Thursday, 19 October 2017
New Severo Ochoa – María de Maeztu Alliance for research excellence in Spain
Representatitves of the 25 Severo Ochoa Centres of Excellence and 16 María de Maeztu Units of Excellence accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness met this afternoon for the first meeting of the Severo Ochoa – María de Maeztu Alliance (SOMMa). Presided over by the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation, Carmen Vela, the event was attended by the directors and other representatives of the research centres and units behind the alliance’s creation.
The Spanish Severo Ochoa and María de Maeztu programme to foster research excellence was established to promote Spanish science through the accreditation of its leading research centres. It also exists to boost their scientific impact, international leadership and competitiveness.
Today these centres, including the ICN2, have joined forces to create the Severo Ochoa – María de Maeztu Alliance (SOMMa) as a new channel for collaboration and consolidation of the research excellence network. Luis Serrano, director of the Centre for Genomic Regulation, will be the alliance’s president for the next two years, with Teresa Garcia-Milà, director of the Barcelona Graduate School of Economic, as vice-president.
SOMMa aims to increase the national and international visibility of Spanish science; to promote the exchange of knowledge, technologies and good practices among its membrs and with the international scientific community; to collaborate with the other research centres in Spain to strengthen the national R&D and innovation system; and to have a voice in science policy at the national and European levels.