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The Spanish Science and Technology System is relatively small compared to the economic importance of Spain in the world, both in terms of the percentage of GDP devoted to R&D and the number of scientists. However, the gradual increase in public expenditures for R&D is remedying this situation. Today, Spain is one of the countries with the highest growth rate in R&D expenditure.
The total (public and private) expenditure on R&D activities in Spain in 2004 amounted to 8.945 billion Euros, 9% more than in 2003, reaching 1.07% of the GDP. In 2004, expenditure in the private sector (companies and non-profit making institutions) accounted for 54.5% of the total expenditure, whereas the public sector (Administration and universities) amounted to 45.6%. In the leading industrially developed countries, companies usually account for 2/3 of the overall R&D spending, while in Spain, the economic contribution of private companies in Spain only accounts for half of overall spending.
With regard to company R&D spending, the industrial sector allocated 57% of its investment resources in 2004 to R&D, whereas the share of the service sector accounted for 40.1% of the total. R&D service companies (19.4%) and pharmacies (9.85%) were most actively engaged in R&D investment, followed by the sector of the aeronautical, aerospace and naval industry (7,83%).
In 2004, the R&D sector accounted for 9‰ of the active working population, or 7% more than in 2003, while researchers accounted for 5,6‰ of employment. These two indicators, used by the OECD for international comparisons, have followed an upward trend over the past two decades, experiencing a significant increase since 1999. The two main reasons for this increase are the incorporation, since 2000, of internships in the elaboration of statistics, and the promotion of human resources within the National Plan, allowing for the incorporation of highly qualified personnel.
According to information of the National Statistics Institute (INE), 37.4% of the total full-time equivalent (FTE) personnel in the R&D sector were women. The incorporation of women into the scientific-technological system is slow, but is rapidly increasing. Female participation was highest in IPSFLs (non-profit private institutions), accounting for 61.4% of the total, followed by the Civil Service (48,6%). Female employees in private companies accounted for 28.4%. Although this figure is undoubtedly on the low side, the percentages have been showing a steady upward trend year after year. The increase in the number of women with university degrees, which already exceeds that of men, may herald an increase in female participation in research in the near future.
R&D in the Autonomous Regions
The relations established in the field of Science and Technology between the
General State Administration and the Autonomous Regions as a whole are a clear
indication of increasing strength and importance over time. The participation
of the Autonomous Regions in the advisory bodies of the Inter-ministerial Commission
of Science and Technology (CICYT) has been complemented by the use of direct
opinion mechanisms, through active participation in Working Groups engaged in
the elaboration of the National Plan, and the recent creation of the Sectoral
Conference of Regional Ministries that are actively engaged in the promotion
of R&D&I, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science
(MEC).
The Ministry of Education and Science has signed bilateral agreements with each
Autonomous Region, or is in the process of negotiating cooperation and collaboration
agreements in the field of Science and Technology, for the harmonised development
of the priorities of the National R&D&I Plan for 2004-2007 with those
of the corresponding Regional Investigation and Innovation Plans developed by
the Autonomous Regions.
The greater level of involvement in the coordination of R&D activities is
also reflected in the increase in budget allocations for this purpose. The Autonomous
Regions of Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia, Valencia and the Basque Country stand
out for their high volumes. It is interesting to observe the intense level of
R&D activity in the Autonomous Regions of Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque
Country, and particularly the fact that the rate for the Autonomous Region of
Madrid is very similar to the average rate of the EU 25 countries.
The current Spanish Science, Technology and Enterprise System was established
as a result of the 1986 Science Law. One of the main objectives of this law
was to create a greater and better level of coordination between the different
agents of the system. The State organises its science and technology policies
through the public sector, according to the National Plan for Scientific Research,
Development and Technological Innovation (R&D). The legislation in force
at present is the 2004-2007 National Law.
