Report:29d1a7fc-0809-484c-b91b-f7b02f9dad5c

Facts & Figures

Spain

Where

• Spain

Research infrastructure

In 2019 there were 135,331 full-time researchers in Spain . Spanish National Research Council, a State Agency with the consideration of a Public Research Organization of the Spanish General State Administration, has 120 research institutes out of which 51 are of joint centres with other institutions, primarily universities . There are also 8 centres functioning as research support units that provide technical and administrative support to two or more institutes . Spain has 75 universities – 50 public and 25 private .

Organisation	City
Private universities
Autonomous University of Madrid	Madrid
University Carlos III of Madrid	Madrid
Complutense University of Madrid	Madrid
National University of Distance Education	Madrid
Polytechnic University of Madrid	Madrid
King Juan Carlos University	Madrid, Móstoles, Alcorón, Vicálvaro, Aranjuez, Fuenlabrada
Menéndez Pelayo International University	Madrid, Santander, Valencia, Barcelona, Cartagena, Cuenca, Granada, La Línea de la Concepción, Seville, Tenerife
Autonomous University of Barcelona	Barcelona
University of Barcelona	Barcelona
Polytechnic University of Catalonia	Barcelona
Pompeu Fabra University	Barcelona
University of Seville	Seville
Pablo de Olavide University	Seville
International University of Andalucía	Seville, Palos de la Frontera, Baeza, Málaga
University of A Coruña	A Coruña
University of Alcalá	Alcalá de Henares
University of Alicante	San Vicente del Raspeig/Sant Vincent del Raspeig
University of Almería	Almería
University of Burgos	Burgos
University of Cádiz	Cádiz
University of Cantabria	Santander, Torrelavega, Comillas
University of Castilla-La Mancha	Ciudad Real
University of Córdoba	Córdoba
University of Extremadura	Badajoz, Cáceres, Mérida, Plasencia
University of Girona	Girona
University of Granada	Granada
University of Huelva	Huelva
University of Jaén	Jaén
University of La Laguna	San Cristóbal de La Laguna
University of La Rioja	Logroño
University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria	Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
University of León	León
University of Lleida	Lleida
University of Málaga	Málaga
University of Murcia	Murcia
University of Oviedo	Oviedo
University of Salamanca	Salamanca
University of Santiago de Compostela	Santiago de Compostela
University of Valladolid	Valladolid
University of Vigo	Vigo, Pontevedra, Ourense
University of Zaragoza	Zaragoza
University of the Basque Country	Leioa, Bilbao, Portugalete, Barakaldo, San Sebastián, Eibar, Vitoria-Gasteiz
Miguel Hernández University of Elche	Elche, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Altea, Orihuela
Politechnic University of Cartagena	Cartagena
Polytechnic University of Valencia	Valencia
Public University of Navarre	Navarre
Rovira i Virgili University	Tarragona, Reus, Vila-seca, Tortosa, El Vendrell
University of the Balearic Islands	Palma
University of València	Valencia
Jaume I University	Castelló de la Plana
Private universities
Distance University of Madrid	Madrid
Nebrija University	Madrid
Camilo José Cela University	Madrid
European University of Madrid	Madrid
Francisco de Vitoria University	Madrid
Comillas Pontifical University	Madrid
San Pablo University	Madrid
IE University	Madrid, Segovia
Alfonso X El Sabio University	Madrid, Villanueva de la Cañada
International University of Catalonia	Barcelona
Ramon Llul University	Barcelona
Abat Oliba CEU University	Barcelona
Open University of Catalonia	Barcelona
CEU Cardinal Herrera University	Valencia
Valencia Catholic University Saint Vincent Martyr	Valencia
Saint Anthony Catholic University	Murcia
Catholic University of Ávila	Ávila
University of Deusto	Bilbao, San Sebastián
University of Navarre	Pamplona
University of Vic	Vic, Manresa
Miguel de Cervantes European University	Valladolid
University of La Rioja	Logroño
Mondragon University	Mondragón
Pontifical University of Salamanca	Salamanca
San Jorge University	Zaragoza

Research funding

In 2019, the gross expenditures on research and development were €15.572 million, which comprises 1.25% of the country’s GDP . Most funding was spent in the corporate sector (56.1%), followed by the higher education sector (26.6%), general government sector (17.0%) and the private non-profit sector (0.3%) . Spain had 8.137 signed grants receiving €5.82 billion in H2020 and 491 ERC signed grants receiving €664.8 million in H2020 .

