Catalonia a leader in Research and Development programmes

Six out of every ten European scholarships for R+D programmes assigned to the Spanish state are allocated in Catalonia, who leads investigation in the field.

CNA / Laura Pous

First published: July 6, 2010 11:40 PM

Barcelona (CNA).- Catalonia has the largest number of investigators in Research and Development (R+D) than any other territory in Spain, according to the findings of the first report on R+D+I of the Catalan Department for Innovation, Universities and Business. The departments’ minister, Josep Huguet, welcomed the results and said that they confirm the “good position” of the investigation sector in Catalonia.

Catalan investigators have received funding for 41 projects, more than half the total of applications in the whole state. Huguet said that these good results allow Catalan universities to attract “elite researchers”. The report also finds that Catalonia is the third nation in Europe with more funding per every one million inhabitants.

However, Catalonia needs to coordinate its research centres, according to the report. Minister Huguet said that the Government will incite a merger between the six largest technological centres in Catalonia –CETEMMSA, LEITAT, ASCAMM, CTM, TIC and Media. According to Huguet, there would be an external examination of their activities to highlight “their excellences” and avoid a “duplication” of their activities.

The Catalan minister presented some of the main guidelines of the research sector for the next ten years. Huguet said that Catalonia is studying the possibility of creating a platform for sea wind power research in the Delta de l'Ebre, in southern Catalonia. The centre could also have a space to investigate marine biology and aquaculture and to analyse the effects of climate change in the Mediterranean.

Research Investigation Huguet R+D

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