The Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC) has received an 'A' grade in the quadrennial evaluation for the period 2022-2025, conducted by the CERCA Institution. This distinction, announced after the final evaluation day on September 30, marks the first time the ICAC has achieved this top rating and consolidates its progress in previous assessments.
The CERCA evaluation aims to assess the extent to which centers develop their potential for excellence and international impact, and to benchmark their positioning against leading centers in their field. For the ICAC, the process included a self-assessment, a peer review of its scientific activity and key research results, and a working session with a committee of international experts in Humanities and Social Sciences.
The evaluation committee particularly highlighted the excellence of the scientific activity and the ICAC's capacity to attract scientific talent nationally and internationally, fostering an attractive research environment. Its leadership in open science and its activities in knowledge transfer and social impact, extending research outcomes beyond the strictly academic sphere, were also commended.
Furthermore, the committee noted the center's sustained growth, both in key activity indicators and in its ability to secure funding for research development. The director of ICAC, Josep Maria Palet, emphasized that the obtained rating is a recognition of the collective work of the entire center. The ICAC's progression is evident, having received a B in 2019, a B+ in 2022, and now the highest 'A' grade.