Research strategy

The Spanish Strategy on Science, Technology and Innovation 2013-2020 was launched by the General State Administration and the Regional Administrations in 2012. Since it was created at the time when country was experiencing serious economic difficulties which led to decreasing of funding with respect to public and company investment, the Strategy promotes the capacities of the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System and enables collaboration between all the stakeholders of the System while increasing the social and economic returns from investment in Research Development and Innovation (RDI). With regard to this, the Strategy defends the importance of scientific and technological progress as an indisputable element of social progress . One of the Strategy’s aims is to define a strategic framework for RDI policies to promote structural reforms, establish incentives and determine the objectives and efforts required to create the RDI capacities that will make Spain a country of innovation, contribute to social and economic progress and reinforce their international leadership in a global setting .

Research governance, compliance and integrity

Spain has several bodies for RI – the Ethics Committee of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Spanish Research Ethics Committee (CEEI), the National Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction and the Commission for the Donation and Use of Human Cells and Tissues.

From 2011 the Ethics Committee of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has been a member of European Network of Research Integrity Office (ENRIO) and responsible for raising awareness of researchers about the importance of research integrity . Its aim is also to prevent research misconduct and unacceptable research practices . To that end, the Committee has created the Code of Good Scientific Practices of CSIC, the CSIC Manual of Conflicts of Interest and the Spanish National Statement of Research Integrity. CSIC is also responsible for dealing with ethical conflicts. Any individual or institution can bring a case to the attention of the Committee, whose field of competence is limited to CSIC and its employees .

There are also a number of Spanish national associations for ethics assessment of research, centred mainly in bioethics and biomedical research. They include the National Association of Research Ethics Committees, the Network of Ethics Committees in Universities and Public Research Centres in Spain and the Spanish Association of Bioethics .

All the autonomous communities have Research Ethics Committees and Research Ethics Committees for drugs that perform the ethical assessment of research projects performed in the region. These committees have a special accreditation regulated by the Royal Decree 1090/2015 . The Research Ethics Committees and ad hoc commissions are in charge of settling scientific integrity problems. They are independent and their decisions can be binding, although there is a right of appeal. The official list of proven misconduct regulated by authorities is not publicly available at the moment .

Spanish policies and initiatives to support ethics practices in the private industry mostly concern corporate social responsibility. Any industry can create an independent Research Ethics Committee or ascribe to any existent Research Ethics Committee, but each Research Ethics Committee must be authorized by the regional autonomies through an accreditation process strictly controlled by the health authorities. Large companies may have their own good practices codes, especially in the pharmaceutical sector .

Aside from Research Ethics Committees, professional organizations can also sanction research misconducts. For example, deontological commissions related to the professional organizations act independently to sanction the professionals involved in research misconducting . If misconduct affects human beings, Justice system starts a process of investigation .

The protection of whistle-blowers is not addressed in regulations related to RI. There is no specific law on whistle-blower protection for employees in Spain so citizens must personally come forward in order for their claim to be investigated. The only legislative regulation loosely related to whistleblowing is a provision allowing citizens to anonymously report conflicts of interest of high-ranking officials and members of Parliament and a whistle-blower e-mail hotline that allows anonymous reporting of anticompetitive behaviour .  

Bodies for RE+RI	Scope
Ethics Committee of the Spanish National Research Council	Investigates, trains and promotes RI. It also issues reports and formulates recommendations about ethical and deontological principles related to research activity.
The Research Ethics Committee of the Carlos III Health Institute	Contributes to improving the health of all citizens through the promotion of research and innovation in Health Sciences and Biomedicine and through the provision of groundbreaking scientific and technical services and educational programmes directed towards the National Health System.
The Spanish Bioethics Committee	Issues reports, proposals and recommendations for public authorities at state and regional level on matters related to the ethical and social implications of Biomedicine and Health Sciences. It is also responsible for establishing the general principles for the production of codes of good practice in scientific research and for representing Spain in supranational and international forums and bodies involved in bioethics.
The National Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction	Provides guidance on the use of assisted human reproduction techniques and collaborates with public administrations with regard to this matter.
The Commission for the Donation and Use of Human Cells and Tissues	Advises and guides research with biological samples of human embryonic nature and contributes to the updating and dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge in this matter.

Laws and regulations

A number of laws regarding RE and RI are officially instated in Spain.

