# Catalonia Institute for Energy Research

> research institute in Catalonia

**Wikidata**: [Q30254588](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30254588)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/catalonia-institute-for-energy-research

## Summary
The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) is a dedicated research institute located in Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain, established in 2008 to conduct systematic investigation in energy-related fields. As a member of the CERCA Institute network, it operates exclusively to generate new knowledge in areas such as bioengineering, energy conservation, and offshore wind power without the teaching obligations found in universities.

## Key Facts
- **Inception Date:** Founded in 2008.
- **Location:** Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain (Coordinates: 41.41466666666667, 2.220772222222222).
- **Street Address:** Jardins de les Dones de Negre, 1, 2n.
- **Postal Code:** 08930.
- **Director/Manager:** Joan-Ramon Morante.
- **Parent Organization:** Part of the CERCA Institute (Catalan Association of Research Centres).
- **Field of Work:** Bioengineering, energy conservation, and offshore wind power.
- **Official Website:** http://www.irec.cat/ (Available in Catalan, Spanish, and English).
- **Contact Information:** Phone +34-933-56-26-15; Email mailto:info@irec.cat.
- **Social Media:** Twitter handle @irec_energia (active since 2016-02-03); LinkedIn ID 487953.
- **Identifiers:** 
  - ROR ID: 03b6f4629
  - GRID ID: grid.424742.3
  - Ringgold ID: 235241
  - VIAF ID: 309570213
  - CANTIC ID: 981058509186806706 (Former scheme: a11837731)
  - University of Barcelona Authority ID: 981058509186806706
  - ISNI: 0000000417685181
- **Aliases:** IREC, Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya.
- **Web Feed:** http://www.irec.cat/noticies/feed/rss.html.
- **Social Media Reach:** 1,310 followers on Twitter as of 2021-01-05.
- **Wikipedia Presence:** 1 language edition (Catalan).

## FAQs
**What is the primary mission and scope of IREC?**
IREC functions solely as a research organization dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation, distinguishing it from universities that balance teaching with research. Its specific scientific focus covers bioengineering, energy conservation, and offshore wind power technologies.

**Where is the institute located and how can it be contacted?**
The institute is physically situated at Jardins de les Dones de Negre, 1, 2n in Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain, with a postal code of 08930. Interested parties can reach the organization via phone at +34-933-56-26-15, email at info@irec.cat, or through its multilingual website.

**What organizational networks does IREC belong to?**
IREC operates as a constituent part of the CERCA Institute, which is also known as the Catalan Association of Research Centres. This affiliation places it within a broader network of high-level research entities in Catalonia.

**How is the institute identified in global research databases?**
The organization is uniquely identified across multiple international systems, including the ROR ID 03b6f4629, GRID ID grid.424742.3, and Ringgold ID 235241. It also holds authority records in the University of Barcelona system and the CANTIC catalog.

## Why It Matters
The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research serves as a critical infrastructure for advancing human knowledge specifically within the energy sector, free from the distractions of undergraduate education or commercial product timelines. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, IREC accelerates breakthroughs in complex fields like offshore wind power and bioengineering that require long-term, high-risk inquiry. Its existence allows scientists to tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change and energy sustainability with a level of focus that hybrid organizations cannot match. As a member of the CERCA network, it represents a dedicated engine of discovery that contributes directly to the economic competitiveness and technological resilience of Catalonia and Spain.

## Notable For
- **Exclusive Research Focus:** Unlike universities, it is dedicated exclusively to research activities without teaching obligations.
- **Specialized Disciplines:** It distinguishes itself by focusing on specific high-impact fields: bioengineering, energy conservation, and offshore wind power.
- **Network Integration:** It is a recognized member of the prestigious CERCA Institute (Catalan Association of Research Centres).
- **Multilingual Accessibility:** Its official website provides information in Catalan, Spanish, and English to serve a diverse audience.
- **Comprehensive Digital Identity:** It maintains a robust digital footprint with verified profiles on Twitter, LinkedIn, and multiple global research identifiers (ROR, GRID, Ringgold).
- **Long-term Stability:** Established in 2008, it has maintained consistent operations and leadership under Director Joan-Ramon Morante.

