Science in Spain highlighted in La Vanguardia

This February, the national newspaper La Vanguardia published an extended feature about the research policy in place in Spain. Even though scientific research was not a top government priority in Spain for many decades, the situation is changing since several years ago. All governments, national and regional, especially the Generalitat de Catalunya, and research funding agencies are increasing significantly their investing. Several ambitious initiatives are in place, such as the Ramón y Cajal programme, the ICREA programme, and the new Research Centres programme. Still, a lot remains to be done to reach the level of the most advanced countries, as the series featured by La Vanguardia points out.

Companies and mass media are also well aware of the importance of scientific research and development. Thus, La Vanguardia, one of the most important national newspapers, has published during six days a series of reports focused on the matter. Together with several scientists running institutions in Spain, ICFO Director contributed his opinion to the survey, which was focused on the critical importance of the motivation of the researchers to achieve outstanding results.