Press releases

GCO (Grupo Catalana Occidente) changes the name of its foundation to Fundación Occident

The entity, formerly known as Fundación Jesús Serra, will continue with its main lines of action, and preserve the memory of the insurance group's founder, Jesús Serra Santamans, by carrying out strategic projects named after him.

6 November 2023

6 November 2023 Download PDF

Raquel Yotti hosts the presentation of the Fundación Jesús Serra Research Awards

The fifth edition of these awards have recognised the contribution of Manuel Irimia, from the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, and Maira Bes-Rastrollo, from the University of Navarre, for research into nutrition and health.

19 October 2023

19 October 2023 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra awards researchers Manuel Irimia and Maira Bes-Rastrollo

Dr Manuel Irimia, Professor at ICREA research and Head of Unit at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), and Dr Maira Bes-Rastrollo, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Navarra (UNAV), are the winners of the Fundación Jesús Serra Research Awards in the basic and clinical research categories.

10 October 2023

10 October 2023 Download PDF

The "Your city is full of pianos" initiative turns the streets and squares of Madrid and Logroño into music stages

In September, Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals International Competition filled both cities with grand pianos and outdoor music.

3 October 2023

3 October 2023 Download PDF

The “Play Me, I'm Yours" initiative comes to Logroño

Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals International Music Competition, in conjunction with Logroño City Council, will install 7 pianos in the capital of La Rioja on 29 September.

26 September 2023

26 September 2023 Download PDF

The pianos return to the cultural heart of Madrid with "Your city is full of pianos" (Play me, I'm Yours)

Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals International Competition, in collaboration with the Association of business owners of the Barrio de las Letras district, are bringing the initiative back to the capital on Friday 22 September with 10 grand pianos around different location in the city centre.

18 September 2023

18 September 2023 Download PDF

'La madre que nos parió' (the mother who gave birth to us), the photographic exhibition that shows us the reality of being a woman in Africa

The travelling photographic exhibition by Nacho Samper and Nacho Carballo will be inaugurated on 14 September at the Torre Bellesguard tower in Barcelona with the support of Fundación Jesús Serra and Ser Madre Ser Mujer.

13 September 2023

13 September 2023 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra receives the IMPULSA CULTURA mark

This acknowledgement certifies the GCO (Grupo Catalana Occidente) foundation's commitment towards cultural initiatives and their promotion in society.

6 July 2023

6 July 2023 Download PDF

The poet Eloy Sánchez Rosillo wins the Special Prize in the 16th edition of the Fundación Jesús Serra Poetry Competition

The author will collect the prize, worth €5,000, at the award ceremony on 30 June.

22 June 2023

22 June 2023 Download PDF

Zaragoza plays host to the street piano project "Play Me, I'm Yours"

Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals International Music Competition, in collaboration with the Cultural area of Palma City Council, is bringing the initiative to the Mallorcan capital on 5 May, by installing 7 grand pianos in the city centre.

2 May 2023

2 May 2023 Download PDF

"Your city is full of pianos" is coming to Córdoba and Valle de los Pedroches

The initiative of the Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals Competition, in collaboration with the Fundación Ricardo Delgado Vizcaíno, the cultural arm of COVAP, is coming to the province of Córdoba on 20 and 21 April to offer everyone in the province a few days to enjoy pianos and music.

12 April 2023

12 April 2023 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra awards Jonathan Mamora the First Prize in the 68th edition of the Maria Canals International Music Competition

The American pianist won the top prize of €25,000 in the final of the renowned international music competition.

3 April 2023

3 April 2023 Download PDF

The FJS Cup trial has been cancelled - Spanish Cup for adaptive alpine skiing - Formigal

The third stop of the Fundación Jesús Serra Spanish Cup for Adaptive Alpine Skiing, which was programmed to take place in Formigal from 24 to 26 March, has been cancelled due to the impossibility of hosting the races in the best conditions due to the snow conditions at the Aragonese station.

14 March 2023

14 March 2023 Download PDF

A record number of skiers take part in the 15th Fundación Jesús Serra Ski Trophy

The Fundación Jesús Serra Ski Trophy, with a new format this year at the Baqueira Beret ski resort, received 240 skiers.

9 March 2023

9 March 2023 Download PDF

The 5th edition of the Fundación Jesús Serra Research Awards has opened

These awards acknowledge the success of young researchers in Spain and support projects that achieve major advances in the field of nutrition and diet with an impact on health.

24 January 2023

24 January 2023 Download PDF

The Fundación Jesús Serra Inclusive Spanish Alpine Skiing Cup is back

The competition, in which sportspeople with and without disabilities participate, will start on Saturday 21 January in Baqueira Beret and will end on Sunday 26 March at the Formigal ski resort.

