On the 21st January 2016, the ceremony of the awards "Alfonso X El Sabio" was held with the aim of recognizing persons and institutions with merits in education, science, culture, teaching and research.

Together with the Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, and the Minister for Home Affairs, Jorge Fernández Díaz, Mariano Rajoy chaired the ceremony where Ramon Pascual was awarded. Ramon Pascual de Sans (Barcelona, 1942) is a physicist, specialized in quantum mechanics and theory of elementary particle. In the 90's he promoted the construction of the ALBA Synchrotron and nowadays he is the president of the Executive Commission of ALBA.

These awards were originated in 1901 (being before named "Orden de Alfonso XII") are given by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.