# Center for Materials Physics

> facility in San Sebastian, Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q30273913](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30273913)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/center-for-materials-physics

## Summary
The Center for Materials Physics (CFM) is a research institute and facility located in San Sebastián, Spain. Established in 1999, it operates as a joint center co-managed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of the Basque Country. The institute is dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic scientific investigation in the field of materials physics.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** Center for Materials Physics (also known as *Centro de Física de Materiales*).
- **Common Abbreviations:** CFM.
- **Location:** San Sebastián, Spain (Coordinates: 43.30564663, -2.00936079).
- **Inception:** 1999.
- **Organization Type:** Research Institute / Facility.
- **Parent Organizations:** Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and University of the Basque Country.
- **Website:** https://cfm.ehu.es/
- **GRID ID:** grid.482265.f
- **ROR ID:** 02hpa6m94
- **Ringgold ID:** 202635
- **DIR3 ID:** EA0020961
- **ISNI:** 0000000417625146
- **VIAF ID:** 5957148037713888350007

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Center for Materials Physics founded?
The Center for Materials Physics was established in 1999.

### Q: Where is the Center for Materials Physics located?
The institute is located in San Sebastián, Spain, at latitude 43.30564663 and longitude -2.00936079.

### Q: Who operates the Center for Materials Physics?
It is a joint research center managed by two parent organizations: the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) and the University of the Basque Country (Universidad del País Vasco).

### Q: What distinguishes the Center for Materials Physics from a university department?
As a dedicated research institute, the CFM exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. Unlike a university department, which balances teaching and research, the institute's primary purpose is purely research, allowing for concentrated resources on long-term scientific inquiry.

## Why It Matters
The Center for Materials Physics serves as a critical infrastructure unit within the European scientific landscape. By operating as a specialized research institute rather than a purely educational department, it functions as a dedicated engine of discovery, free from the teaching obligations that typically divide university researchers' attention. This organizational structure allows the facility to concentrate talent and resources purely on materials physics investigation.

Furthermore, the institute represents a successful hybrid governance model, bridging the gap between a national research body (the Spanish National Research Council) and a regional academic institution (the University of the Basque Country). This collaboration likely facilitates the transfer of fundamental scientific discoveries into broader academic and technological applications, accelerating breakthroughs in the field of materials science.

## Notable For
- **Dual Governance:** Uniquely structured as a joint center shared between the Spanish National Research Council and the University of the Basque Country.
- **Specialized Focus:** Dedicated exclusively to materials physics research, distinguishing it from general physics departments.
- **Comprehensive Identification:** Recognized globally across multiple authority systems including GRID, ROR, ISNI, VIAF, and Ringgold.
- **Basque Country Location:** Situated in San Sebastián, a prominent city for scientific research in northern Spain.

## Body

### Identity and Mission
The Center for Materials Physics (CFM), known in Spanish as *Centro de Física de Materiales*, is a specialized entity classified as both a facility and a research institute. Its primary mandate is to conduct focused research in the domain of materials physics. Unlike organizations that view research as one of several functions, the CFM exists specifically to generate new knowledge. This classification aligns it with the definition of a research institute: an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation distinct from membership-based scientific societies or policy-focused think tanks.

### Organizational Structure and Governance
The institute operates under a unique administrative structure involving two major entities. It is jointly managed by:
1.  **The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC):** The largest public research institution in Spain.
2.  **The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU):** The public university of the autonomous community.

This dual affiliation suggests a collaborative environment that integrates national research priorities with regional academic development.

### Location and History
The facility is physically situated in **San Sebastián** (Donostia), Spain. Geographically, it is pinpointed at coordinates **43.30564663 latitude and -2.00936079 longitude**. The institute has been operational since its inception in **1999**.

### Identification and Authority Files
The Center for Materials Physics is extensively cataloged across various international academic and governmental databases, reflecting its legitimacy and global integration:
- **Global Research Identifier Database (GRID):** grid.482265.f
- **Research Organization Registry (ROR):** 02hpa6m94
- **Ringgold ID:** 202635 (Listed as 'Centro de Física de Materiales')
- **ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier):** 0000000417625146
- **VIAF (Virtual International Authority File):** 5957148037713888350007
- **DIR3 (Spanish Directory):** EA0020961 (Listed as 'Centro de Fisica de Materiales')

### Digital Presence and Media
The institute maintains a primary web portal at **https://cfm.ehu.es/**. Visual documentation of the facility is available through the Wikimedia Commons file `Materialen_Fisika_Zentroa.jpg`. The entity has a limited but specific linguistic footprint online, with sitelink counts indicating presence primarily in the Basque language (Wikipedia languages: eu).

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. [Source](https://cfm.ehu.es/eu/cfm-zentroa/historia-eta-misioa-2/)
3. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
4. [Source](https://administracionelectronica.gob.es/ctt/resources/Soluciones/238/Descargas/Listado%20Unidades%20AGE.xlsx?idIniciativa=238&idElemento=2741)