Select Page

about the crm

The Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM) is a leading international institution in mathematical research, training, innovation, and knowledge dissemination. Founded on 1 January 1984 by the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC), it is the oldest mathematics research institute in Spain. It plays a key role in the mathematical sciences at both the national and international levels, serving as a dynamic hub where fundamental and applied mathematics converge, and fostering an environment that supports long-term scientific development and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Between 2020 and 2024, CRM researchers have produced a substantial body of excellent scientific work, including numerous publications in top international journals across pure and applied mathematics. Several of these contributions have received international recognition and awards, further consolidating CRM’s reputation for excellence. The centre actively promotes synergies between scientific disciplines, and has led interdisciplinary projects that connect e.g. dynamical systems with biology and neuroscience.

The CRM hosts a broad and diverse scientific community, structured around research groups that cover a wide spectrum of mathematical disciplines, from algebraic geometry, number theory, and mathematical analysis to statistics and mathematical modelling in the life and physical sciences. The centre’s scientific impact is further evidenced by numerous competitive distinctions: in the last few years, CRM-affiliated researchers have been awarded 8 European Research Council (ERC) Grants, 2 National Research Prizes, and have been invited to present their work at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), among other recognitions.

The centre also plays a leading role in the training of early-career researchers through PhD theses, postdoctoral fellowships, and thematic semesters that attract international experts. It maintains close collaborations with major universities and research institutions both in Spain and abroad, supporting a highly internationalized research environment. In 2024, over two-thirds of CRM’s publications were co-authored with researchers affiliated with foreign institutions, highlighting the centre’s global engagement and the strength of its international networks.

Through its scientific programmes, institutional partnerships, and long-standing commitment to excellence, the CRM continues to make significant contributions to the advancement of mathematics and its applications. The centre stands out as a strategic node in the European and global mathematical research ecosystem, capable of addressing complex scientific challenges and generating lasting societal impact.

CRM Directors

  • Carme Cascante Canut
    Carme Cascante Canut 2024–present

    Professor at the University of Barcelona. Former Dean of the UB Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics and former Director of the Barcelona Graduate School of Mathematics (BGSMath). Her research focuses on complex and harmonic analysis.

  • Lluís Alsedà i Soler
    Lluís Alsedà i Soler 2016–2024

    Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, specialising in dynamical systems. Former Director of the UAB Department of Mathematics.

  • Joaquim Bruna i Floris
    Joaquim Bruna i Floris 2007–2016

    Professor of Mathematical Analysis at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Member of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans. His research covers complex analysis, harmonic analysis, and signal theory.

  • Manuel Castellet i Solanas
    Manuel Castellet i Solanas 1984–2007

    Professor of Geometry and Topology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Founder of the CRM and Honorary Director since 2007. President of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans from 1995 to 2002.