The Inter-ministerial Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT)
is the main State body for the science and technology policies of the Spanish
Government, and is responsible for their planning, evaluation, coordination
and follow-up. The CICYT is chaired by the Government Presidency and is composed
by representatives of the ministries involved in the implementation of science
and technology policies: the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry
of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation,
the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of
Health and Consumption, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Employment
and Social Affairs. The CICYT is assisted by two councils:
The Advisory Council for Science and Technology: is the advising council of the CICYT for the promotion of participation of the scientific community and of the economic and social agents in the design, follow up and evaluation of R&D policies. The Council is composed of representatives of all agents engaged in research activities.
The General Council for Science and Technology: is the advising council of the CICYT for the promotion of the coordination of the 17 Spanish Autonomous Regions, and the coordination of the Autonomous Regions with the Central State Administration. The Council is composed of representatives from each of the 17 Autonomous Regions.
The additional creation of a Support and Follow-up Committee (CAS), dependent on the CICYT, which, under the control of the Prime Minister’s Economic Office, is mainly in charge of the inter-ministerial coordination in the planning and follow-up tasks of science and technology funding programmes.
To facilitate the development and implementation tasks of R&D policies, the CICYT has transferred its competences to the Ministry of Education and Science (http://www.mec.es), which is the organisation in charge of the management of research, development and innovation policies.
The Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) – www.fecyt.es –, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science, is expected to increase its participation in the Spanish Science and Technology System in 2006. The FECYT is the organisation in charge of providing technical support to the decision-making bodies responsible for scientific and technological polities in Spain. In this regard, and on behalf of the Inter-ministerial Commission of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education and Science, the FECYT will introduce new systems of planning, coordination, follow-up and evaluation of R&D activities, which include: the implementation of an Integral System of Follow-up and Evaluation (SISE) of the National R&D Plan; the coordination of work to create the State Agency of Financing, Evaluation and Prospective of Scientific and Technical Research and the elaboration of a new National R&D Strategy, which will include the future National Plan.
The FECYT is the organisation responsible for the coordination in Spain of
the implementation of the Spanish Network of Mobility Centres, a European initiative
aimed at promoting the mobility of researchers in Europe by providing them with
information about the different aspects of life, work and culture in European
countries. (Web: http://www.eracareers.es/fecyt/).
The systemic focus of the Spanish Science, Technology and Enterprise System allows differentiating the different institutions that participate in:
- Public research organisations (OPIs)
- Universities
- Companies
- Non-profit making private institutions (IPSFLs)
- Organisations and agencies for the promotion of innovation
- Support infrastructures
Public Research Organisations (OPIs)
The Public Research Organisations (OPIs) are the main players in the Research
and Innovation System, both for their role as administrators of certain programmes
of the National Plan and for their involvement in the implementation of a significant
part of the R&D&I activities financed through public funds. The Public
Research Organisations (OPIs) are:
|
OPI |
Web page |
Info in English |
Telephone |
|
Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) |
Yes |
91 585 50 00 |
|
|
Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT) |
Yes |
91 346 60 00 |
|
|
National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) |
No |
91 347 39 00 |
|
|
No |
91 597 44 43 91 417 54 11 |
||
|
Yes |
91 349 57 00 |
The following organisations are also governed by the provisions of the “Science Law” regarding the recruitment of personnel:
|
Organisation |
Web page |
Info in English |
Telephone |
|
Yes |
91 822 21 00 91 822 31 00 |
||
|
National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) |
Yes |
||
|
Centre for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX) |
Yes |
91 335 73 07 91 335 73 15 |
Other publicly funded organisations:
|
Organisation |
Web page |
Info in English |
Telephone |
|
El |
91 376 21 00 |
||
|
Yes |
91 580 76 00 |
||
|
Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies (CEPCO) |
Yes |
91 540 19 50 |
|
|
Yes |
922 605 200 |
||
|
Institute for Fiscal Studies (IEF) |
Yes |
91 339 8915 91 339 88 00 |
|
|
DGAM – Directorate General of Armament and Material (Ministry of Defence) |
|
No |
91 395 5000 |
|
National Geographic Institute |
|
91 597 5000 91 597 7000 |
Universities
The role of universities in the Spanish science and technology system is established
both by its teaching activities and by its research, development and technology
transfer activities. The university is one of the primary resources for research
in Spain. In fact, according to 2004 figures provided by the National Statistics
Institute (INE), the importance of the universities in the overall science and
technology system is considerable: they account for 29.5% of the total R&D
expenditure and employ 51% of Spain’s researchers and 39.1% of the total
personnel engaged in R&D in Spain.
