Citizen Science support agents facilitate the participation of citizens in scientific projects, offering funding, training and coordination.
The State Research Agency supports collaboration between agents of the system and encourages the generation of high-impact knowledge in various areas, including citizen science. Between 2018 and 2023 we find about 60 projects funded by the AEI with a budget somewhat higher than € 7.75 M, which specifically include citizen science in their summary as part of their methodology.
The Spanish Science and Technology Foundation (FECYT) manages the Subprogramme for the Promotion of Scientific Culture and Citizen Participation in R&D&I through annual calls for grants for the promotion of scientific, technological and innovation culture with an annual budget of approximately 4 M€.
The Scientific Culture and Innovation Units - UCC+I (fecyt.es) are structures established in universities, research centers and other agents of the system that act as intermediaries between institutions and citizens with the main objective of promoting scientific, technological and innovation culture. The UCC+I network, coordinated by FECYT, currently has 119 units. The UCC+I White Paper (fecyt.es) sets out the minimum requirements for registering as an UCC+I and joining the UCC+I Network (ucci.fecyt.es).
The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) has launched a citizen science strategy coordinated by the Deputy Vice-Presidency for Scientific Culture and Citizen Science (VACC) and with the support of the Citizen Science Working Group. In addition, it establishes lines of collaboration with multiple agents of the science, technology and innovation system and civil society, with special involvement of universities and the Ibercivis Foundation. The CSIC has also prepared a Brief Guide on Citizen Science CSIC (digital.csic.es).
The Ibercivis Foundation (ibercivis.es), incorporated in Zaragoza together with the University of Zaragoza and the Government of Aragon, the CSIC and the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT), is a non-profit foundation whose main objective is the development of citizen science projects in Spain. Ibercivis promotes and facilitates the active participation in the process of scientific creation to any person interested not only in access to scientific knowledge but also in its generation. Ibercivis develops the Observatory of Citizen Science in Spain (ciencia-ciudadana.es) and participates in other platforms such as the European European Citizen Science Platform (citizenscience.eu).
The National Agency for Quality Evaluation and Accreditation (ANECA), is responsible for the recognition of activities to promote the scientific culture of citizen participation in the evaluation of research personnel, projects and R&D&I centers.