The ICMAB is a research institute of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), the largest research organization in Spain focusing on basic and applied research. The ICMAB, which is already 30 years old, keeps its initial enthusiasm which makes it a very attractive place to work for young researchers. At present the ICMAB includes about 300 people with 57 scientists as permanent staff. The initial and ongoing mission of the ICMAB is “to generate new knowledge in Materials Science and transfer it to the society, particularly to industry within the European Research Area“.