The Catalan Research and Innovation System

The Catalan Research and Innovation System

Science policy in Catalonia

Participating research institutions

Science/research careers in Catalonia

SCIENCE POLICY IN CATALONIA

The Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979 granted exclusive powers (Article 9.7) to the Generalitat de Catalunya in matters relating to research.

That said, the Spanish State Administration has failed to transfer R&D resources to the Generalitat and continues to centralise the administration of these funds.

The objectives and general focus for Generalitat actions in the R&D and Innovation area have been established by the Interministerial Council for Research and Technological Innovation (CIRIT), , a collegiate body attached to the Deaprtment of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise. CIRIT is composed of representatives from all the Catalan Government ministries and is chaired by the President of the Generalitat.

 

Research Plans of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

The Catalan Research and Innovation Plan 2005-2008 (PRI), which lays down the strategies to be pursued by the Generalitat in the coming years, was approved by the government in January 2005. CIRIT was responsible for coordinating work on the plan, which was drawn up jointly by Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise and the Department of Employment.
www10.gencat.net/pricatalunya/cat/index.htm

The Research Directorate General Master Plan (2004-2007)
Between February and June 2004, Department of Ministry of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, Research Directorate General drew up a Master Plan for the period 2004-2007. Entitled Per a una política científica a Catalunya en l'Europa del coneixement (A Science Policy for Catalonia in a European Knowledge Society Context), this plan describes specific aims and actions for the Research Directorate General for the next 4 years that take into account the Catalan economic and social context and the Generalitat's aspirations in the science, technology and innovation fields. www10.gencat.net/dursi/pdf/re/Pla_director_DGR.pdf

Previous Catalan Research and Innovation Plans

The 1st Catalan Research Plan (1993-1996) focused on four lines of action: R&D training, reinforcement of the Catalan public R&D system, the fostering of links between the public and private sectors, and improved collaboration and cooperation between government departments. It also promoted the concept of group work by creating approved research teams, thematic networks, and R&D reference centres.

The 2nd Catalan Research Plan (1997-2000) had as its main aims the enhancement of Catalan research competitivity, the promotion of improved returns on public funds invested in R&D, the encouragement of private sector participation in R&D activities, and an optimisation of research results transfer mechanisms. Apart from a management area devoted to an assessment of general progress in the knowledge area, six other management areas were established: Culture and Society; Health and Quality of Life; Environment and Natural Resources; Agriculture and Food; Industrial Technologies; and Territorial Planning & Public Works and Communications Technologies. See full text

The 3rd Catalan Research Plan (2001-2004) was a plan that largely consolidated the groundwork laid in the previous plan, particularly the horizontal-action programmes based on human resource development, the development of research centres and major installations, the consolidation of major projects and of the research infrastructure, the fostering of international cooperation, and the promotion of technology transfer mechanisms. The most significant new elements in this plan included the creation of a system of awards for highly productive research academics, and the founding ICREA (www.icrea.es ), which has as its fundamental aim to increase the critical mass of researchers attached to Catalan research bodies. See full text

The Innovation Plan 2001-2004 formed the strategic basis for the Generalitat's industrial policy for Catalonia for this period. Designed to operate within the framework of the EU RITTS (Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Strategy) programme, it laid down the major government lines of action for tackling the challenges posed by the need to develop business competitivity in the 21st century.

 

Spanish State Plans

Law governing the promotion and general coordination of scientific and technical research www.mec.es/mecd/legislacion/files/LeyCiencia-Aranzadi.pdf

The National R&D&I Plan 2004-2007, which constitutes the strategic backbone for Spanish R&D&I policy, aims to contribute to the generation, diffusion and exploitation of knowledge to the benefit of society.www.mec.es/ciencia/plan_idi/files/PN_6_noviembre.pdf

Programa Ingenio 2010 is a technological development plan aimed at involving the State, the universities, other public research bodies, and businesses in the endeavour to make Spain competitive in the R&D and Innovation area. It consists of three main instruments: CÉNIT, CONSOLIDER and AVANZ@.
www.ingenio2010.es/

The Spanish State has also contributed to funding R&D activities in Catalonia through its national R&D plans, the aim of which is to promote advances in areas such as quality of life and human resources, production and communications technologies and the chemicals sector, as well as to foster technology projects in medium-sized enterprises, advanced production technologies, information and communications technologies, the health and pharmaceuticals sector, and materials development.

European Union Plans

The Framework Programmes, which represent the main initiative in support of R&D in the European Union, essentially provide funding for basic research, technological development, innovation, and transnational cooperation mechanisms for businesses and research centres in the EU and in other countries. The EU also finances improvements to European infrastructures and coordination between systems, researcher training and coordination between national R&D programmes, and also funds the creation of pan-European technology platforms.

