CDTI-SOST: Spain breaks Horizon Europe funding record

• Since its beginnings in 1984, Spain has transformed itself into a trusted leading player in European Framework Programs,
• The great leap forward took place in the seventh FP7 (2007-2013), when thanks to a clear political impulse, Spain went on to led 10.7% of the collaborative projects, obtaining 8.3% of funds allocated to EU countries,
• In Horizon 2020, Spain consolidated its position and led 17% of the projects in which it participated obtaining a 10.4% of the funds allocated to EU countries. 
• Under Horizon Europe 2021-2023 calls, Spanish participation reached its peak reaching 11,7% of the funds allocated to EU countries, ranking third in the European Union. 
• Spanish key milestones and main contributions to European Research Framework Programmes in its 40-year history were reviewed during the Spain Science & Innovation event jointly organised by the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) at the Spanish House of Science & Innovation in Brussels.

The event Spain Science & Innovation 2024 reviewed the main milestones in the evolution of the Spanish participation in European Research and Innovation Framework Programs (FP) since their launch in 1984. Speakers walked the attendance through this 40 years journey which has completely transformed Spain, from a modest partner to a trusted leader. The authorities also underlined the obvious impact of EU FP in the Spanish R&I system and emphasised the Spanish government commitment to R&I.

According to the latest available data for 2021-2023 calls, Spanish entities have reached their best results ever, ranking third in the EU for the first time. Spain has also strengthened its position as a leader in collaborative R&D&I projects, with 16% of the total and is now second, in number of participations meaning that Spanish entities are present in one out of every three proposals funded by Horizon Europe (30% more than in Horizon 2020). Besides, Spain is currently leading different thematic areas in Horizon Europe, such as Cluster 4: industry, Cluster 5: climate, Cluster 6: food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment, Wind energy, Renewable energy for heat and cold, construction, advanced materials, Processes4planet partnership, Made in Europe partnership, Satellite telecommunications, GNSS applications, Cloud-edge-IoT technologies, SESAR Air traffic, Multimodal transport or Logistics and infrastructure. Furthermore, Spain plays a leading role in Pillar 1 Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions that invest in long-term careers of excellent researchers across Europe and Pillar 3: European innovation ecosystems

Ms. Joanna Drake (Deputy Director General Planet, People and Science for Policy at DG Research and Innovation of the European Commission) seized the occasion to congratulate Spain for these results and praised the promotional work of the Spanish Research and Innovation national system. At the same time, she confirmed the EC commitment to deepen their engagement with Member States, national authorities, private organizations and other actors in the design of FP10 to tackle its full potential.

The Secretary General for Innovation of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Ms. Teresa Riesgo, underlined the key role played by cooperative projects in the construction of Europe. CSIC Vice-President for International Affairs, Mr. Francisco Javier Moreno Fuentes highly valued the three dimensions of scientists’ work: the return on investments, the social impact, and the contribution to evidence-based policymaking, and highlighted the role that these 40 years of Framework Programmes have had on its organization.

From a participant perspective, four Spanish entities with very different profiles: from the largest research organisation, CSIC, to two companies of different sizes, AQUALIA and ESTEYCO, through the UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID, underlined the most relevant added value of European projects for them: engaging with entities and researchers abroad, opening international markets, becoming more competitive or collaborating with research groups from different fields of expertise where some of the benefits mentioned. They also underlined a few potential improvement measures in view of FP10. For instance, they suggested a more long-term perspective (10-15 years) to help projects achieving their objectives, better cooperation between private and public actors, reduced consortia at the start of projects, which could be expanded as they advance on the basis of their scientific and technical requirements and better support to help participants bridging the gap between projects results and industrialization or commercialization, which was mentioned several times.

Ms. Izaskun Lacunza, FECYT’s Director General, underlined how FPs have helped national systems to improve the way they do science and construct a common understanding and a European R&I identity. She emphasized as well; the relevance of the National Contact Points support system in strengthening the Spanish participation. 

For Mr. José Moisés Martín Carretero, CDTI’s Director General, FPs are a driving force of change in the governance, resources, structure and instruments of national systems. His closing remark was very clear “there is no alternative to science, technology and innovation for the future of Europe, and Spain is ready to contribute”.

• Evolution of the Spanish participation in EU R&D&I Framework Programs: https://youtu.be/EWQ9rA9DM-U
• Spanish results in Horizon Europe 2021-2023 recently published: https://www.ciencia.gob.es/Noticias/2024/Noviembre/espana-programa-horizonte-europa.htm