ITQ FOUNDER

In 1990 Professor Avelino Corma and Professor Jaime Primo founded the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) which started with a minimum economic support; basically, the space was made available by transformation of a parking slot at the UPV campus. In 1994 the team moved to a brand new building where the ITQ is currently located.Today, after more than twenty years, the ITQ has over 150 people working there. Its yearly budget amounts nearly six million Euros, placing the ITQ as a world reference centre in catalysis, new materials, and photochemistry. The institute is also recognized by its capability to transfer basic knowledge to technological applications. Besides, as an indicator of its international excellence, it should be emphasized that the ITQ is engaged in international research projects in collaboration with the leading companies.

Along these three decades, the Institute of Chemical Technology has focused on competitive fundamental research, has been able to transfer knowledge to industry, and has formed new research generations. Besides, ITQ has made a number of achievements, with international impact, in connection to crude oil refining, processes for pollutants removal from natural gas, processes to obtain  chemical products with high added value, as well as design of new automated “high throughput” reactors and new reaction systems, solar cells and sensors. Important advances have also been achieved in biomedicine and health, to minimize photosensitization caused by drugs and to repair photochemical damage to DNA and also in the development of new products and processes that are expected to contribute to future cancer treatment strategies.

During the last ten years, the ITQ has filed more than 150 patent applications, from which 80 have been developed through R+D agreements with industry. In the other cases, UPV and CSIC have been the applicants; 25 patents of this type have been licensed to different companies.