New research careers, knowledge transfer and science governance in Spain

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The law creates a postdoctoral pathway leading to a permanent position in the public science system. It is based on a contract for doctoral researchers, lasting at least three years and extendable up to six (eight for people with disabilities).
2. Researchers who pass an interim evaluation can obtain the R3 certificate as an established researcher. This certificate is recognized in public hiring processes, with reserves of at least 25% of positions in public research bodies and 15% in universities for this profile.
3. A new permanent contract for scientific and technical activities is created for research, technical and management staff, and it does not count toward the public employment offer. If the contract depends entirely on external funding, it does not require prior authorization.
4. Predoctoral contracts and contracts for doctoral researchers now include a severance payment at the end, equal to that for temporary contracts under the Workers' Statute. This applies to contracts already in force as well.
5. Knowledge transfer becomes a merit that counts for pay, promotion and selection, alongside research merits. In addition, research and technical staff at public bodies are entitled to at least one third of the profits from exploiting their inventions.
6. The Spanish science and innovation strategies and state plans are merged into single documents, the Map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures is regulated, and regulatory testing grounds are created for pilot projects.
7. The creation of the Spanish Space Agency is authorized, attached to the Ministries of Science and Innovation and of Defense, to coordinate space policy and represent Spain in the sector.
8. The law strengthens gender equality: it requires balanced representation (between 40% and 60% of each sex) in bodies and selection panels, equality plans and anti-harassment protocols in public science bodies, and promotes open access to research results.

Who it affects

• Researchers (predoctoral, doctoral and postdoctoral staff): They can access a postdoctoral pathway with evaluations and a certificate that leads to stable employment, plus new severance payments.
• Technical and management research staff: They are recognized as part of the system and can access the new permanent contract for scientific and technical activities.
• Public universities and public research organizations: They must apply position reserves, equality plans, anti-harassment protocols and new evaluation and selection rules.
• Companies, especially innovative SMEs: They gain more ways to collaborate with public centers, take part in companies and access public procurement of innovation.
• Health professionals in the Spanish National Health System: New statutory researcher categories are created with at least half of the working day devoted to research.

Words worth knowing

Certificado R3 (R3 certificate)

Established researcher accreditation granted by the State Research Agency that makes it easier to obtain permanent positions.

Itinerario postdoctoral (postdoctoral pathway)

Career path that follows the doctoral thesis and can end in a permanent job in the public science system.

Transferencia de conocimiento (knowledge transfer)

Bringing research results to society and companies, for example through patents, contracts or spin-off companies.

Oferta de Empleo Público (public employment offer)

Annual list of positions the State authorizes to fill in public administrations.

Tasa de reposición (replacement rate)

Legal limit on how many public positions can be filled based on those vacated through retirement or departure.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries