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I+D in Spain

I+D in Spain. Diagnostic and avenues for improvement. Luis Santamaría. Spanish Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology. Objectives: Promote scientific quality and research excelence.

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I+D in Spain

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  1. I+D in Spain Diagnostic and avenues for improvement Luis Santamaría

  2. Spanish Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology • Objectives: • Promote scientific quality and research excelence. • Foster the increase in public and private investment in research, aiming at the levels of other Western countries. • Oversee the legality of hiring practices and promotion procedures at Universities and research centres, following criteria of public diffusion, transparency, meritocracy and equal opportunity. • Provide a link among researchers in Spain and abroad, facilitating the interchange of ideas and interdisciplinary research. • Promote the access of scientific and technical knowledge to the general public.

  3. Who we are? The most interdisciplinary research association in Spain – 138 members, from all fields of knowledge, positions and sectors. Other groups Asociación Nacional de Investigadores Ramón y Cajal (http://hobbes.fmc.uam.es/RYC/index.htm) Federación de Jóvenes Investigadores – Precarios (http://www.precarios.org/)

  4. General diagnostic of Spanish Research Policy • Lack of a consistent research policy. Funding strategy contingent on economic context. Top management positions without research/technology experience. • Lack of evaluation of research strategy or scientific quality for Universities and research institutes. • No incentive for University research. University funding almost fully related to number of students.

  5. Funding • Among the lowest in the EU: ~1% of GDP, versus 1.9-3% for EU-USA-Japan. • Large variation among regional governments: from 1.6% of GDP in Madrid to 0.28% in Balearic Islands. • Increase in funding by 2005, but largely devoted to military innovation and credits to BES.

  6. Funding

  7. Regional distribution of I+D expenditure %GDP

  8. Resources devoted to I+D %GDP

  9. Private participation in I+D expenditure % of total

  10. Estimated GDP for 2005 ($) • Spain • 8th world´s economy • But I+D expenditure (%GDP) ranks: • 14th of EU-25 • 26th of OCDE • 32th of the world • 8% of EU´s economy but only 1% of EU´s patents International patents (per million inhabitants)

  11. BES Public centres University Proportion or researchers per sector (%o of working force). Year 2001 Amount of professionals working in I+D: lowest in EU-15, together with Italy, Greece and Portugal.

  12. Current government goals • 2% GDP by 2010. 25% annual increase in public funding, including credits to BES. • 55% of BES funding by 2010 . • Increased participation in EU Programs. • Funding large industrial research-lines. • Funding risk enterprises. • Increasing University-BES integration. • Consolidate leader groups & recover experienced researchers.

  13. Main problems • Direct copy of EU´s priorities • Gives up innovative research & young researchers´ talent!

  14. Scientific Carriere • Lack of a coherent and atractive research carriere. • PhD researchers hired on grants, without basic worker’s rights. • Long sequence of posdoctoral grants, including RyC and FIS contracts (initially conceived as tenure-tracks) without a clear prospect of permanent contracts.

  15. Scientific Carriere / 2 • Cronyism in hiring practices, particularly severe at University positions. Hiring practices are neither based on candidates’ quality nor on the centres’ research strategy. • Lack of follow-up evaluations of the scientific productivity and quality of permanent researchers (civil servants).

  16. Research Projects • Lack of transparency. Evaluations not sent to researchers. Peer review committees do not meet the standards of quality and conflict-of-interests. • Arbitrary cuts of requested funding. • Unpredictable openings, short deadlines, inadequate online facilities. • Lack of economic and scientific evaluation at the end of projects.

  17. Technological Development • Lack of active technology transfer from public research centres to private companies. • Need for small bussines innovation research programs, risk capital programs, etc. • Lack of qualified managers for technology-based companies. • Lack of control: public funding used for innovation rather than I+D.

  18. Avenues of Action • Lobbying: media, complain letters, interviews, etc. • Policy analysis and support • Observers of procedures & support to legal actions • Divulgation & public outreach: journal (Apuntes de Ciencia y Tecnología), newspaper articles, white papers on key issues.

  19. Effects on science policy? Contributors to: • Ramon y Cajal & Juan de la Cierva Programs • Code of conduct for hiring practices at one University and CSIC • INGENIO Program (e.g. increased funding & more independence of CSIC) • Spanish stem-cell research program • 2+2 years PhD grant+contract program

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