The internationalization and universality of science is fundamental, as Louis Pasteur illustrated in the 19th century in his famous phrase: “Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity.” This implies that scientists and researchers carry out our work in a global competitive context, although we are greatly influenced by the resources and management mechanisms of the different science and innovation systems. Those of us who carry out our research activity abroad, who are exposed to different models and realities, and who follow the evolution of the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System with great interest and hope, especially at this time, know this first-hand. history where global challenges, such as the pandemic and climate change, have put the necessary focus on science and innovation as the engine of social development.
The Council of Ministers recently took the first step towards the long-awaited and necessary reform of the Science, Technology and Innovation Law, with the approval of the Preliminary Draft Law. This modification aims to solve the main deficits and endemic problems of the current science and innovation system in Spain, especially in terms of job stability, financing, bureaucratic burdens, gender equality, governance and transfer of knowledge. From the Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad (RAICEX) positively value the desire for change, as well as some of the measures considered in order to improve the Spanish science and innovation system. However, we hope that this modification of the Law on Science is the first step towards the implementation of a more ambitious and profound reform that will allow Spanish science and innovation to be placed at the same level as the leading countries in this field, since this The preliminary draft law fails to increase its attractiveness for researchers who currently carry out their activity abroad, especially in terms of job stability, salaries and financing possibilities. From our direct experience as researchers developing our scientific activity in various international science and innovation systems, we have identified four main issues that we consider key to address, not only to improve the attraction and retention of talent in Spain, but also to put our scientific ecosystem on a par with the from other leading research countries.
On the one hand, a firm commitment to Talent Attraction and Retention is necessary, both nationally and internationally. For this, it is necessary to implement specific programs that guarantee both the incorporation of new research personnel and their professional development; These programs must include appropriate relocation packages to start new lines of research and competitive salaries, at the same level as those of neighboring countries. Likewise, it is not only necessary to attract and retain talent, but also to guarantee its stabilization and the financing of its lines of research in the medium and long term. These public funding programs should be published and resolved on a regular and predictable basis, facilitating career planning for researchers and their staff, and ensuring the continuity of ongoing projects. The processes of Evaluation and Accreditation of the Scientific Career should also be reviewed, seeking to simplify the processes of registration and accreditation of merits, for example by allowing the use of recognized online aggregators. In addition, it is necessary to promote the direct recognition of degrees obtained abroad, as well as the equivalences of the categories of teaching and research staff of the Public Research Organizations and universities with the research profiles defined by the European Union or through bilateral agreements with strategic countries. Measures are also necessary to facilitate greater internationalization of the Spanish science and innovation system, for example, promoting English as the vehicular language for communication within the centers and with the administration, encouraging the dual affiliation of researchers, adjusting teaching dedication to that of other countries to effectively facilitate teaching and research, as well as giving the necessary support from administrations to reduce management tasks. Finally, it is necessary to stimulate greater collaboration between universities and research centers with the private sector so that scientific advances are translated into innovation mechanisms that, in turn, favor the economic fabric and the country’s competitiveness. To do this, it is necessary to increase the funding programs for research in strategic sectors for Spain, strengthen the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) as a body that manages technological development and innovation, and promote tax aid to the private sector through patronage that encourages the incorporation, training and mobility of researchers. This requires a significant and constant increase in public investment in R&D&i, so that, together with the participation of the private sector, it allows Spain to position itself at a level of investment in science similar to that of leading countries such as Sweden, Denmark or Germany.
This casuistry, which seems intrinsic to the Spanish system, shares, however, problems and challenges common to those of many other countries both inside and outside Europe, and are part of the different management, development and stimulation strategies of science systems. and innovation of each of them. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate those measures that have already been successfully implemented in these countries and find a way to integrate them in Spain. It is not, therefore, a matter of “reinventing the wheel”, but of evaluating successful measures and policies in other countries in our environment that, taking into account their characteristics, peculiarities and capacities, can serve as a reference to the Spanish system.
The substantial change that Spain needs in terms of science and innovation requires carrying out administrative reforms of greater depth and continuously in the coming years until a solid system for generating knowledge is established, attractive and capable of welcoming both foreign and national researchers in a stable. This objective is only achievable with the commitment of all parliamentary groups through a State Pact for Science that places research at the center of the Spanish production model and ensures the continuity of the necessary reforms outlined here. Only in this way will we be able to generate a productive fabric based on innovation that increases Spain’s competitiveness in an international and globalized context and generates quality employment in the near future. Because without science, there is no future.
Jose M. Torres Ruiz He is a Senior Scientist at the National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research – INRAE (France) and coordinator of the RAICEX Talent Attraction and Scientific Policy commission.
Francisco Vilaplana Sunday He is Full Professor at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (Sweden) and president of RAICEX.
Carmen Sanchez Canizares She is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford (UK) and Vice President of RAICEX.
Javier Pardo Diaz He is a predoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford (UK) and Director of Science Policy at SRUK/CERU.
Judit Jimenez Sainz is Associate Research Scientist at Yale University (USA); She is president of ECUSA and member of the RAICEX Talent Attraction and Scientific Policy commission.
Eva Ortega Paino She is scientific director of the biobank of the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) and general secretary of RAICEX.
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