The aim of this Plan is to promote Spanish participation and leadership in European R&D&I programmes, optimising the use of available resources, in line with the country's priorities, strengths and interests.
The Plan includes the main measures that will be managed by the funding agencies of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, which are aimed at improving and facilitating the participation of the national science and innovation system in Horizon Europe.
These actions include the structured, coordinated use of financial aid and specialist services by dedicated agents specifically to help increase success in proposals, such as the State Research Agency (AEI), the Centre for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and the European Office of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT).
The Plan covers a set of actions that will be funded by the State Plans for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation. In total, 26 measures will be implemented, structured into four major lines of action, which will develop the following activities:
- Promotion of R&D&I management networks.
- Promotion of scientific and technical research with the capacity to participate in European programmes and the European Research and Innovation Councils.
- Support for the presence of personnel from the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System in European institutions and their participation in training programmes in areas of interest.
- Participation in the Communication Plans established at the State and regional levels to connect science and society, highlighting the capacities of the Spanish system at the international level.
In this context, Spain will promote alignment of state and regional aid and its synergy with European funds, as well as Spanish leadership and presence in EU decision-making areas in the field of R&D&I.
The intent of all this is to increase the success rates of Spanish proposals, both for new organisations participating for the first time in European programmes and those who have already done so. The following indicators are selected to measure the success of the Incentive Plan:
- Leading at least 17% of all projects funded in Horizon Europe's competitive calls.
- Ensuring that at least 2,800 actions in the EU Framework Programme are coordinated by Spanish institutions.
- Increasing the intensity of participation in Horizon Europe activities, from 10% returns in H2020 to 11% in Horizon Europe as a whole.
- Obtaining a success rate of approved and funded proposals of at least the average obtained by EU countries.
