Leading scientific associations and innovative companies demand to place R&D at the heart of Spain’s strategy

by Virginia Greco

The Severo Ochoa - María de Maeztu Alliance (SOMMa), of which the ICN2 is part, together with many other institutes and companies working in research and innovation, have signed a document calling for Spain to change its economic model and give a central role to research and innovation (R&D). The document aims to add and provide strategic solutions to the recent Pact for Science and Innovation that the Spanish Government has just announced.

SOMMa, ASEICA and AseBio, entities that together account for almost ten thousand researchers across the public and private sector, dozens of research centres and nearly 300 leading Spanish companies in the biotechnology sector, join their voices to urge the political class to transform the country. Together with other organisations, they have signed a document that calls for Spain to reach and exceed 2.5% investment in research and development (R&D) by 2027 and radically change its current economic model.

It is a unique window of opportunity presented by yesterday’s preliminary draft of the state’s new general budget, the European Reconstruction Plan, the "Green Deal" and the missions of the new Horizon Europe Framework Program of the European Union.

The call for action proposes a broad range of administrative and legal recommendations, as well as the implementation of strategic actions so that science and innovation act as the engines for the recovery of the country. The transformation of the economic model would counterbalance the dependence of sectors heavily affected by the current pandemic, giving Spain new opportunities and a stronger position for the future. Crystallizing the great Spanish potential in R&D would lay the foundations for a solid recovery through a sustainable, competitive economic model based on providing high added value.

Learn more about the recommendations included in the document. You can also find the full document in Spanish with the list of signatories here.