The purpose of the Ci2A is to be a benchmark interdisciplinary service centre in Europe to support researchers facing innovative scientific challenges in neuroscience and chemical sciences to solve crucial problems for society in the field of health, the development of sustainable chemical synthesis tools and analytical techniques applied to food and the environment. By generating knowledge through technological research and support, it facilitates the transformation of this knowledge and the innovative results obtained into benefit for society, and add value to companies in the (bio)tech sector.

The mission of the Ci2A is to help optimise the competitiveness of the four centres within it – the Cajal Institute (IC), the Cajal International Neuroscience Center (CINC), the Institute of General Organic Chemistry (IQOG) and the Institute of Medical Chemistry (IQM) –, providing them with the technology, scientific-technical knowledge and support to address more ambitious challenges in their research projects. This aid facilitates the generation of knowledge and convert it into advanced solutions based on scientific and technological excellence for the benefit of society.

As a service centre, the Ci2A provides technical coverage with extensive infrastructure teams for a large population of scientists, one of the objectives being to establish strategic collaboration synergies with the top companies in the science and technology industry. This approach provides access to cutting-edge and developing technology allowing the Ci2A to support researchers, from the design of experiments to the analysis of final results. These collaboration strategies range from manufacturers of large equipment to reagent companies, and they benefit from the constant feedback from the centre by generating a continuous improvement cycle which is beneficial to all partners. Moreover, collaborations and exchange of students and staff has been established with other Service Units and Scientific and Technical Platforms of other national Centres of Excellence such as the CNIC, CIC biomaGUNE and other CSIC centres such as INDEA, as well as international centres such as Champalimaud (Portugal), the INSERM and CNRS of the University of Bordeaux (France), the Max Planck Institute (Germany), the Karolinska Institute (Sweden), the Italian Institute of Technology or the Rega Institute for Medical Research (Belgium) to offer the best service available.

To achieve its mission, the Ci2A calls on its own scientific and technical experts in the strategic research line methodologies of the associated centres and, in addition, carries out educational and training work in new technologies for both university and high-level vocational training students. Furthermore, the Ci2A promotes interdisciplinary collaboration with leading centres and companies as a driving force for the main scientific and technological advances.

The Ci2A is committed to being a leading international service centre in the area of neurosciences and chemical sciences. Its commitment to the researchers in these centres is to provide the latest technological advances to promote their research work, as well as to foster the development and transfer of technology and the training of new generations of technologists. The Ci2A was created with the aim of progressively extending its influence to the Spanish scientific community in these fields of research.

For all these reasons, the Ci2A has established strong links and synergies with local, national and international institutions, organizations and companies, providing the experience and facilities to explore technological innovations of the highest quality in the areas of neuroscience and chemistry.

The benchmark values of the Ci2A are:

• Excellence: Promoting excellence.
• Results: Orientated to producing results that are key models for knowledge generation.
• People: Prioritising the professional development of people and equal opportunities.
• Cooperation: Promoting cooperation between research centres.
  
• Industry: Committed to the results that provide greater added value, thus reinforcing industrial competitiveness.
  
• Aiming for a maximum return to society and contribution to economic sustainability.