Purpose
The purpose of this call for proposals is to fund research projects aimed at both fostering the generation and significant advancement of scientific knowledge and high-quality research, and at finding solutions to societal challenges, by promoting initiatives at both the national and bilateral international levels.
In addition, funding may be provided for activities aimed at training pre-doctoral researchers through the completion of a doctoral dissertation related to the aforementioned research projects.
Beneficiaries
Universities, public R&D&I centers, technology centers, and public and private nonprofit organizations involved in science, technology, research, and innovation.
Project Characteristics
There are two types of projects:
1) Research Non-Targeted: projects without a predefined thematic focus whose primary objective is the advancement of knowledge, regardless of the time frame or scope of application.
2) Research Focused: aimed at solving specific problems linked to the thematic priorities associated with society’s major challenges, as outlined in Annex III of the call for proposals.
Projects may be carried out individually, with one or two principal investigators and a research team, or in a coordinated, with several subprojects, each with one or two principal investigators and a research team.
Within each category, there are two types of projects based on the profile of the lead partner:
- a) Projects Type A: Principal Investigators with significant and innovative scientific and technical contributions and leadership capabilities.
- b) Projects Type B: Principal Investigators with a proven track record in research.
Type B includes the following types of projects, depending on the modality:
Research Methodology Unoriented
— Type I: Projects carried out within the framework of an international bilateral collaboration involving at least two different multinational research teams, one consisting of one or more Spanish institutions and the other consisting of one or more foreign research institutions.
These applications may be submitted for all thematic areas listed in Annex II.
– Applied Research Track
— RTA Type, exclusively in the form of Targeted Research projects, proposed by the CSIC’s National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) and the public agricultural or food R&D&I centers under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Communities, which are part of the INIA (CSIC)-CCAA
The duration of the projects and subprojects will generally be 3 or 4 years, depending on what is justified by the nature of the activities described in the scientific and technical report.
Characteristics of Programs for Pre-Doctoral Research Training
Grants for the training of pre-doctoral research staff are intended to fund activities aimed at training new Ph.D. graduates through the completion of a doctoral dissertation associated with a research project funded under this call for proposals, including funding for the costs of hiring pre-doctoral research staff, stays at R&D centers, and tuition fees associated with doctoral programs. Additionally, within the framework of these grants, funding may be provided for a postdoctoral orientation period (POP), once the doctoral degree has been obtained, aimed at the professional development and specialization of these researchers, provided that the degree is obtained during the implementation period of the initiative for the training of pre-doctoral researchers.
The actions will have a maximum duration of four years.
The process of evaluation and selection of the person to be hired shall be the responsibility of the beneficiary entity. The beneficiary organization must prepare a report describing the selection process and justifying the suitability of the selected candidate, based on the criteria established in the call for applications.
Knowledge Generation Projects
The objectives are to contribute to the development of the national and international leadership capacity of research teams in public and private nonprofit entities involved in R&D&I, by facilitating their mobility and promoting their participation and success in European and international programs and projects; to enable the adoption of an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach involving research groups with a critical mass capable of generating synergies among different scientific and technical approaches and promoting significant advances in scientific knowledge.
The grants provided for in this call for proposals will be used to cover costs directly and unambiguously related to the development and implementation of the activities for which they have been awarded. Funding may be applied to direct and indirect costs, with indirect costs set at a fixed percentage of 25% of the project’s direct expenses.
The grants may cover up to 100 percent of the marginal costs for which funding is requested.
Activities for the training of pre-doctoral research staff associated with the projects:
The goal is to train new generations of researchers who will acquire the necessary skills while working in top-tier research teams, including the promotion of mobility through short-term stays at other national and international centers, as well as scientific and technological infrastructures and facilities.
The grants will cover the following expenses: hiring costs, severance pay upon contract termination, and expenses related to placements at R&D centers and enrollment in doctoral programs. They may include a postdoctoral orientation period (POP) of up to 12 months, to be completed after obtaining a doctoral degree within the project’s implementation period, aimed at professional development and specialization.
Application Deadline
There will be a single application period, from November 3 to November 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (Spanish peninsular time).
More information: https://www.aei.gob.es/convocatorias/buscador-convocatorias/proyectos-generacion-conocimiento-actuaciones-formacion-7