ICN2 The Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology is a non-profit foundation established to pursue excellence in the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology. It is a place where both fundamental and applied research receive strong support, as do efforts to facilitate the adoption and integration of nanotechnologies into society and industry. Basic science is developed primarily via European and national collaborative projects. Application oriented research concentrates in Health, Information and Communication Technologies, Energy, and Environment, and is often carried out together with the industry. Transfer and business development is led by a specialized unit that trains and supports researchers in identifying and preparing for commercialisation opportunities.

ICN2 interacts closely with universities, research centres, technology centres, private sector R&D entities, the scientific community and society at large. The institute's achievements were recognised by the Spanish Government in 2014 with the award of the prestigious Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditation, an award that was renewed in 2018. ICN2 is one of the research centers belonging to the CERCA Institution of the Government of Catalonia, and a founding member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST). Its Board of Trustees includes the Catalan Government, the Spanish Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB).