The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is a Public Consortium and Public Research Body (OPI), without prejudice to its nature as a consortium. It is governed according to the Law of Science, Technology and Innovation (Law 14/2011) and by its own Statutes. It is a juridical person empowered to work towards the realization of its goals. The Spanish Government has declared the IAC a 'Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence'. It is constituted by the General State Administration, the Public Administration of the Canary Islands Autonomous Community, the University of La Laguna, and Spain's Science Research Council (CSIC). The IAC is a self-sufficient technical service under the General State Administration and the Public Administration of the Canary Islands Autonomous Community.