# Catalan Institute for Water Research

> Research Institute

**Wikidata**: [Q19879039](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19879039)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catalan_Institute_for_Water_Research)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/catalan-institute-for-water-research

## Summary
The Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) is a research institute founded on October 26, 2006, and headquartered in Girona, Spain. As an organization whose primary purpose is conducting research, it operates as part of the CERCA Institute and the Catalan Association of Research Centres, focusing on the study of water quality, climate change, and ecological economics.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** October 26, 2006
- **Director/Manager:** Vicenç Acuña
- **Location:** Girona, Spain; specifically located at Emili Grahit, 101, in the Edifici H2O within the Parc de Recerca i Innovació de la Universitat de Girona
- **Coordinates:** 41.967352777777776, 2.839933333333333
- **Short Name:** ICRA
- **Affiliations:** Part of the CERCA Institute and the Catalan Association of Research Centres
- **Research Fields:** Climate change, ecological economics, water quality
- **Website:** http://www.icra.cat/ (available in Catalan, Spanish, and English)
- **Contact:** +34-972-18-33-80 (phone), info@icra.cat (email)
- **Identifiers:**
  - ROR ID: 04zfaj906
  - GRID ID: grid.424734.2
  - ISNI: 0000000460950737
  - VIAF ID: 4165809250458972040
  - Ringgold ID: 504638
  - Open Funder Registry ID: 501100014855
  - Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: institut-catala-de-recerca-de-laigua
- **Social Media:** Twitter handle @IcraWater; LinkedIn ID: icra-catalan-institute-for-water-research-
- **Social Media Stats:** Twitter followers increased from 1,490 (May 2020) to 1,820 (January 2021)
- **Classifications:** Classified as a research institute (schema.org/ResearchOrganization)

## FAQs
### What is the primary focus of the Catalan Institute for Water Research?
The institute focuses its research efforts on three main fields: climate change, ecological economics, and water quality.

### Where is the Catalan Institute for Water Research located?
The institute is headquartered in Girona, Spain, specifically situated in the Edifici H2O building at the Parc de Recerca i Innovació de la Universitat de Girona.

### What larger organizations is the institute affiliated with?
ICRA is part of the CERCA Institute and is also a member of the Catalan Association of Research Centres.

### Who leads the Catalan Institute for Water Research?
Vicenç Acuña serves as the director or manager of the institute.

### How can I contact the Catalan Institute for Water Research?
The institute can be reached via phone at +34-972-18-33-80, by email at info@icra.cat, or through its website at http://www.icra.cat/.

## Why It Matters
The Catalan Institute for Water Research represents critical infrastructure dedicated to advancing human knowledge in the specific domain of water resources. As a research institute, it exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention. By concentrating resources and talent on the pressing issues of climate change, ecological economics, and water quality, ICRA accelerates breakthroughs necessary for addressing global environmental challenges. Its role within the CERCA network highlights its importance as a dedicated engine of discovery in Catalonia, providing a space where scientists can pursue long-term, high-risk research that tackles complex problems related to water sustainability without distraction.

## Notable For
- Being a specialized research institute distinct from universities or think tanks, focusing solely on scientific inquiry rather than teaching or policy influence.
- Operating within the Parc de Recerca i Innovació de la Universitat de Girona, a dedicated research and innovation park.
- Maintaining a multilingual web presence (Catalan, Spanish, and English) to serve diverse linguistic communities.
- Possessing a comprehensive digital footprint across major academic and social identifiers, including ROR, GRID, ISNI, and ResearchGate.
- Focusing on interdisciplinary fields that bridge hard sciences with economics, specifically ecological economics.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
The Catalan Institute for Water Research, commonly referred to by its short name ICRA, is formally classified as a research institute. This organizational type is defined by its primary purpose of conducting research, distinguishing it from universities that balance teaching with research, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends. The institute is recognized in structured data systems as a ResearchOrganization (schema.org) and is identified by various aliases, including "Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua" and "Instituto Catalan de Investigacion del Agua."

### Organizational Structure and Leadership
Established on October 26, 2006, the institute operates under the leadership of Director Vicenç Acuña. It is embedded within the broader Catalan research infrastructure, functioning as part of the CERCA Institute and holding membership in the Catalan Association of Research Centres. This positioning allows it to collaborate and integrate with other specialized research entities in the region. The institute is also linked to the Universitat de Girona through its location and ResearchGate profile.

### Location and Facilities
ICRA is physically located in the city of Girona, Spain. Its headquarters are situated in the Edifici H2O (H2O Building) within the Parc de Recerca i Innovació de la Universitat de Girona (University of Girona Research and Innovation Park). The specific street address is Emili Grahit, 101, with the postal code 17003. The geographic coordinates for the facility are latitude 41.967352777777776 and longitude 2.839933333333333.

### Research Focus
The institute's scientific activities are concentrated in three primary fields of work:
*   **Climate Change:** Investigating the impacts and mitigation strategies related to climate variability.
*   **Ecological Economics:** Studying the relationship between ecosystems and economic systems.
*   **Water Quality:** Conducting analysis and research on the condition and safety of water resources.

### Identification and Digital Presence
The entity maintains a robust presence across numerous academic and identification systems to ensure discoverability and proper attribution of its work. These identifiers include:
*   **ROR ID:** 04zfaj906
*   **GRID ID:** grid.424734.2
*   **ISNI:** 0000000460950737
*   **VIAF ID:** 4165809250458972040
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/012njrm3
*   **Ringgold ID:** 504638
*   **Open Funder Registry ID:** 501100014855
*   **Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID:** institut-catala-de-recerca-de-laigua (formerly 0522849)
*   **Microsoft Academic ID:** 2799562678 (discontinued)

The institute also maintains a specific profile on ResearchGate under the Universitat de Girona department structure.

### Communication and Outreach
ICRA actively manages digital communication channels to disseminate research findings and engage with the public and scientific community.
*   **Website:** The official website (http://www.icra.cat/) provides content in three languages: Catalan, Spanish, and English.
*   **Social Media:** The institute operates a Twitter account under the handle @IcraWater. Data indicates a growth in social media engagement, with follower counts rising from 1,490 in May 2020 to 1,820 by January 2021.
*   **Professional Networking:** A LinkedIn profile is maintained under the ID "icra-catalan-institute-for-water-research-".
*   **Direct Contact:** The institute lists a general phone number (+34-972-18-33-80) and a general email address (info@icra.cat) for direct inquiries.

## References

1. [Source](https://cerca.cat/c/icra/)
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. [Source](https://www.acer-catalunya.org/entidades.php)
4. GRID Release 2015-12-14
5. GRID Release 2016-12-06
6. Open Funder Registry
7. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
8. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)