Severo Ochoa

BSC is a recognised Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence. The Spanish Government bestows the Severo Ochoa award on national research entities considered to be the most internationally competitive in their respective fields, showing scientific leadership and whose results have had a significant impact. The recognition is accompanied by a grant of four million Euros to carry out a programme of measures aimed at further increasing the scientific and institutional strength of the awardees.

BSC first obtained the Severo Ochoa award in 2011 (SEV-2011-0067). It renewed the award in 2015 (SEV-2015-0493) for a programme developed in the period 2016-2020. The centre achieved the accreditation for a third time in 2022, to carry out a series of measures aimed at continuous improvement during the period 2023-2027.

The specific objectives of the Severo Ochoa programme are:

• Improve the capacity of high-level research centres to organize and carry out their research
• Improve their ability to attract, recruit, train and retain talent
• Create and/or consolidate their relationships with other excellent research centres
• Disseminate research results to the general public

A limited number of Severo Ochoa centres are designated each year after a rigorous selection process. At the end of their four-year accreditation period they may apply again for the award.