INMA is recognised for developing its globally impactful helium technology
Aragón Investiga awards its Ramón y Cajal Prize for Research Projects in Knowledge Transfer to the project ‘Liquid Helium Made in Zaragoza’, led by Conrado Rillo, Javier Sesé and Miguel Gabal.
Zaragoza, 20 November 2025. The Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute (INMA), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Zaragoza, together with the General Research Support Service (SAI) of the University of Zaragoza, were among the winners at the 15th Aragón Investiga Awards Gala, held yesterday to recognise excellence in Aragonese research. The event was presided over by the Minister of Employment, Science and Universities, Claudia Pérez Forniés.
Specifically, the project ‘Liquid Helium Made in Zaragoza’ has received the Aragón Investiga Award for Research Projects in Knowledge Transfer ‘Ramón y Cajal’ for the development and global commercialisation of a pioneering technology for the efficient recovery and liquefaction of helium. This line of work, promoted by researchers Conrado Rillo Millán (CSIC researcher at INMA), Javier Sesé Monclús (CSIC researcher at INMA) and Miguel Gabal Lanau (SAI-UNIZAR), has positioned Aragón as an international benchmark in techniques for the recovery and sustainable production of liquid helium.
Conrado Rillo explained that this recognition is ‘an immense honour’ that he shares with his colleagues at INMA (CSIC-Unizar) and the General Research Support Service (SAI). He recalled that it began as a proposal 18 years ago that has ultimately led to innovative helium recovery technology, developed with the support of the CSIC, the University of Zaragoza and the Government of Aragon. The project began with an investment of €300,000 and has become an international success, with more than 250 helium recovery plants installed in research centres and hospitals around the world.
In addition, Rillo stressed the need to promote innovation from basic science and defended the key role of technical and management staff, whose work ‘should be valued and incentivised in the same way as that of research staff’.
On this occasion, the Government of Aragon has also awarded the Fidel Pagés Aragón Investiga Prize for Public Entities to the Aragonese Foundation for Research and Development (ARAID) for its essential role in attracting scientific talent and promoting R&D&I in Aragon since 2005. There are currently several ARAID researchers at INMA: Raúl Arenal (UNIZAR); María Bernechea Navarro (UNIZAR); Ana Isabel Gracia Lostao (UNIZAR); Jonas Gurauskis (CSIC); Emilio Juárez Pérez (UNIZAR); Daniel Sola Martínez (UNIZAR) and Thomas Van Zanten (CSIC).
With this recognition, INMA once again positions itself as a benchmark for Spanish R&D&I in nanoscience and advanced materials, a leadership role that has already been reinforced by other recent awards won by its researchers.
Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence
The Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute (INMA-CSIC-UNIZAR) has been the first in our Autonomous Community to obtain the Severo Ochoa accreditation of excellence, awarded by the State Research Agency. This recognition entails funding of 4.5 million euros and the awarding of five pre-doctoral contracts for the period 2024-2028. These are in addition to the ten that were already awarded in the previous call for applications, when INMA came close to achieving accreditation.
INMA is a joint institute that was created three years ago by merging two research centres belonging to the CSIC and the University of Zaragoza, precisely with the aim of achieving this distinction of excellence. With around 300 members, it has more than 40 European projects underway and an annual average of 300 publications and €7 million obtained in competitive public programmes. In addition, it works in collaboration with industry, earning around €1 million per year from contracts and royalties.
Congratulations to INMA researchers Conrado Rillo Millán, Javier Sesé Monclús & Miguel Gabal Lanau (INMA – UNIZAR/CSIC and SAI-UNIZAR), who received the Ramón y Cajal Award for projects with excellent results in the field of transfer at the 15th Aragón Investiga Awards Gala.
20-11-2025
