Mission and organization

The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities also carries out its functions through dependent public bodies with specific tasks: Autonomous Agencies, governed mainly by public law; Public Business Entities, governed by public law in the exercise of the public competences assigned to them and by private law in other respects; State Agencies, regulated by public law rules, but with greater management autonomy; Public Foundations, governed by the same rules as other foundations with some exceptions; Public Companies, governed by private law and in which the State owns more than 50% of its capital; and Consortiums with other administrations.

The collegiate and consultative bodies of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities offer their knowledge on specific issues and that through their recommendations or opinions, contribute to the formulation of public policies.

Thus the Spanish Committee for Research Ethics is expert in matters related to professional ethics in scientific and technical research; the Council for Scientific, Technological and Innovation Policy, in the field of R+D+I; the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation is the organ of participation of the scientific and technological community and of economic and social agents; the Spanish Polar Committee coordinates the activities of Spain in the polar zones constituting the Spanish Polar Authority; the University Conference of Political Interest