History of the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón

In July 1984, the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR) signed a collaboration agreement to implement and regulate relations between the two institutions. Within this framework, in May 1985 a Specific Collaboration Agreement was signed for the creation of the Institute of Materials Science of Aragon (ICMA) conceived as a mixed institute between the CSIC and the UNIZAR in the Areas of “Science and Technology of Materials ”and“ Chemical Science and Technologies”.

On the 5th of April, 2011, the ICMA was restructured, through a Specific Collaboration Agreement, including only the Materials Science and Technology area, and a new institute was created, called the Institute for Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis (ISQCH). , from the area of Chemical Science and Technologies. At the same time, the parties signed another Specific Collaboration Agreement whose purpose is the creation and organization of the Aragón Chemistry and Materials Center (CEQMA), with the nature of an instrumental service center, without its own legal personality, in order to carry out functions of management and support for the scientific and technical activities of ICMA and ISQCH. The ICMA, in addition to the Mixed Institute, is accredited by the Government of Aragon as “University”, according to the statutes of the University of Zaragoza.

On the other hand, the University Institute of Research in Nanoscience of Aragon (INA) is a university research institute of the University of Zaragoza created by Decree 68/2003, of April 8th, of the Government of Aragon. It is governed by the provisions of the Organic Law of Universities, the Statutes of the University of Zaragoza, the Framework Regulation of University Research Institutes of the University of Zaragoza, the aforementioned Decree of creation and its Regulations. The fundamental objective of the INA is to promote basic and applied research of excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Aragon. To achieve this objective, the INA carries out different activities, among which is the development of research projects in the field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology by attracting resources in national and international programs. The dissemination of the results of their research in the highest-level scientific journals. Encourage collaboration with other international and national Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research centers and groups and, in particular, with the Autonomous Community of Aragon. Another very important point is to increase cooperation with the productive fabric in the area of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, as well as promote the transfer of knowledge and the creation of technology-based companies. Establish quality training in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology within the framework of the University of Zaragoza.

Finally, in 2020, the merger between ICMA and INA takes place, giving rise to a new mixed institute called Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA). The merger between the two institutes ICMA and INA makes it possible to optimize their resources, working together, so that INMA reaches new levels and recognition of research excellence.

INMA aims to carry out, in a collaborative framework, research and technological development activities in the field of Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Materials Science and Technology and its international projection. Contribute to the progress and increase of the competitiveness of the productive sector through the national and international dissemination of the knowledge generated and the transfer of its results, improving the living conditions of society. Promote scientific culture by disseminating its activities to society and in turn ensure that the research carried out has an impact on an improvement in university teaching, and vice versa.