical advantage in treating pediatric cases and radio-resistant tumors.

Government Commitment to Innovative Technology

In her address, Minister Morant underlined the Government’s commitment to fostering disruptive technologies and supporting innovative enterprises, acting as an entrepreneurial state.

“Where the market does not reach, public investment steps in. That is why it is essential to value our country’s public science. Through public administration and citizens’ taxes, we are investing in future technologies that do not yet exist,” she explained.

She also highlighted that “this project is a testament to the Government of Spain’s public service mission and its conviction that there will be no progress or future without science.”

Morant praised the contributions of institutions involved in the project, including the UV, CSIC, the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), the Center for Energy, Environmental, and Technological Research (CIEMAT), and the company Added Value Solutions S.L. (AVS).

Participants and Attendees

The roundtable discussion during the project presentation included:

  • Raquel Yotti, Commissioner of the Vanguard Health PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation),
  • Carlos Ferrer, Head of Radiotherapy Oncology at the Castellón Provincial Hospital Consortium,
  • Juan Fuster, Research Professor at the IFIC,
  • José Manuel Pérez, Director of the CIEMAT Technology Division,
  • Kauzar Saleh Contell, R&D Director at AVS,
  • María Vega Gil, Director of Certification and Innovation Procurement at CDTI,
  • Marta Puyol, Research Director at the Spanish Association Against Cancer.

Other attendees included:

  • Paterna Mayor Juan Antonio Sagredo,
  • CSIC President Eloísa del Pino,
  • UV Vice Chancellor of Research Carlos Hermenegildo,
  • IFIC Director Nuria Rius,
  • CDTI General Director José Moisés Martín, among others.

The Institute of Corpuscular Physics Earns Certification as a Competence Center in Chip Technology and Co-Organizes the ChipNation Conference

Source: IFIC News

The Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) has approved funding for the creation of a network of centers specialized in semiconductor design in Spain, called MicroNanoSpain. This initiative includes participation by the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Valencia (UV). The project was presented by a consortium of universities, research centers, and Spanish business associations, within the European call for Competence Centers in Chip Design. Its goal is to strengthen the semiconductor industry across the continent.

The Chips for Europe Programme considers these Competence Centers essential to enhance the visibility of the sector and provide open and non-discriminatory access to technological infrastructures. Furthermore, they will play a pivotal role in creating educational and training networks, connecting institutions with Europe’s network of specialized centers. The Competence Centers for Chip Technology (CCC), established under the framework of Chips JU and the EU Chips Act, will provide access to advanced knowledge, experimentation, and prototyping. They aim to help businesses, particularly SMEs, enhance their design and development capabilities in semiconductor-based products.

The CCCs will offer a range of services to all stakeholders in the semiconductor industry, including startups and SMEs, to foster innovation and growth in this key sector. These services include:

  • Facilitating access to design platforms and “pilot lines.”
  • Supporting stakeholders in developing semiconductor solutions (technology transfer).
  • Providing access to skill training.
  • Enabling connections to the European Network of Competence Centers.
  • Promoting the “Chips Fund” and facilitating access to venture capital.
  • Raising awareness, promoting services, and showcasing success stories.

 

IFIC as an Associate Center

IFIC boasts state-of-the-art facilities in computing, electronics, and mechanics. These facilities have been crucial for IFIC to lead the development of advanced technology detectors. The institute’s capabilities are evidenced by its ability to construct and test detector systems and instrumentation for large-scale physics experiments. Key resources include its cleanroom facility and the electronics laboratory, which, with its high-end equipment and skilled personnel, can contribute to all stages of R&D in sensors and electronics (front-end and back-end) through to delivering complete systems, including integration and quality control.

“The certification of IFIC as a Competence Center in semiconductor technologies acknowledges our over three decades of excellence in silicon technology development, from early R&D stages and high-tech innovation solutions to producing complete systems for major nuclear, particle, and astrophysics experiments worldwide,” said Carlos Mariñas, researcher and IFIC representative within the MicroNanoSpain Competence Center.

 

IFIC’s Representation at ChipNation Conferences

On December 2–3, Valencia hosted the second edition of ChipNation, a leading national conference for the microchip sector. Carlos Mariñas delivered a presentation on the Advanced Materials Chair of UV, introducing IFIC’s capabilities and detailing two projects underway with FYLA Laser and DECTRIS in this context.

“The organization of the ChipNation conference in Valencia is a strong endorsement of the robust semiconductor ecosystem in the city. IFIC, as a reference center in the sector, plays a significant role in organizing and developing this event,” Mariñas added.

The IFIC Business Innovation Scientific Unit (UCIE) also attended the conference, engaging in discussions on technology transfer and participating in networking activities. This unit will act as a gateway for businesses and administrations seeking access to IFIC’s services and infrastructure offered through the MicroNanoSpain Competence Center.

The conference, held at CaixaForum Valencia, aimed to establish a clear roadmap for investment by businesses and public administrations at a critical moment for the sector on a continental scale. The Spanish Association of the Semiconductor Industry (AESEMI), in collaboration with Valencia Silicon Cluster (VASIC), emphasized this point in a statement.

IFIC’s Other Key Collaborations in the Sector

Carlos Mariñas has also been invited to join the Semiconductors Working Group for the report on “The Future of European Competitiveness,” commonly referred to as the Draghi Report.

“This is a pivotal moment for the sector, and we must not forget that actions in semiconductors and microelectronics have a direct impact on many aspects of our daily lives. The Draghi Report extensively identifies several shortcomings in various fields within the EU and outlines potential actions to regain or maintain our leadership against other markets. The working group I am part of will aim to adapt these proposed policies to our country’s realities and propose tailored measures suited to the characteristics of our production system,” Mariñas explained.

Mario Draghi, an Italian economist, former Prime Minister of Italy, and former President of the European Central Bank, was commissioned by the European Commission to draft a report presenting his personal vision on the future of European competitiveness. The report highlights industrial and business challenges within the single market and offers a new roadmap for sustainable prosperity and competitiveness in Europe.