It belongs to the State Agency Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). It is a dynamic institute comprising scientists of high international prestige. Its scientific and technological production contributes significantly to the CSIC mission to create a visible impact on science and society.
Research carried out at the institute covers many areas, among which visual optics, bio-photonics, image science, optical metrology, nonlinear dynamics of optical systems, photonic systems, fibre optics, nano-photonics, photonics with high energy ions, nanostructure photonics and ultrafast science are included.