Spanish centers and research units of excellence have been endowed with 40 million euros through the granting of 13 'Severo Ochoa' and 'María de Maeztu' accreditations provided by the State Research Agency.
Of the seven centers that have won the 'Severo Ochoa' distinction, three of them are first-time: Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (GBGP), the Association of the Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE) and the Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Nanoscience (IMDEA Nanoscience). The remaining four centers have been re-elected after obtaining these accreditations in 2012: the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE), the Institute of Theoretical Physics (IFT) and the Institute of Technology Chemistry (ITQ). Through this accreditation, research centers validate their position of reference in national and international research and are financially supported by receiving one million euros per year for four years. On the other hand, the six research units selected to receive accreditation in the 'María de Maeztu” modality will receive funding of 500,000 euros per year for four years. The centers chosen for this accreditation are: the Center for Monetary and Financial Studies (CEMFI), the CICNanoGUNE, the Department of Gene Regulation and Morphogenesis of the Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, the Remote Sensing, Antennas, Microwaves and Superconductivity Research Group of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), the Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics and the Galician Institute of High Energy Physics of the University of Santiago de Compostela. The levels of requirement, procedures and evaluation criteria for the selection of research centers is mainly focused on the scientific results and strategic programs of each unit. More than 100 renowned international scientists participate in the evaluation of these centers, guaranteeing the quality and level of excellence of the selection.The main purpose of the 'Severo Ochoa' and 'María de Maeztu' calls is to offer recognition and accreditation to the best centers and units, highlighting their international impact and relevance and supporting the financing of strategic plans prepared by the centers with the objective of consolidating their scientific capacities and contributing to their international leadership.
What is the State Research Agency?
The State Research Agency is an instrument for managing and financing public funds earmarked for R&D activities. Its activities focus on improving and extending the monitoring of actions, rationalizing the management of available funds, reducing administrative burdens and simplifying and standardizing procedures. Source: MINECO