19 January 2023

19 January 2023 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra, new patron of the Reina Sofía School of Music

The pianist Alex Arroyo is the first beneficiary of the Fundación Jesús Serra scholarship.

16 January 2023

16 January 2023 Download PDF

Gonçalo Bernardes, an expert in the development of highly accurate oncology drugs, begins his "Fundación Jesús Serra" stay at the CNIO

Gonçalo Bernardes, Professor of Biological Chemistry at the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom), has started his stay at the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) thanks to the Visiting Researchers programme of the Grupo Catalana Occidente's Fundación Jesús Serra.

14 November 2018

14 November 2018 Download PDF

"Your city is full of pianos" is back in Madrid with new locations

The initiative of the Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals Competition is coming to the capital on 14 October with 10 grand pianos, with new and iconic locations throughout the city

10 October 2022

10 October 2022 Download PDF

The Fundación Jesús Serra programme to provide technical support to new employees at IRBLleida has been renewed

In its third edition, the programme will continue to provide support to promising young researchers in the presentation of their projects to help them compete with the best of their contemporaries

6 October 2022

6 October 2022 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra and CNB-CSIC present the winners of the new research grants programme

Fundación Jesús Serra, of Grupo Catalana Occidente, continues to support research by financing several scientific projects at the National Biotechnology Centre (CNB-CSIC) through grants.

19 September 2022

19 September 2022 Download PDF

Record turnout in Fundación Jesús Serra's 6th edition of the Xpress Tennis Cup and 2nd edition of the Xpress Padel Cup

The championship, with its innovative format, has become consolidated as one of the most important dates on the national grassroots tennis and padel calendar after reaching 1,515 participants.

12 July 2022

12 July 2022 Download PDF

Eva Nogales, a leading expert in the field of molecular biophysics, has collaborated with the CNIO, as part of the Fundación Jesús Serra Visiting Researchers programme

Nogales is a pioneering biophysicist specialising in biological systems that carry out crucial functions for the survival of the organism, with a view to gaining insights into function and regulation of biological complexes and molecular machines. Her work has uncovered aspects of cellular function that are relevant to the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

8 July 2022

8 July 2022 Download PDF

The poet Marta Pessarrodona wins the 3rd Fundación Jesús Serra Special Poetry Prize.

The announcement coincides with the closure of the 15th Poetry Competition of the Fundación Jesús Serra (Grupo Catalana Occidente), which received high participation in all its categories.

20 June 2022

20 June 2022 Download PDF

Arkaitz Carracedo and Fàtima Crispi, winners of the Fundación Jesús Serra Research Awards for their contribution to research on diet and nutrition

In this fourth edition, the awards recognise research in cancer and maternal-foetal medicine, further revealing the importance of food and nutrition in the prevention and treatment of diseases.

16 June 2022

16 June 2022 Download PDF

The “Your city is full of pianos" project will fill the monumental city of Cáceres with music

Promoted by the Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals Competition, the artwork will arrive in Cáceres on 20 May with 8 grand pianos

16 May 2022

16 May 2022 Download PDF

The Fundación Jesús Serra Inclusive Spanish Alpine Skiing Cup successfully closes a special edition

This year, the second year of the cup, included three national trials, which took place at Baqueira Beret, Formigal-Panticosa and Sierra Nevada ski stations.

4 May 2022

4 May 2022 Download PDF

The 15th edition of the Poetry Competition organised by the Fundación Jesús Serra begins

The Grupo Catalana Occidente foundation will also hold the 3rd edition of the Special Award for Lifetime Achievement and will feature a judging panel made up of leading figures from the world of culture.

7 February 2022

7 February 2022 Download PDF

The Fundación Jesús Serra and the Adapted Winter Sports Centre re-launch the inclusive Spanish Alpine ski cup

This year, the third year of the cup, will include the new inclusion of three national competitions to be held between January and March at Baqueira Beret, Formigal and Sierra Nevada stations.

19 January 2022

19 January 2022 Download PDF

Call for proposals for the 4th edition of the Fundación Jesús Serra Research Awards

Researchers of any nationality working in Spain and who have not yet reached the age of 46 on the closing date of this call are eligible to apply. There are two categories, basic and clinical, with a total endowment of €70,000 annually.

17 January 2022

17 January 2022 Download PDF

Zaragoza hosts the initiative “Your city is full of pianos”

The initiative of Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals Competition will dress the streets of the Aragon capital with 8 grand pianos on 22 October.

