General Subdirectorate of Institutional Relations and International Coordination

The General Subdirectorate of Institutional Relations and International Coordination, attached to the State Secretariat for Science, Innovation and Universities, shall exercise the functions of:

• The direction of international relations in the field of universities, research, development and innovation, as well as the monitoring of European Union actions in this field, as well as the definition of international cooperation programmes in the field of universities and research, development and innovation, bilateral or multilateral, without prejudice to the competences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
• Cooperation with the autonomous communities and local entities in university policy, research, development and innovation, without prejudice to the competences attributed to other bodies of the department.
• Relations and coordination with the collegiate bodies under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, as well as with other units and agencies of the General Administration of the State responsible for research, development and innovation policies and universities and sectoral policies closely related to them, within the scope of their competences.
• The promotion of the European Space of Higher Education and the Ibero-American Space of Knowledge, in coordination with the Autonomous Agency of the Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education (SEPIE).
• Coordination, promotion and monitoring of international cooperation and international relations, within the competence of the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities.
• The exercise of the competences of the department with respect to international treaties, international administrative agreements and non-normative agreements in the subjects of higher education, as well as advice on Spanish participation in international bodies on these subjects, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and in accordance with the principle of unity of action abroad.
• Coordination of actions in the field of higher university education with the collaboration of external higher education services within the Departments, Attachés and Directorates of existing programs in different countries of the Administration abroad, without prejudice to the competences of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports.
• The coordination of Spanish participation in the elaboration and monitoring of European policies in the field of R&D&I and knowledge transfer, including the Framework Program of research and innovation, and Spanish representation in other programs, forums and organizations of a European and international character competent in the design of policies in the field of R&D&I, without prejudice to the competences of other organs of the department.
• Coordination of the international activity of territorial public administrations in the field of university educational external action.
• International cooperation in the field of research and knowledge transfer, the joint formulation with the departmental bodies and the coordination of the Spanish position in international forums, and the proposal for the designation of those who must represent Spain in the international bodies responsible for the corresponding programs.

Deputy Director-General: Roberto Díaz .