Spain has 70 universities: 50 public and 20 private. Their distribution by
Autonomous Region is as follows: Andalusia (10), Aragon (1), Asturias (1), Balearic
Islands (1), Canary Islands (2), Cantabria (2), Castilla la Mancha (1), Castilla
y León (8), Catalonia (11), Extremadura (1), Galicia (3), La Rioja (1),
Madrid (14), Murcia (3), Navarra (2), Basque Country (3) and Valencia (6). You
can find a full list of university centres affiliated to the Spanish Research
Network on the RedIris web page:
http://www.rediris.es/recursos/centros/univ.es.html.
Companies
Companies are a point of reference in the Spanish Science and Technology System,
not only because they are responsible for the active application of the knowledge
acquired through processes of innovation, but also for the complementary relation
they have developed with the public R&D system.
According to a survey on technological innovation in Spanish companies in 2004, released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), 29.7% of Spanish firms were engaged in innovation activities, representing a considerable increase compared to the 19.4% for the period 2001-2003. Expenditure and innovation in terms of technology (R&D, acquisition of machinery and equipment for innovation purposes, and other innovative activities) by Spanish firms amounted to 12.491 billion Euros. However, the level of R&D effort made by the Spanish companies continues to be significantly lower than the European average. Spanish companies invested 4.2976 billion Euros in R&D in 2004 (54.4% of the total), which accounts for only 0,58% of the GDP, while the average share of investment by EU companies reached 1.15%. (Sources: INE, 2004 Statistics on R&D Activities and Survey on Technological Innovation in Companies in 2004).
One of the primary objectives of the current National R&D&I Plan is to systematically increase the number of Spanish companies involved in technology development and improve their use of R&D results.
The Ministry of Education and Science, through the FECYT, has placed an Internet communication channel at the disposal of companies and institutions involved in scientific and technological research, called www.tecnociencia.es. Tecnociencia (“Techno-science”) is a Meeting Point between the world of research and the world of business, aimed at facilitating and promoting the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge in a timely and efficient manner. Techno-Science is aimed at enhancing the cooperation between the different players in the science and technology system, facilitating the transfer of the results of their R&D projects to the business sector and contributing to the improvement of their production processes.
Non-profit making private institutions (IPSFLs)
Although non-profit making private institutions cover a wide field of action,
there are also several foundations that have played a significant role in diverse
areas of scientific research, technological development and innovation. These
foundations act as a platform of encounter, analysis and debate between various
disciplines and sectors, and promote the dissemination of knowledge in the field
of science and technology, fostering a scientific and technological culture
among the citizens.
These foundations include: the Madri+d Foundation, the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI), the Foundation for the Promotion of Applied Scientific Research and Technology in Asturias (FICYT), the Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology in Extremadura (FUNDECYT), the Seneca Foundation (Murcia), the Campollano Foundation (Castilla la mancha), the Cotec Foundation (Madrid), the IBIT Foundation (Balearic Islands).
Non-profit making private institutions (IPSFLs)
Although non-profit making private institutions cover a wide field of action,
there are also several foundations that have played a significant role in diverse
areas of scientific research, technological development and innovation. These
foundations act as a platform of encounter, analysis and debate between various
disciplines and sectors, and promote the dissemination of knowledge in the field
of science and technology, fostering a scientific and technological culture
among the citizens.