The 6th Framework Programme 2002-2006. The main aim of this programme is to create a European Research Area (ERA ) as a science and technology arena in which to promote scientific excellence, competitivity and innovation, by means of better cooperation and coordination between the players in the R&D&I area. fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/home.cfm

Towards the 7th Framework Programme 2007-2013. Further information: www.cordis.lu/fp7/

Catalan Pro-Europe Board. www.infoeuropa.org/

Barcelona office
Bruc, 50, 2n.
08010 Barcelona.
Tel. +34 93 567 26 26. Fax +34 93 567 26 28.
pcpe@infoeuropa.org

Tarragona office
Rambla Nova, 118, 2n 1a.
43001 Tarragona.
Tel. +34 977 24 59 58
Fax +34 977228434.
pcpe.tarragona@infoeuropa.org

Girona office
Gran Via de Jaume I, 46, 5è.
17001 Girona.
Tel. +34 972 22 20 92
Fax +34 972 22 11 20
pcpe.girona@infoeuropa.org

Lleida office
Anselm Clavé, 2, 6è.
25007 Lleida.
Tel. +34 973 23 02 60
Fax +34 973 23 92 84
pcpe.lleida@infoeuropa.org

Brussels office
Rue de la Loi, 227. 1040 Brussels.
Wetstraat, 227. 1040 Brussels.
Tel. +32 (0)2 2310330
Fax +32 (0) 2 2302110
pcpe.bru@infoeuropa.org

 

PARTICIPATING RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS. The Catalan science and technology system is fundamentally composed of universities, Catalan public research centres, centres associated with the Catalan healthcare system (Catalan Health Service), State public research centres, and company R&D departments.

The Catalan university network is composed of 12 universities: 7 public universities (University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Girona, University of Lleida, Technical University of Catalonia, Pompeu Fabra University and Rovira i Virgili University), 4 private universities (University of Vic, International University of Catalonia, Ramon Llull University and Abat Oliba University), and 1 distance university (Open University of Catalonia). A number of consortia and centres have been created jointly by universities and/or by universities and other organisations in order to carry out basic or applied research.

Centres associated with the Servei Català de la Salut include public and private hospitals, research foundations, public enterprises, consortia , and a range of other bodies.

Centres associated with the Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise. c such as thel'Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari AQUA,(whose aims include evaluation, accreditation, and certification of quality in Catalan universities and higher education centres) and the Centre for Telecommunications and Information Technologies (CTTI).

As for public bodies managing Catalan public funds earmarked for research and innovation, these include the Centre for Business Innovation and Development (CIDEM) , attached to the Department of Employment, which has implemented important R&D promotion initiatives, and the Agency for Administration of University and Research Grants Agency (AGAUR) , attached to Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, which, apart from implementing the Department policies, is also a key instrument in providing a useful and rigorous service to the institutions and and individuals in the Catalan university and research system.

State public research bodies are represented in Catalonia by 14 Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) centres, covering practically all areas of knowledge. Of note also is the network of Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (IRTA) centres, attached to the Spanish Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, not to mention other centres. .

Between the public and private sectors there are many interface structures functioning in a range of areas (the sciences, technology, production, finance, etc.). The aims of these interfaces are to ensure that the results of research are transferred and to facilitate the application of innovative technologies in the productive sector. Of note in this respect is the work of technology transfer offices, technical service centres, training and assessment centres, science and technology parks, risk capital entities, spin-off bodies, and finally, research-support bodies such as the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI).

another initiative is a National Supercomputing Center in Barcelona, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center BSC , a research center focused in Computer Sciences, Life Sciences and Earth Sciences, and in charge of managing MareNostrum, the most powerful supercomputer in Europe.The BSC-CNS was officially constituted in 2005 as a result of an initiaive among the Ministry of Education and Science, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Technical University of Catalonia.

Furthermore, the Technology and Knowledge Transfer Support Programme (an element of the Generalitat Research and Innovation Plan 2005-2008) provides for mechanisms aimed at creating a dynamic and interdependent science-technology-business infrastructure. This programme also provides for the creation of a network of new structures - aimed at overcoming the deficit in demand-inspired large-scale technological infrastructures - such as sectoral and geographically distributed technology centres (research and development) and technology diffusion centres (innovation). With a view to fostering coordination and joining forces, a consortium between the universities and the Generalitat has been created - to be entitled the Knowledge Transfer Consortium (CTC) - with the mission of identifying transferable elements in research conducted in Catalonia, evaluating its quality, and if necessary, adding to its value, protecting it and assisting in its transfer to the social and productive sectors.

Finally, private sector research will not be overlooked, particularly the R&D&I departments of medium and large private companies in the automobile, food processing, chemicals and pharmaceutical sectors.

 

SCIENCE/RESEARCH CAREERS IN CATALONIA. In line with the European Union's aims of dedicating 3% of GDP to research by 2010 and of increasing the number of EU researchers by 750, 000, and in the framework of the Research and Innovation Plan 2005-2008, a science/research career was defined for Catalonia (March 2005) that would provide for the training of researchers and their integration in public or private research activity.

Each stage in the career plan is supported by a series of instruments aimed at fostering the development of careers in both the public sector (universities, research centres, hospitals, government bodies, etc.) and private sector (business and other entities). The programme also actively supports mobility of researchers between countries and between the academic and business sectors.

Stages in a science/research career in Catalonia

Pre-doctoral training. Researcher training grants/contracts (4 years) www10.gencat.net/agaur_web/AppJava/catala/a_beques.jsp?categoria=predoctorals
Post-doctoral training. Beatriu de Pinós Programme grants/contracts (2 years)ww10.gencat.net/agaur_web/AppJava/catala/a_beques.jsp?categoria=postdoctorals
Researcher pre-consolidation. Icrea Junior Programme ( 5 years) www.icrea.es/ca/index.asp
Researcher consolidation. ICREA Senior Programme (no time limit) www.icrea.es/ca/index.asp

 

The Catalan Plan for Developing Research Careers is summarised in the following graph:

 

Source: Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise

Where can I obtain further information?

The Catalan Plan for Developing Research Careers. www10.gencat.net/dursi/ca/re/investigadors_carrera.htm

Information on funds for research. Funding and Grants.

Updated april 2007