The evaluation committee highlights research excellence, talent recruitment, leadership in open science and the impact of knowledge transfer
The Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC) has received an A rating in the four-year evaluation covering the 2022–2025 period, conducted by the CERCA Institution. The result, announced following the final evaluation meeting held on 30 September, marks the first A rating awarded to ICAC in this process and consolidates the centre’s progress in recent evaluations.
The CERCA evaluation aims to determine the extent to which research centres fulfil their potential for excellence and international impact, and to assess their standing in relation to leading institutions in their respective fields. In ICAC’s case, the process included a self-assessment, a peer review of its scientific activities and main research outputs, and, finally, a working session with an international expert committee specialising in the Humanities and Social Sciences, together with representatives of the CERCA Institution.
Excellence, talent and impact
Among the aspects particularly highlighted by the evaluation committee were, first and foremost, the excellence of ICAC’s scientific activity and research, as well as its ability to attract national and international scientific talent and establish an attractive research environment for researchers.
This result, together with major milestones achieved recently, particularly the Government’s investment in ICAC’s new headquarters at Tabacalera, shows that we are doing a great job and points to a very promising future.
The committee also highlighted ICAC’s position as a leading institution in open science and its work in knowledge transfer and social impact, which helps extend the reach of research findings beyond strictly academic settings.
Finally, the committee emphasised the centre’s sustained growth, both in terms of its main activity indicators and its ability to secure funding for research.
ICAC Director Josep Maria Palet welcomed the evaluation results and stressed that the rating recognises the work carried out by the entire centre over the past few years.
The rating consolidates ICAC’s progress in recent years. The centre received a B in 2019, a B+ in 2022 and, for the first time, an A in the latest evaluation, the highest rating available in this assessment process.