18 October 2021

18 October 2021 Download PDF

"Your city is full of pianos" arrives in El Barrio de las Letras in Madrid

The initiative of Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals Competition will dress the emblematic Madrid neighbourhood with 10 grand pianos on 7 October

4 October 2021

4 October 2021 Download PDF

The initiative “Your city is full of pianos”, a project by Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals Competition, arrives at San Sebastián

On 24 September 8 grand pianos will grace some of the city's most iconic spaces.

22 September 2021

22 September 2021 Download PDF

Changemakers Project students act against single-use plastics together with Save the Med Foundation and Fundación Jesús Serra

This year, 22 teams from Menorca and Mallorca have participated in the project, presenting high-quality proposals to promote a wave of positive impact by eliminating single-use plastics within their schools and communities

28 July 2021

28 July 2021 Download PDF

Sandro Gegechkori awarded First Prize in the 66th Maria Canals International Music Competition

The Georgian pianist won the top prize of €25,000 at the end of the renowned musical contest.

19 July 2021

19 July 2021 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra announces the winners of the 14th edition of its Poetry Competition

With a total of 1,255 works presented by authors from 32 countries, this edition has reached the maximum participation in its history.

28 June 2021

28 June 2021 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra has created a scholarship with El Pont de Vilomara i Rocafort City Council

The collaboration of the entities involves the creation of the "Fundación Jesús Serra Scholarship," which seeks to support students living in the birthplace of the founder of Grupo Catalana Occidente.

16 June 2021

16 June 2021 Download PDF

3rd edition of the Fundación Jesús Serra Research Awards in the fields of nutrition and food

With an economic allocation of €35,000 per category, the aim of these awards is to deepen research into the relationship between nutrition, food and health

10 June 2021

10 June 2021 Download PDF

Special Poetry Competition Prize

The Poetry Competition of the Fundación Jesús Serra (Grupo Catalana Occidente), ended the call for entries with wide participation in all the categories.

11 May 2021

11 May 2021 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra and Fundación Balia double their efforts to break the cycle of poverty

The Grupo Catalana Occidente foundation will finance four educational reinforcement classrooms located in Madrid, Seville and Guadalajara.

7 April 2021

7 April 2021 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra collaborates with the University of Deusto to finance the studies of four undergraduate students

The collaboration between the two entities involves the creation of the "Fundación Jesús Serra Scholarship," which will form part of the Deusto Scholarship Fund This fund aims to open up higher education opportunities for students with talent and aptitude.

15 March 2021

15 March 2021 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra announces the 14th edition of its Poetry Competition, which will be featuring 2nd edition of its Special Award

The Fundación Jesús Serra, from Grupo Catalana Occidente, publishes the rules of the 14th edition of its Poetry Competition, as well as the 2nd edition of the Fundación Jesús Serra Special Poetry Award, which honours the career of a renowned author or writer.

4 February 2021

4 February 2021 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra announces the third edition of the FJS Research Awards in the fields of nutrition and diet

The Awards are aimed at young scientists up to 45 years of age who are carrying out research in Spain

11 January 2021

11 January 2021 Download PDF

Sonia Laín, an international leader in cancer research, is currently in the CNIO as part of the Fundación Jesús Serra Visiting Researchers programme

Thanks to the project, the prestigious Swedish researcher is interacting with several CNIO groups that have enabled her to deepen in her own projects dedicated to the development of anti-Cancer drugs, as well as starting new lines of study devoted to cancers with KRAS mutation and the effects of certain inhibitors on metabolism.

24 November 2020

24 November 2020 Download PDF

The educational project "Los niños y las niñas del barrio" (The boys and girls from the neighbourhood) is back

The Fundación MACBA and Grupo Catalana Occidente's Fundación Jesús Serra, restart the extracurricular activity Los niños y niñas del barrio (The boys and girls from the neighbourhood), after being so well received in previous editions.

27 October 2020

27 October 2020 Download PDF

"¡Me toca!" The social project that brings music to children in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville

The Fundación Jesús Serra, of Grupo Catalana Occidente, and the International Maria Canals Competition awarded the diplomas during June for the social project “¡Me toca!”(It's my turn), which has been run for another year in the neighbourhoods of Verneda and Meridiana (Barcelona), Usera (Madrid) and Macarena (Seville).

2 July 2020

2 July 2020 Download PDF

Feliu Formosa wins the Fundación Jesús Serra Special Poetry Prize.

Feliu Formosa wins the Fundación Jesús Serra Special Poetry Prize. The foundation also publishes the names of the winners of the 13th edition of the Poetry Competition, in its different categories.

