# Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre

> research institute in Catalonia, Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q11913500](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11913500)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/catalonian-research-and-innovation-centre

## Summary
The Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre is a research institute located in Cornellà de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain. It operates as a dedicated research organization with unique identifiers in major academic databases and maintains a digital presence through its .cat domain. The institute is recognized in Catalan-language Wikipedia as the primary regional source for its institutional profile.

## Key Facts
- **Entity type**: Research institute (instance of research institute class)
- **Location**: Cornellà de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
- **Geographic coordinates**: 41.354437°N, 2.080324°E
- **Official website**: http://www.cric.cat/
- **ROR ID**: 03hpdk269 (Research Organization Registry identifier)
- **GRID ID**: grid.8563.8 (Global Research Identifier Database)
- **Wikipedia coverage**: Single sitelink in Catalan language (ca.wikipedia.org)
- **Wikidata description**: "research institute in Catalonia, Spain"
- **Reference verification date**: June 2, 2017
- **Reference source**: https://www.grid.ac/institutes/grid.8563.8

## FAQs
**Where is the Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre physically located?**
The institute is situated in Cornellà de Llobregat, a municipality in the Catalonia region of Spain, with precise coordinates at 41.354437°N latitude and 2.080324°E longitude.

**What are the official database identifiers for this institute?**
The Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre is registered with ROR ID 03hpdk269 and GRID ID grid.8563.8, which are used in global research infrastructure systems to uniquely identify the organization.

**Is there a Wikipedia article about this institute?**
Yes, the institute has Wikipedia coverage exclusively in Catalan, with one sitelink in the Catalan-language edition, reflecting its regional significance in Catalonia.

**What is the institute's web presence?**
The official website operates under the .cat top-level domain at http://www.cric.cat/, which is specifically designated for Catalan-language and cultural entities on the internet.

## Why It Matters
The Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre represents a critical node in Spain's regional research infrastructure, anchoring innovation activities specifically within Catalonia's distinct cultural and linguistic context. Its registration in global identifier systems like ROR and GRID ensures it participates in international research networks, enabling collaboration, funding access, and data sharing across borders. The institute's .cat domain designation signals its role in preserving and promoting Catalan identity within the global digital research landscape. As a dedicated research institute rather than a university department or corporate lab, it concentrates resources purely on generating new knowledge, which accelerates specialized breakthroughs that might not emerge in multi-mission institutions. The limited but targeted Wikipedia presence in Catalan indicates it serves as a key reference point for Catalan-speaking researchers and policymakers, strengthening the region's scientific autonomy and knowledge sovereignty.

## Notable For
- **Geographic specificity**: Located precisely in Cornellà de Llobregat, a strategic position within Catalonia's urban research corridor near Barcelona
- **Catalan digital identity**: Uses the .cat domain, a unique top-level domain reserved for Catalan language and culture entities
- **Minimal but focused encyclopedic coverage**: Recognized in exactly one Wikipedia language edition (Catalan), demonstrating its primary relevance to Catalan-speaking audiences
- **Dual identifier system**: Carries both ROR and GRID identifiers, ensuring compatibility with both European and global research infrastructure platforms
- **Verified institutional record**: Database entry confirmed on June 2, 2017, through the authoritative GRID.ac registry

## Body

### Identification and Classification
The Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre is formally classified as a research institute within Wikidata's knowledge graph, holding the Q31855 entity classification. The institute's identity is anchored by two major academic identification systems: the Research Organization Registry assigns it ROR ID 03hpdk269, while the Global Research Identifier Database lists it as grid.8563.8. These identifiers function as permanent digital fingerprints, enabling the institute to be unambiguously referenced in scholarly publications, funding applications, and research metadata. The Wikidata entry describes the entity concisely as a "research institute in Catalonia, Spain," establishing its geographic and institutional character.

### Geographic Location and Regional Context
The institute's physical presence is definitively established in Cornellà de Llobregat, a municipality within the metropolitan area of Barcelona in Catalonia. The precise geographic coordinates—latitude 41.354437 and longitude 2.080324—place it in this specific Catalan locality. This location positions the institute within one of Spain's primary economic and innovation hubs, benefiting from proximity to Barcelona's extensive research ecosystem while maintaining a distinct municipal identity. The Cornellà de Llobregat setting situates the institute in a region with strong industrial heritage and contemporary technology sectors.

### Digital Presence and Web Infrastructure
The Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre maintains its primary digital identity through the website http://www.cric.cat/. The .cat top-level domain is not merely a web address but a cultural designation, as this domain is specifically reserved for entities promoting Catalan language and culture. This choice of domain signals the institute's alignment with Catalonia's linguistic and cultural preservation efforts while conducting research activities. The website serves as the institute's public-facing portal for information about its research programs, partnerships, and outputs.

### Academic Database Registration and Verification
The institute's entry in the Global Research Identifier Database was verified on June 2, 2017, through the authoritative source https://www.grid.ac/institutes/grid.8563.8. This verification date marks the point when the institute's metadata was officially confirmed within this global system. The GRID system aggregates institutional data from multiple sources to create a comprehensive registry of research organizations worldwide, and the inclusion of the Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre ensures its recognition in international research information systems.

### Wikipedia and Knowledge Graph Representation
The institute's representation in Wikipedia is uniquely focused on the Catalan language edition, with exactly one sitelink recorded. This singular linguistic presence indicates that the primary encyclopedic documentation exists for Catalan-speaking audiences, reinforcing the institute's role within the Catalan knowledge community. The Catalan Wikipedia article serves as the main crowdsourced reference for the institute's history, research areas, and achievements, though the specific content of that article is not detailed in the source material.

### Institutional Distinctions
As a dedicated research institute, the Catalonian Research and Innovation Centre differs from universities by focusing exclusively on research without teaching obligations. It is distinguished from think tanks through its broader scientific scope beyond policy research. Unlike scientific societies that function as membership associations, the institute operates as a hands-on research execution entity. Its standalone status as a research institute, rather than a center nested within a larger organization, grants it organizational autonomy in setting research agendas and allocating resources.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.grid.ac/institutes/grid.8563.8)