Law	Scope
Act on Universities (La Ley Orgánica 6/2001 de Universidades)	Promotes the action of the General Administration of the State in the structuring and cohesion of the University system, deepens the competences of the autonomous communities in the field of higher education, increases the degree of autonomy of the universities and establishes the channels needed to strengthen relationships and reciprocal links between University and society.
Law for Science, Technology and Innovation (Ley 14/2011, de 1 de junio, de la Ciencia, la Tecnología y la Innovación)	Deepens the vertebration of relations and the dialogue between science, technology, innovation and society.
The Law on Biomedical Research (Ley 14/2007, de 3 de julio, de Investigación biomédica)	Establishes standards in areas that have not been regulated yet or that have been fragmentary or unrelated to the changes occurred in recent years, such as genetic analysis, research with human biological samples, in particular those of an embryonic nature, or biobanks.
Royal Decree 2132/2004, Of 29 October, Laying Down The Requirements And Procedures For The Development Of Research Projects With Stem Cells Taken From Surplus Pre-Embryos	Regulates the use of the human pre-embryos for the research purposes.
Order SCO/393/2006, Of 8 February, Which Establishes The Organization And Functioning Of The National Stem Cell Bank	Establishes the organization and operation of the National Bank of Cellular Lines.
Organic Law 15/1999, of December 13, on the Protection of Personal Data	Guarantees and protects, with regard to the processing of personal data, the public freedoms and fundamental rights of natural persons, and in particular their personal and family honour and privacy.
Royal Decree 1527/2010, of November 15, regulating the Guarantees Commission for the Donation and Use of Human Cells and Tissues and the Registration of Research Projects	Regulates the use of human cells and tissues and the registry of research projects.
Royal Decree 1716/2011 of 18 November establishing the basic requirements for the authorization and operation of biobanks for biomedical research and the treatment of biological samples of human origin, and regulating the operation and organization of the National Register of Biobanks for biomedical research.	Establishes the basic requirements for authorization and operation of biobanks for biomedical research.
Royal Decree 53/2013 of 1 February laying down the basic rules applicable for the protection of animals used in experimentation and other scientific purposes, including teaching.	Establishes the basic rules applicable for the protection of animals used in experimentation and other scientific purposes, including teaching.
Law 6/2013, of June 11, amending Law 32/2007, of November 7, for the care of animals, in their exploitation, transport, experimentation and slaughter.	Establishes a set of principles regarding the care of animals and the regulation of the corresponding sanctioning regime in case of non-compliance with animal welfare regulations.

Measures to promote good scientific practices and open science

RI training

There is no mandate for RI training but some universities and institutions have integrated a module about research integrity in their existing program about research ethics (Autonomous University of Madrid, University of Barcelona, University of Oviedo and National University of Distance Education). Several members of the CSIC Ethics Committee give lectures regarding research integrity and responsible conduct of research. Research Ethics and Research Integrity have been included as topics in the CSIC Management Training Course aimed to CSIC’s Directors and Managers .

RI dialogue and communication

In a Knowledge Transfer study 2010-2012, Spain positioning is about average (56%). Spain is one of the countries with a low level of innovation and weak knowledge translation policies . Research Results Transfer Offices, that are part of each university, aim to promote and facilitate cooperation in Research and Development activities between researchers and companies .

The academic system is perceived corrupt. Academic corruption survey of 5,725 people who studied in 11 European countries showed the highest levels of perceived corruption in Ukraine and Spain . Since 2002, the percentage of the population understanding science and technology as bringing more benefits than harms keeps growing every year . The research integrity s occasionally discussed in the lay press. The most relevant newspapers at the national level (EL Pais and El Mundo) published several articles about cases of scientific misconduct in Spain.

RI incentives

Spain provides Research and Development tax relief through a hybrid tax credit and social security contributions exemption for qualified research staff. Both of these incentives are mutually exclusive in their use except for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises .  

Initiatives	Scope
CSIC Management Training Course	Training
The National Accreditation Entity	Accreditation
The National Research Award	Support

Guidelines

Spain

A total of 5 guidelines were found. Add a Guideline.

• Spanish Law on Science, Technology and Innovation (March 2022)
• Conflicts of Interest (CSIC, Spain) (January 2022)
• Good-Practice Guide for Scientific-Academic Publishing (CSIC, Spain) (January 2022)
• Code of Good Scientific Practices of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIS) (October 2021)
• Spanish National Statement on Scientific Integrity (October 2020)

Andrijana Perković Paloš, Elsa Amin contributed to this report. Latest contribution was Oct 22, 2021