Login
Menu ☰ x

Spain

International Advocacy Toolkit
Print
Organizing Questions
  1. Which organization(s) are significant sources of research funding? 
  2. What does the normal science funding/policy decision-making process look like?
  3. Which patient advocacy groups, if any, are active in the area?
  4. Are there existing national/regional organizations that work towards improving research funding/policy?
  5. How do scientists currently contribute to the existing funding/policy-making/advocacy process, if at all? 
  6. When are science funding/policy decisions made? 
  7. What kinds of opportunities exist for scientists to interact with funders and policymakers?
1. Which organization(s) are significant sources of research funding? 
  • National government
    • The National Biomedical Research Network is coordinated and funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.
    • Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. The Royal Decree 404/2020, of 25 February 2020, which sets out the basic organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, establishes the following organizations: The Minister of Science and Innovation; the General Secretariat for Research, with the rank of Under-Secretary, which includes the Directorate General for Research Planning; the General Secretariat for Innovation, with the rank of Under-Secretary, and the Under-Secretariat of Science and Innovation, which includes the Technical General Secretariat.
    • Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI) is a public business entity answering to the Ministry of Science and Innovation, which fosters the technological development and innovation of Spanish companies. It is the entity that channels the funding and support applications for national and international research and development (R&D) projects of Spanish companies or in collaboration with them.
    • Boletín Oficial del Estado publishes all national governmental grants.
    • Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI). The mission of the AEI is to promote scientific and technical research in all areas of knowledge through the efficient allocation of public resources, the promotion of excellence, the promotion of collaboration between the agents of the System and support for the generation of knowledge of high scientific and technical, economic and social impact, including those aimed at solving the great challenges of society, and the monitoring of financed activities as well as the necessary advice to improve the design and planning of actions or initiatives to which the R&D policies of the General State Administration are implemented.
    • Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC). The Spanish National Research Council is the main agent responsible for implementing the Spanish System for Science, Technology and Innovation. To undertake this mission, it is capacitated to carry out activities aimed at:
      • The generation of knowledge through scientific and technical research.
      • The transfer of research results to promote and create technology-based enterprises.
      • The provision of expert advice to public and private institutions.
      • The delivery of highly qualified pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training.
      • The promotion of scientific culture in society.
      • The management of large facilities and unique scientific and technical infrastructures.
  • Local/regional governments
    • Local governments also offer grants in various Regional Ministries, including Education, Health and Industry.
  • European funding opportunities in Spain
    • European Reference Networks (ERN-EYE) aims to provide the best care to patients with rare eye diseases across the European Union (EU), improving diagnostic tools, harmonizing clinical and pre-clinical research, and bringing best practices and training for rare eye diseases. It involves four thematic working groups: rare diseases of the retina, neuro-ophthalmology rare diseases, pediatric ophthalmology rare diseases, and rare anterior segment conditions and six transversal working groups. Research, innovation and knowledge generation are key elements of the ERN-EYE.
    • European Funds from the EU Framework Program 2021-2027 Ministerio de Hacienda y Función Pública. Financial relations between Spain and the EU manifest themselves in a series of two-way flows. This section contains information on how the practice of these relations comes about: a brief review of the community budget and its method of financing, an analysis of the part corresponding to Spain regarding this financing.
    • European Research Council (ERC) is a public body for funding of scientific and technological research conducted within the EU. Researchers from any field can compete for grants that support pioneering projects. 
        •  
 2. What does the normal science funding/policy decision-making process look like?
  • What are the criteria the funding/policy organization(s) use to make their decisions?

Each funding opportunity will have its own policies and pathways for approval. All official programs and grants are developed under the umbrella of the Estrategia Española de Ciencia y Tecnología y de Innovación (EECTI). The current EECTI 2021-2027 is structured in two state plans, the 2021-2023 State Plan and the 2024-2027 State Plan. These plans include national grants for research, development and innovation (I+D+I).

For specific health-related research, there is a Strategic Health Action (Acción estratégica en Salud, AES)

  • Is peer/scientific review involved in the funding-decision process?

Yes, peer review is the common practice for most funding opportunities. Applicants will have calls with necessary offices, e.g. human resources, infrastructures, networks, etc. Calls are evaluated by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), which is an autonomous body.

Similarly, there are local agencies for Spanish regions such as Agencia para la Calidad del Sistema Universitario de Castilla y León (ACSU-CyL) or Asesores y Consultores en Administraciones Publicas (ACAP) for Madrid.

3. Which patient advocacy groups, if any, are active in the area?
  • Do they partner with researchers to promote research funding and policy?
    • FARPE offers research grants that are evaluated by the national agency of research and have their own scientific advisory board.
4. Are there existing national/regional organizations that work towards improving research funding/policy?
5. How do scientists currently contribute to the existing funding/policy-making/advocacy process, if at all? 

Evaluation commissions – Researchers are part of evaluation commissions at both state and regional levels. All evaluations are conducted by peer review.

The National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation of Spain (ANECA) is the body responsible for the assessment, certification and accreditation of the Spanish university system with the aim of its continuous improvement and adaptation to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). There are also regional evaluation agencies in all the autonomous communities.

6. When are science funding/policy decisions made? 
  • National Research Plan - every 4 years
  • AES - annually
  • Regional plan - every 4 years

In general, the priority lines and plans are in line with the guidelines of EU programs. 

7. What kinds of opportunities exist for scientists to interact with funders and policymakers?
  • Can scientists invite decision makers to their lab/institution to see their work firsthand?

Yes, during various scientific conferences, meetings and in the official collaborative networks, like RICORS, CIBER, and so on. There are also advisory groups of the regional plans in the different autonomous communities.

  • Do the funding/policy organizations hold open meetings or solicit comments from the public that researchers can participate in?

Yes, before national or regional plans are confirmed.

Contributors

Ester Carreño, PhD, MD, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain

Jose Carlos Pastor Jimeno, PhD, MD, University of Valladolid; Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Valladolid, Spain

 

Updated April 2024

Spain Toolkit