In Madrid, the 'Aldo Olcese 2026' Award was presented to physicist Caterina Biscari

(ANSA) - MADRID, 23 OTT - Italian physicist Caterina Biscari, director since 2012 of the Alba Synchrotron—one of Spain’s leading scientific research facilities—received the 2026 “Aldo Olcese” Award during a ceremony last night at the Italian Embassy in Madrid. The award, presented by Ambassador Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi, is named after the Spanish intellectual and entrepreneur of Italian origin Aldo Olcese Santonja (1957–2025), who devoted a significant part of his career to strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two countries. “An award in memory of an exceptional person, given to an exceptional person,” said Buccino Grimaldi, recalling Olcese as “an academic leader and a pioneer in Spain in the field of corporate social responsibility.” The ambassador highlighted the jurist and entrepreneur’s contribution to creating forums for political, academic, cultural, and business dialogue, including the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Spain and the forum for dialogue between the two countries. Established by the Italian Embassy in Madrid—after naming the Diplomatic Chancellery Library in Olcese’s honor—the award recognizes Italian and Spanish figures from the scientific, academic, artistic, and entrepreneurial worlds who are able to combine professional excellence, innovation, and social responsibility. The first award, in 2025, was presented to entrepreneur Francesca Gabetti. The jury’s decision to honor Biscari was unanimous, recognizing her scientific authority, leadership skills, and contribution to the international reach and social impact of her work. Born in Sicily, a former student at the Italian State School in Madrid, and a physics graduate from Complutense University, Biscari earned her Ph.D. from Federico II University in Naples. A researcher at the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), she specializes in particle accelerator physics. Her career path subsequently took her to CERN in Geneva and to the National Center for Hadron Therapy in Oncology (CNAO) in Pavia, where research on accelerators also finds application in the healthcare field. Since 2012, she has directed Alba in Barcelona, a facility that produces synchrotron light, enabling the study of the structure and properties of matter with applications in the life sciences, materials science, and industrial research. Already awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy and numerous other honors, including the Gold Medal of the Generalitat, the scientist has maintained close collaboration over the years with Italian scientific and technological institutions and with initiatives promoted by the diplomatic-consular network. “This recognition means a great deal to me, because Aldo Olcese and I were classmates—from elementary school through high school—at the Italian School in Madrid,” Biscari recalled to ANSA. “This school shaped us by giving us the tools to grow in life and pursue very different careers, but the common thread is doing one’s work while thinking not only about the work itself, but also about its impact on society.” Her personal connection to Olcese gives the award special significance, as the scientist explained: “This award, which brings Italy and Spain together, means the world to me.” Biscari also wished to extend the recognition, in spirit, to the scientific community with which she works: “It’s a tribute to all of their work.” The ceremony in Madrid, hosted by the embassy’s scientific attaché, Sergio Scopetta, featured remarks by Alessandra Patera of the Alba Synchrotron on the awardee’s scientific career, and by artist Chantal Valeriani of Complutense University, creator of the Aldo Olcese Prize sculpture. The event celebrated not only a career of international significance but also a vision of science as a tool for collective progress and cooperation between Italy and Spain.
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