ANNUAL REPORT 2025

About us

About IHCantabria

Our contribution in science, technology and innovation is at the service of society and sustainability, with the commitment to strengthen the balance between water, society and the environment

IHCantabria is a joint research institute that arises from the collaboration between two institutions: the University of Cantabria (UC) and the Government of Cantabria, represented through the Fundación Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de Cantabria (FIHAC). This Institute was created on March 22, 2007 (World Water Day), with the union of two research groups of the School of Civil Engineering of the University of Cantabria, which had been carrying out intense scientific-technical activity on issues related to inland and coastal water engineering for more than 25 years.

IHCantabria specializes in basic and applied research, technology transfer and capacity building. Some of its areas of expertise are:

Climate change and climate services
Marine energy and offshore engineering
Environmental management and planning

Coastal engineering and management
Port engineering and management

Water resources and hydraulic engineering
Response to natural and human-induced risks

2007

Year founded

27

Years of experience

24%

of the members of personnel have a doctorate degree

+110M€

of funding obtained since its foundation

+1700

completed projects

75

countries with developed projects

+1100

Scientific papers published

11

Patents

Our working method

Our work is driven by social commitment, scientific excellence and integrity, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to continue contributing to building a more just, inclusive and sustainable future

Our Mission

IHCantabria is committed to promoting scientific excellence and its transfer with a multidisciplinary and cooperative approach in mind in order to boost innovation that contributes to speed up the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the attainment of a fair, inclusive, accountable and resilient society.

Our vision

IHCantabria’s vision is to become a world reference center in the provision of innovative solutions based on scientific excellence, focused on the integrated management of socio-ecological systems associated with water, to contribute to a more sustainable planet.

Our values

Commitment with planetary sustainability.
Service to society.
Integrity, neutrality and independence in our work.
Reliable knowledge and research.
Pursuit for excellence.
Promotion of innovation.

Our signs of identity

Support decision-making to contribute to the SDGs by providing scientific evidence and innovative solutions.
Design of integrated solutions for social-ecological water systems, ensuring their resilience.
Development of skills and knowledge transfer to promote scientific and social progress.
Promotion of sustainable cooperation between academic, entrepreneurial and public actors.
An innovative management model that triples the public investment and and guarantees 90% of the funding to be from our own funds.

Impact

60%

Increase in staff numbers in the last 5 years

97

Public administrations with which we have partnered in the last 5 years

277

Companies with which we have partnered in the last 5 years

IHCantabria’s activity generates a significant impact on society at multiple scales, contributing directly to the improvement of well-being, sustainability and resilience to the challenges associated with water and climate change

At the local and regional level, our work boosts the knowledge economy, favors the creation of qualified employment and supports public administrations in making decisions based on scientific evidence, consolidating us as a key player in the transformation of Cantabria and its international projection.

At the national level, we participate in strategic initiatives such as the assessment of climate change risks or the development of advanced tools for land and infrastructure management, reinforcing Spain’s capacity to adapt to complex scenarios.

At the international level, our activity translates into the implementation of projects in multiple countries, providing innovative solutions in areas such as flood protection, coastal management or sustainable land planning, and contributing to the institutional and technical strengthening of particularly vulnerable regions.

All this is articulated through close collaboration with public administrations, companies and multilateral organizations, positioning IHCantabria as a strategic partner in the generation of solutions with a real impact on society and sustainable development.

Our unique facility

We develop advanced studies on waves, currents and tsunamis, providing effective sustainable solutions to marine environmental challenges

Cantabria Coastal and Ocean Basin (CCOB)

The Cantabria Coastal and Ocean Basin (CCOB) is part of MARHIS (Maritime Aggregated Research Hydraulic Infrastructures), a distributed Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS) managed by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. This infrastructure is unique in the field of hydraulic engineering and has advanced equipment such as multidirectional wave and current generators and specialized channels for the study of waves, currents and tsunamis. Measuring 30 x 44 x 4.75 meters, the basin is equipped with a wave generator capable of producing waves up to 1.1 meters high. The main purpose of the ICTS is to improve the efficiency and capacity of Spanish infrastructures to carry out numerical, experimental and field research in areas such as coastal, port and offshore engineering, as well as in the analysis of the complex interactions between marine structures and climatic factors.