– The Service for the Determination of Metals in Environmental Samples has recently been launched, promoted by the Marine Biogeochemistry group. The IIM already offers more than a dozen services related to R&D&I.
– In addition to research and knowledge transfer, one of CSIC’s functions is to provide scientific and technical services.
Santiago de Compostela, 10 June 2020. The Institute of Marine Research (IIM) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), based in Vigo and focused on integrated, multidisciplinary research into the sea and marine species, has launched a new scientific and technical service. The centre now offers a dozen types of R&D&I services to public and private organisations.
The new service is the Service for the Determination of Metals in Environmental Samples, promoted by the Marine Biogeochemistry group. It covers freshwater and saltwater samples, soils and sediments, and biological material.
“This service is launched after more than 20 years of experience by the group in determining metals and trace elements in these types of samples, using the most advanced equipment for these analyses. It also offers determination of rare earths and platinum-group elements, in which we are a benchmark both nationally and internationally, as well as sample treatment and technical assistance for sampling and sample processing,” highlights Antonio Cobelo García, head of the service.
The IIM catalogue of scientific and technical services
The IIM has four highly interrelated departments that host 14 research groups. It currently offers 56 scientific and technological service provisions grouped into 10 service areas recognised in the CSIC catalogue:
- Instrumentation, Modelling, Analysis and Processing in Oceanography Service
- Greenhouse Gas Analysis Service in Natural Waters
- Metal Determination Service in Environmental Samples
- Flow Cytometry Service
- Microscopy and Image Analysis Service
- Life History Service
- Biobank Technical Unit
- Functional Genomics in Fish Service
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Analysis Service
- Species Identification and Sequencing Service
- Advanced R&D Food Preservation Service
- Scientific Instrumentation and Quality Service
The IIM is also the National Reference Laboratory for Diseases of Bivalve Molluscs under European regulations. Finally, it has two important facilities: the Aquarium Service and the Pilot Plant Service.
“As a whole, the IIM brings together a relevant, high-quality technological offer that encompasses a wide range of marine technologies available to companies and other public or private R&D agents. Overall management of the services falls to the IIM technical deputy directorate, although each service has a scientific manager and several technicians responsible for carrying out the work. The full catalogue of IIM services and provisions can be consulted on its website, www.iim.csic.es,” explains its director.