With the declaration of the OAJ (CEFCA's observatory) as ICTS, the center has received a recognition for its scientific, tecnological and innovative competitiveness and quality in the Spanish R&D system.

The Consejo de Política Científica, Tecnológica y de Innovación has published the new map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS, in their Spanish initials), which recognizes the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ) as a new scientific and technical infrastructure within the scope of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The OAJ becomes part of the infrastructure network of excellence. It comprises facilities that are relevant for research and cutting-edge technological development, being reflected in the Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation.

In order to be included in this map, the OAJ has been assessed in depth, considering its uniqueness and its utility for the Spanish R&D&I system. With this recognition, the OAJ has been categorized as national technical-scientific heritage and its conservation becomes a priority.

ICTS are defined as unique facilities that are opened to be used by the technical, scientific and industrial community, both national and international. These infrastructures are an essential tool to conduct cutting-edge research.

With this new incorporation, the map of ICTS is composed of 29 ICTS that group a total number of 59 infrastructures scattered across the whole country in eight different fields.

Within the field of Astronomy and Astrophysics, in which the OAJ is included, there are other 6 ICTS: the “Gran Telescopio de Canarias”, the “Observatorios Canarios”, the “Observatorio Astronómico de Calar Alto”, the “Radiotelescopio IRAM 30M”, the “Centro Astronómico de Yebes” and the “Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc”.