Malaga and Rome will share the new headquarters of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

Málaga and Rome will share the new global headquarters of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Iupac), the organization that governs and manages the advancements of this science worldwide, consisting of more than 2,000 members from 57 different countries.

The Iupac Secretariat, as the administrative and technical center of the Union, is relocating after nearly 30 years based in the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina (USA) following a selection process that began in June 2024, with proposals from a dozen countries across Asia, Europe, and America.

Finally, on July 16th, the Iupac General Assembly decided on the shared global headquarters between Málaga and Rome, specifically located at the University of Málaga (UMA) and the National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, respectively.

The announcement was made public this Friday at the Rectorate of UMA, which is where the headquarters in Málaga will physically be located. The outgoing president of Iupac, Professor Javier García-Martínez from the University of Alicante, congratulated the city and its location at the University of Málaga through a video.

García-Martínez highlighted the strong support for the Union's administrative operations provided by the new host organizations. In the case of Málaga, he emphasized its significant role as a technological hub in Spain "with a well-developed ecosystem of academic, industrial, and governmental collaborations, offering a unique connection opportunity for the Union with Spanish-speaking chemists."

"This is extraordinary news and a very important opportunity for Spanish scientists to interact with some of the world's leading chemists, who will be meeting and will have their headquarters in Málaga," he assured.

The meeting was chaired by the rector, Teodomiro López, who was accompanied by the mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre. It also gathered members of the government team, deans, center directors, researchers, authorities, and representatives from the business sector and civil society at the Rectorate.

The mayor highlighted the significance of this designation, "which will help the city advance in its international projection together with the University."

In this regard, López wanted to emphasize the role that De la Torre played in achieving this. He also expressed his "euphoria" about the news, "as rector, as a heartfelt Malagueño, and as a chemist." "Today is a great day for the University. Here, a good part of the advancement of chemistry in the Spanish-speaking world will be decided," concluded Teodomiro López.

Javier López, the rector's delegate for Technological Innovation and professor at the Department of Languages and Computer Sciences, was responsible for explaining the role that UMA will play as the location of the Iupac's Málaga headquarters. "The journey has not been easy or slow."

With these words, he began his presentation in which he explained the steps taken since June 2024, following the interest of the City Council, Málaga Tech Park, and the University, as well as the high requirements demanded.

The delegate for Technological Innovation also highlighted the potential of the research groups in this discipline and the support from the Faculty of Sciences.

As next steps, he mentioned the signing of the UMA-Iupac agreement in September, the transfer of functions in October, the physical and functional installation on the third floor of the Rectorate in January, and finally, the opening of the office in the first quarter of the next year.

Iupac was founded in 1919 by chemists from academia and industry. Over the past 100 years, the Union has created the common language of chemistry, standards, verified data, and best practices in chemistry, as well as promoted education in this discipline and collaboration between the university and the chemical industry.

It also serves as the global authority in recognizing and naming chemical elements and ordering them on the periodic table, and it defines the top 10 emerging technologies.

Currently, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is moving forward with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in chemistry, and a commitment to diversity.

The Iupac Secretariat has been rotating among member states since its inception, reflecting the international nature of the organization.

After being based in Paris before and after World War II, in Zurich and Basel in the 1950s and 1960s, and in Oxford (United Kingdom) in the mid-60s, it has been located in North Carolina since 1997, until this Friday, which marks a new chapter with this shared headquarters at the University of Málaga and the CNR in Rome.