The award was presented during a ceremony at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, which brought together more than 1,200 representatives from the political, business, cultural and social spheres. The event counted with high-level authorities including the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez; the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa; the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni.

The Innovation and Science Award was one of the ten distinctions presented at this year's ceremony. Other recipients included Isidro Fainé, President of the "la Caixa" Foundation, who received the Extraordinary Award; singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat; Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Prime Minister of Greenland; Eloi Planes, Executive Chairman of Fluidra company; singer-songwriter Amaia; illusionist and entrepreneur Antonio Díaz (Mago Pop); and BirdLife International. Opera singer Montserrat Caballé was recognised posthumously.

La Vanguardia highlighted ALBA's role as a major research infrastructure and its capacity to explore matter at the atomic and molecular scale, enabling research with applications across numerous scientific and industrial fields.

"This award is a recognition of ALBA as a whole and, above all, of the extraordinary work carried out every day by the people who make this facility possible. It is thanks to the commitment, expertise and dedication of the ALBA staff and users that we can contribute to advancing science and delivering value to society," said Caterina Biscari, Director of the ALBA Synchrotron, who received the award, a sculpture from Benedetta Tagliabue, inspired by the 145 years that la Vanguardia is celebrating.

The Vanguardia Awards were created in 2023 and distinguish individuals and organisations whose work contributes to progress in areas including science, culture, business, sustainability and social initiatives.