The ICMM, one of the main protagonists of the latest issue of CSIC INVESTIGA, dedicated to materials research

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The Institutes of Materials Science and Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), an agency under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, are celebrating this year the 40th anniversary of their creation with an extensive program of activities aimed at bringing materials science closer to society and highlighting four decades of research, innovation, and knowledge transfer that have helped position Spain as an international reference in this field.

On the occasion of this important anniversary, issue number 11 of the popular science magazine CSIC INVESTIGA presents a selection of research in this discipline currently being developed within the Council, offering novel solutions to some of the major contemporary challenges. The publication is part of the celebration program for the 40th anniversary of the four CSIC reference centers in materials research: the Madrid Institute of Materials Science (ICMM-CSIC), the Barcelona Institute of Materials Science (ICMAB-CSIC), the Aragón Institute of Nanoscience and Materials (INMA-CSIC-Unizar), and the Seville Institute of Materials Science (ICMS-CSIC-US).

The research conducted at these centers addresses some of the main challenges of the 21st century across three major areas: energy and sustainability, with new materials for clean energy, energy storage, recycling, decontamination, and biofuels; digital technologies and computing, with advances in quantum technologies, sensors, memories, and next-generation processors; and health, through nanoparticles, biomaterials, and diagnostic and treatment systems for diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and those associated with antibiotic resistance. Their activity has also contributed to attracting national and international scientific talent and to fostering world-class research careers.

The work of the centers, in CSIC INVESTIGA

The new issue of the magazine offers an overview of some of these advances. In the health field, it presents research on nanoparticles capable of delivering treatments directly to tumors, graphene-based neural interfaces for studying and modulating brain activity, biomaterials to promote tissue regeneration, and new materials to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.

It also covers advances in materials for repairing spinal cord and bone injuries, as well as the development of platforms capable of improving the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases. Among these are nanocapsules able to infiltrate immune cells to reach tumors, and nanovesicles designed to transport enzymes and genetic material to the affected area.

In the energy field, CSIC Investiga features work aimed at facilitating the transition toward more sustainable models, such as the development of batteries based on elements more abundant than lithium, new systems for producing green hydrogen, superconducting materials with potential for future fusion energy, and devices capable of generating electricity from body heat, sunlight, or even rain. This research seeks to promote electrification and the deployment of key technologies for a cleaner, more efficient energy model. The publication also analyzes the potential of new calcium, sodium, and magnesium batteries to meet growing energy storage demand. It also addresses the potential of so-called nanographenes—a strategy that allows materials to be built atom by atom to endow them with specific properties of technological interest.

Some of the most innovative lines in electronics and computing are also explored, from quantum technologies and spintronic devices to processors that use light instead of electricity to process information. It also reflects research enabling the design of materials atom by atom or the development of flexible electronic devices with multiple technological applications. The magazine also shows how these technologies could help create smaller, faster, and more efficient devices.

In the environmental field, advances in decontamination and resource reuse are highlighted, such as the use of zeolites to remove pollutants from water, metal recovery, and the development of materials and catalysts that enable more sustainable industrial and construction processes. These include materials for capturing and reusing pollutants, and new strategies to reduce the environmental impact of various chemical and industrial processes. Another area addressed is the use of recovered pollutants as raw materials and the search for more sustainable alternatives for producing construction materials such as cement.

Overall, the reports included in this issue show how materials science has become a cross-cutting discipline for addressing some of the great challenges of our time. From the development of more precise therapies and new biomaterials to the search for cleaner energy sources, the computing of the future, or environmental decontamination, the works featured in *CSIC Investiga* reflect the growing impact of this area of knowledge in strategic fields for health, sustainability, industry, and digital transformation.

Bringing materials science closer to society

Throughout 2026, the four institutes are developing a joint program of activities aimed at both the scientific community and the general public, culminating on November 3 with an institutional event to be held at CSIC's headquarters (Calle Serrano, 117, Madrid), with the attendance of CSIC President Eloísa del Pino.

The event will bring together institutional representatives and researchers from the four centers and will serve to take stock of forty years of materials research in Spain: where we started, where we are, and where we are heading in the main areas of materials research. In parallel, each center has organized its own outreach and celebration activities.

The Barcelona Institute of Materials Science (ICMAB-CSIC) will combine meetings between different generations of researchers with initiatives to recover and disseminate the institute's history. The Seville Institute of Materials Science (ICMS-CSIC-US) will take materials science out of the laboratories through film forums and public outreach talks.

The Aragón Institute of Nanoscience and Materials (INMA-CSIC-Unizar) will promote the *Los 40 Materiales* project, a selection of essential materials for scientific and technological development that will tour educational and social centers, in addition to organizing a thematic film cycle. The Madrid Institute of Materials Science (ICMM-CSIC) will inaugurate a scientific museum, develop new educational resources, and reinforce its activities during Science Week.

The four institutes are also preparing audiovisual content to show the impact of materials science on everyday life. The celebration seeks to recognize the contribution of the thousands of people who have been part of these centers over the past forty years and to highlight the strategic role of materials science in addressing some of the great challenges of our time.