## Body
### Organizational Identity and Classification
The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, commonly known by its acronym IREC or its full Catalan name *Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya*, is formally classified as a research institute. This classification signifies that its primary purpose is to conduct research, differentiating it from universities that combine teaching and research or companies that pursue research for commercial ends. The entity is recognized across multiple knowledge organization systems, holding the Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043 and the German National Library GND ID 4017909-6. In library science, it falls under the Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406. For geographic identification, it utilizes the Geonames feature code S.ITTR. Structurally, it is mapped to the schema.org/ResearchOrganization type for structured data purposes.

### History and Leadership
The institute was established in 2008, marking its inception as a dedicated entity for energy research in the region. Since its founding, it has been led by Joan-Ramon Morante, who serves as the director and manager. The organization operates as a standalone entity rather than a sub-unit within a larger university, allowing for focused resource allocation. Its creation reflects a strategic move to centralize expertise in energy technologies within Catalonia.

### Location and Infrastructure
IREC is physically located in Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain, a municipality in the province of Barcelona. The specific street address is Jardins de les Dones de Negre, 1, 2n, with a postal code of 08930. The facility's precise geographic coordinates are latitude 41.41466666666667 and longitude 2.220772222222222. This location serves as the central hub for its research activities and administrative functions.

### Research Scope and Fields of Work
The institute's research activities are concentrated in three primary domains: bioengineering, energy conservation, and offshore wind power. These fields represent the core of its systematic investigation efforts. By focusing on these specific areas, IREC aims to address critical challenges in renewable energy and biological systems. The organization does not specialize in policy-oriented research like think tanks but instead pursues fundamental scientific inquiry across these technical disciplines.

### Affiliations and Network Membership
A key aspect of IREC's operational structure is its membership in the CERCA Institute, also referred to as the Catalan Association of Research Centres. This affiliation connects it to a broader ecosystem of research excellence in Catalonia. Being part of this network facilitates collaboration and resource sharing among leading research entities in the region. The relationship is documented with reference dates of 2020-03-20 and sources from the association's official entity list.

### Digital Presence and Communication
The institute maintains a comprehensive digital presence to disseminate its findings and engage with the public. Its official website, http://www.irec.cat/, is available in Catalan, Spanish, and English, ensuring accessibility for a global audience. For news updates, it provides an RSS feed at http://www.irec.cat/noticies/feed/rss.html. Social media engagement is managed through the Twitter handle @irec_energia, which has been active since February 3, 2016, and the LinkedIn company page with ID 487953. As of January 5, 2021, the Twitter account had 1,310 followers.

### Unique Identifiers and Metadata
To ensure accurate identification in global databases, IREC is assigned a wide array of unique identifiers. These include the ROR ID 03b6f4629, GRID ID grid.424742.3, and Ringgold ID 235241. It is also cataloged with the ISNI 0000000417685181 and VIAF ID 309570213. In the Catalan library system, it holds the CANTIC ID 981058509186806706 (formerly a11837731) and the University of Barcelona Authority ID 981058509186806706. These identifiers are crucial for bibliographic control and data integration across academic and research platforms.

### Contact and Operational Details
For direct communication, the institute provides a phone number (+34-933-56-26-15) and an email address (info@irec.cat). These contact points facilitate inquiries from researchers, partners, and the general public. The organization's operational data, including its address and identifiers, has been verified and referenced from sources such as the CERCA catalog (cerca.cat) and the Catalan Association of Research Centres website, with verification dates around March 2020.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. [Source](https://cerca.cat/alfabetic/)
3. [Source](https://www.acer-catalunya.org/entidades.php)
4. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
5. [Source](https://www.linkedin.com/company/487953)