Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) and CSIC have signed a collaboration agreement to facilitate the development of joint projects in the mountain and snow sector. With a strong research focus, the agreement foresees that these initiatives will be primarily developed through the Mountain and Snow Innovation Centre of Catalonia (CIMneu), recently launched by Ferrocarrils and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).
The agreement will foster research, development and innovation initiatives aimed at addressing the current and future challenges faced by mountain resorts, with particular attention to climate change adaptation, sustainability, natural resource management and the transformation of mountain facilities.
The President of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), Carles Ruiz Novella, highlighted that:
"This agreement reinforces Ferrocarrils’ commitment to innovation and knowledge as essential tools for ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of mountain resorts. Collaborating with an institution such as CSIC will allow us to advance applied research and develop solutions that help address the environmental, social and economic challenges faced by these territories."
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation that will promote the exchange of technical, scientific and technological information, as well as the creation of working groups and the preparation of studies and reports. It also provides for the development of research projects linked to the Mountain and Snow Innovation Centre (CIMneu) in Camprodon.
The CSIC centre participating in this initiative will be the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC). This milestone represents a continuation of the collaboration between FGC and ICMAB-CSIC, following the development of a technology that enables snow production in a more sustainable way while reducing the time, water and energy required.
In this context, the Vallter and Vall de Núria resorts, managed by Ferrocarrils under the Pirineu365 brand, may become reference sites for pilot projects and living-lab experiences, enabling the validation of new solutions and the generation of knowledge applicable to the sustainable management of mountain environments.
This agreement strengthens the commitment of FGC and CSIC to research, innovation and knowledge transfer, contributing to the sustainable development of mountain areas and creating new opportunities for local communities and territories.
CIMneu, a hub for climate change adaptation projects in high-mountain resorts
CIMneu will be headquartered in Can Roig, a modernist building in Camprodon, while its project testing ground will be the FGC resorts located in the Ripollès region: Vall de Núria and Vallter. Designed to become a leading centre for innovation projects related to snow, mountain decarbonisation and the application of advanced technologies, CIMneu will involve researchers, students and start-ups from UPC.
A long-term collaboration between ICMAB and FGC
This new agreement builds on several years of collaboration between ICMAB and FGC. One of the most notable outcomes has been the development of an
innovative snowmaking technology led by ICMAB researcher Albert Verdaguer, which uses naturally occurring minerals to improve snow production efficiency while reducing water and energy consumption. Following successful laboratory studies and field trials at FGC resorts, the partnership now enters a new stage through CIMneu.
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