SPICA (SPace IR telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics) has been selected, along with two other projects from among the 25 proposals presented, for the final stage of study and development for the next class M mission of the European Space Agency (ESA). Under the leadership of the Dutch Institute for Space Research (SRON) and in close collaboration with the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA), the project has major participation from Spain (Co-PI on the SAFARI instrument) from the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, CSIC-INTA) the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), the Instituto de