26 June 2020

26 June 2020 Download PDF

Research Awards postponed

Third edition of the Fundación Jesús Serra Research Awards postponed until 2021

11 June 2020

11 June 2020 Download PDF

A total of one thousand works from all around the world presented for the 13th Fundación Jesús Serra poetry competition

27 May 2020

27 May 2020 Download PDF

"Your city is full of pianos" arrives in Madrid with 10 grand pianos

The Jesús Serra Foundation, from Grupo Catalana Occidente, and the Maria Canals International Music Competition are making the last stop of their recognised initiative "Your city is full of pianos" in Madrid this year, a project which has filled the streets of such special cities as León, Granada and Barcelona with music. On Thursday 24 October, Madrid will be filled with music with 10 pianos in two important areas in the capital: the Salamanca neighbourhood and the Las Letras neighbourhood.

22 October 2019

22 October 2019 Download PDF

“Your city is full of pianos”, a project by Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals Competition, arrives at Granada

Fundación Jesús Serra, from Grupo Catalana Occidente, and the Maria Canals International Music Competition continue the itinerary of their recognised initiative, “Your city is full of pianos”, which will fill the streets of Granada with music on Friday 20 September. Different corners of this city will have 7 grand pianos and become an outdoor music stage, where the citizens of Granada and its visitors will be able to enjoy art and fusion in an unmatched setting. The City Hall of Granada, the Granada City Orchestra and the Patronage of Alhambra are supporting this event.

16 September 2019

16 September 2019 Download PDF

Record turnout in the Fundación Jesús Serra's 3rd edition of the Xpress Tennis Cup

The championship, with its innovative format, has become consolidated as one of the most important dates on the national grassroots tennis calendar after reaching 1,500 participants.

2 July 2019

2 July 2019 Download PDF

The Fundación Jesús Serra presents the awards for its 12th Poetry Competition

The Fundación Jesús Serra, of the Catalana Occidente Group, will present the awards to the winners of the 12th Fundación Jesús Serra Poetry Competition on 27 June. The event will take place at 6.30pm at the Ateneu Barcelonès and will be attended by representatives from the Asociación Colegial de Escritores de Cataluña (ACEC) (Catalonia Writers' Association).

20 June 2019

20 June 2019 Download PDF

"It's my turn!" The social project that brings music to children in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville

The Fundación Jesús Serra, of Grupo Catalana Occidente, and the International Maria Canals Competition will, on 3, 4, 5 and 7 June, present diplomas for the social project "It's my turn!” that, for yet another year, has been run in the neighbourhoods of Verneda and Meridiana (Barcelona), Usera (Madrid) and Macarena (Seville). The aim of this project is to promote musical education among children from environments with high percentages of socially vulnerable populations.

3 June 2019

3 June 2019 Download PDF

Researchers Raúl Zamora and Salvador Aznar win the 2nd edition of the Research Prizes of the Fundación Jesús Serra for their extensive research in the fields of nutrition, diet and health

Researcher Raúl Zamora Ros, from the private foundation of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the Catalan Institute of Oncology, and teacher and researcher Salvador Aznar Benitah, of the Catalan Institute of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) and the Biomedical Research Institute of Barcelona (IRB Barcelona), have been chosen by the jury for the research prizes of the Fundación Jesús Serra as the winners in the clinical and basic research categories, respectively. This award is presented to scientists up to the age of 45 who specialise in nutrition, diet and health.

9 May 2019

9 May 2019 Download PDF

“Your city is full of pianos”, an initiative by Fundación Jesús Serra and the Maria Canals Competition, arrives at León

Fundación Jesús Serra, from Grupo Catalana Occidente, and the Maria Canals International Music Competition begin their recognised 2019 initiative, “Your city is full of pianos”, which will fill the streets of León with music on Friday 10 May.

6 May 2019

6 May 2019 Download PDF

The Fundación Jesús Serra brings together sport and training in its 12th edition of the Fundación Jesús Serra Ski Trophy

The tournament will be held on 9 and 10 March in the popular ski station of Valle de Arán. There will be prizes for the winners and raffles among all the participants.

4 March 2019

4 March 2019 Download PDF

Fundación Jesús Serra and ACEC organise the “New Poetic Voices” cycle with the aim of galvanising new authors in this genre

The Ateneu Barcelonès will hold on 13 February the “New Poetic Voices” cycle, in which two of the Fundación Jesús Serra's 2018 Poetry Competition winners will participate. This action is framed within the new collaboration agreement entered by ACEC and the Grupo Catalana Occidente's Foundation.

11 February 2019

11 February 2019 Download PDF