Presentation
The Centre
CRETUS, Cross-disciplinary Research Centre in Environmental Technologies, aims to diagnose problems, develop technologies and evaluate solutions to tackle significant environmental challenges through collaborative interdisciplinary efforts. This unique approach enables the Centre to adhere firmly to a scientific agenda that aligns with environmental policies.
The research at CRETUS integrates various fields of Experimental Sciences, including ecology, ecotoxicology, modelling, and analytical and environmental chemistry, along with Social Sciences such as environmental law, economics, and social psychology, Humanities (arqueology) and Engineering disciplines like environmental biotechnology, environmental engineering, and process engineering.
At the present time, CRETUS has officially 32 professors affiliated to the centre, 7 linked researchers, 25 postdoctoral researchers, 65 predoctoral researchers and 12 technical and laboratory personnel.
CRETUS is one of the 10 Centres of the CIGUS Network (Research Centres of the Galician University System), recognized by the Xunta de Galicia for the quality and impact of its research.
History
CRETUS was established in 2015 as a Strategic Partnership of eight research groups from the University of Santiago de Compostela, coordinated by Prof. Juan M. Lema Rodicio. The association included 50 professors and 90 researchers from various fields, including Biology, Physics, Psychology, Economics, Chemistry, and Engineering. The primary objectives of CRETUS were to develop and evaluate sustainable environmental technologies, aiming to find solutions that minimize environmental impacts and risks while recovering resources through processes that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.
In December 2020, the University of Santiago de Compostela officially appointed CRETUS as a Singular Center, integrating it into the existing Network of Singular Research Centers at USC and Prof. Maite Moreira Vilar was appointed as the scientific director. In 2022, CRETUS received approval from the Xunta de Galicia as a Research Center. Since 2024, CRETUS has been recognized as member of the CIGUS Network from the Xunta de Galicia.
CRETUS is defined as :
INTEGRATOR
between different fields of knowledge and different needs
INTERNACIONAL
international positioning
SUSTAINABLE
from the perspective of human, technological and financial resources
INTEGRAL
responsible and committed to society
Headquarters
CRETUS has its headquarters located on Constantino Candeira Street, in Campus Vida of the University of Santiago de Compostela. The building has a functional area of 1,112 m2, distributed over four floors.
It houses the management and administration, 7 research laboratories, and offices for 40 pre- and postdoctoral researchers, housing the facilities of 2 ERC projects. The building has a common area for scientific and technical services.
Infraestructures
The eight CRETUS research areas are developed in different facilities distributed between the Vida and North Campuses of the USC. CRETUS has several laboratories at the faculties of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ETSE and CIBUS, including a Pilot Plant at ETSE and unique facilities such as the Galicia Radon Laboratory.
CRETUS IN NUMBERS
Main Researchers
Postdoc
Technicians
PhD students
Associate Researchers
Mission
To promote multidisciplinary research, development, implementation and evaluation of advanced technological solutions that respond to the environmental challenges of society, contributing to the sustainability of the planet and the transition to a circular economy.
Vision
To be a center of international reference in the generation of scientific knowledge and cutting-edge solutions to major environmental challenges, with a consolidated multidisciplinary team, which develops projects of significant social and economic impact with partners from the public and private sectors in Galicia, Spain and Europe. To be an active agent in the effort to raise awareness in society at all levels -citizen, political and economic- to promote systemic changes towards a more sustainable planet.
STRATEGIC AXES
TALENT
Talent attraction, promotion of young researchers and training in transversal competences.
KNOWLEDGE
Projects in collaboration with the productive fabric
SOCIETY, RESEARCH AND RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION
Integration with the Society
GOVERNANCE
Strategy
Centro de investigación del Sistema Universitario de Galicia (ED431G/2023/12)
Promover el desarrollo tecnológico, la innovación y una investigación de calidad
