Barcelona to Host 2025 National Research Awards Ceremony
Barcelona, April 8, 2026 – The city of Barcelona is set to host the prestigious 2025 National Research Awards ceremony on May 4th. The event, which recognizes outstanding Spanish researchers, will take place at the Royal Palace of Pedralbes. This announcement was made by the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, during a video call with the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Salvador Illa, and the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni.
Barcelona: A ‘Scientific Capital’
During the call, Minister Morant lauded Barcelona as Spain’s ‘scientific capital,’ emphasizing that half of the 2025 award recipients are affiliated with scientific institutions in Catalonia. She underscored the significance of these awards as the nation’s highest recognition for scientific achievement and highlighted the notable number of female researchers honored this year.
Historic Parity Among Awardees
The 2025 awards mark a historic milestone, with 55% of the candidacies being women. Furthermore, six of the ten National Research Awards were bestowed upon female researchers, signifying a significant step towards gender parity in scientific recognition.
Distinguished Researchers Honored
The National Research Awards, which acknowledge researchers for their extensive careers and international relevance in their respective fields, were presented to:
- Andrés Aguilera López
- María Pau Ginebra Molins
- Ignacio De la Torre Sainz
- Josep Dalmau Obrador
- Ana María Traveset Vilaginés
- Juan García-Bellido Capdevila
- María del Carme Rovira Virgili
- María Soledad Martín González
- Nuria María Oliver Ramírez
- Montserrat Guillen Estany
For the first time, a woman, María del Carme Rovira Virgili, a research professor at the Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) in the Department of Chemistry at the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), received the Enrique Moles National Research Award in Chemical Science and Technology.
Recognizing Young Talent
The National Research Awards for Young Researchers, which celebrate the achievements of Spanish researchers under 40 who have made significant contributions in the early stages of their careers, were awarded to:
- Arnau Sebé Pedrós
- Sergi Abadal Cavallé
- Marta Sánchez De la Torre
- Melissa García Caballero
- Marcos Fernández Martínez
- María José Martínez Pérez
- Jesús Campos Manzano
- Fernando Manuel Moreno Navarro
- Jezabel Curbelo Hernández
- Enrique Hernández Pérez
Each award in both categories carries a prize of 30,000 euros, recognizing the invaluable contributions of these individuals to the advancement of science in Spain.
The ceremony on May 4th is anticipated to be a momentous occasion, celebrating the excellence and innovation that drive Spain’s scientific community forward.
Source: https://www.ciencia.gob.es/Noticias/2026/abril/Barcelona-acogera-acto-entrega-PNI-2025.html