These foundations include: the Madri+d Foundation, the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI), the Foundation for the Promotion of Applied Scientific Research and Technology in Asturias (FICYT), the Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology in Extremadura (FUNDECYT), the Seneca Foundation (Murcia), the Campollano Foundation (Castilla la mancha), the Cotec Foundation (Madrid), the IBIT Foundation (Balearic Islands).
Organisations for the promotion of innovation
The main objective of these institutions is to facilitate the transfer of the
results obtained from research activities to the companies’ production
units, so that the latter can make an accurate evaluation of the results. The
key organisations in this respect are the Spanish Centre for the Development
of Industrial Technology (CDTI) and the Spanish Trademark and Patent Office
(OEPM).
Support infrastructures
The term “support infrastructures” stands for a large variety of
organisations whose role in the science and technology scene has traditionally
been of secondary importance due to their relatively small size as compared
with other organisations. They can be classified in the following categories:
- University-Enterprise Foundations
- Technology Centres
- Technology Parks
- Research Associations
- Large Scientific Facilities and Singular Centres
- Innovation and Technology Centres
- European Business and Innovation Centres
Among these, the Large Scientific Facilities and Singular Centres (ICTs) stand
out for being unique and exceptional facilities, whose investment cost and/or
maintenance is relatively large given the investment budget for R&D in their
area of activity. Their importance and strategic character in R&D justifies
their accessibility to the whole scientific community and to society.
More information on any of the Large Scientific Facilities listed below can be found through the links on the website of the FECYT (www.fecyt.es) or on the website of the Ministry of Education and Science (www.mec.es). The Large Scientific Facilities and Singular Centres currently in operation in Spain are:
| Large Scientific Facilities | Area of Activity | Location |
| The Spanish Antarctic Bases Juan Carlos I and Gabriel de Castilla | Environment | Antarctic |
| The Hespérides Oceanographic Research Vessel | Oceanography, biology, geophysics and marine geology | Spanish Antarctic Bases |
| The Cornide de Saavedra Oceanographic Vessel | Fishery and Oceanography | Spanish coast |
| Maritime Research and Experimentation Channel (CIEM) | Engineering, coast morphology, climate, and environment. | Barcelona |
| Technology Central of the Institute for Optoelectronics Systems of the Polytechnic University of Madrid | Optoelectronics and Microelectronics | Polytechnic University of Madrid |
| Calar Alto Astronomy Centre | Astronomy | Sierra of Los Filabres (Almería) |
| Yebes Astronomy Centre | Radio-astronomical Observation | Guadalajara |
| Centre for Scientific Computing and Communications of Catalonia (CESCA) | Computing and Communications | Catalonia |
| TJ-II Thermonuclear Fusion Device | Nuclear Fusion | CIEMAT. Madrid |
| Synchrotron Light Source in the Vallès region | Electromagnetism | Cerdayola del Vallès. |
| High Biological Safety Facility (CISA-INIA) | Biological Safety | Valdeolmos. Madrid. |
| Institute of Millimetric Radio-astronomy of Almería | Astronomy | Pico Veleta (Granada). Headquarters in Grenoble. |
| Singular Centre of Civil Engineering at CEDEX | Civil engineering, environment and public works | Madrid |
| Laboratory of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (800 MHz NMR) of the Barcelona Science Park | Nuclear | University of Barcelona | El Teide Observatory (IAC) | Solar energy | Izaña (Tenerife) |
| Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (IAC) | Astrophysics | La Palma (Canary Islands) | Fine Chemistry Platform of Catalonia | Chemical Industry | Catalonia |
| Solar Platform of Almería | Thermal solar energy | Desert of Tabernas (Almería) |
| Red IRIS of advanced telematic services to the Spanish science community | Communication | Public business organisation red.es |
| Clean Room of the National Centre for Microelectronics | Microelectronics | Autonomous University of Barcelona |
