Science in Spain: an uncertain future ?

Science in Spain: Not Simply a Quixotic Quest

By Alaina G. Levine


La revista "Science", nada pródiga en halagos, reconoce en el presente reportaje de Alaina G. Levine el significativo progreso que ha experimentado España en investigación básica y resalta la contribución de las comunidades autónomas, que como Cataluña han invertido en programas punteros. Habrá que ver la incidencia de los recortes presupuestarios. Aquí se reproduce parte del artículo de Levine, que puede ser consultado on-line.


"The tapas of Barcelona, the Prado of Madrid, and the architecture of Sevilla are all international draws to the nation of Spain, but its scientific heritage has not always been so noteworthy. The country has not seen the scientific growth and productivity that some other European countries, such as Germany and the UK, have enjoyed.

Grants have been generally small and its academic and research system has been plagued by a culture of bureaucracy, overrun by civil servants with no incentives for excellence. But times are changing in España.

Since 2000, novel, regionally driven and funded initiatives have led to the establishment of new research institutes, which have fostered significant change. There is an increase in recruitment of foreign scholars, more Spanish scientists are returning from positions abroad, and there is a feeling of excitement that Spain is on its way to take a place on the world stage of science. But there is still much to do.


According to Christina Garmendia, Spain's Minister for Science and Innovation, Spain has moved from 30th place to ninth in the world's ranking of scientific powers. This rise was second fastest in the world, behind only China. With more than 36,000 annual scientific publications, Spain produces slightly over 3 percent of the world's scientific papers, says Felipe Pétriz, secretary of state for investigation for the ministry.


This improvement is significant. A democracy only since 1978, Spain has languished on the sidelines of science for years. But the fact that there is "no long tradition in science is an advantage," claims Erwin Wagner, director of the Cancer Cell Biology Programme at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, CNIO) in Madrid. "People here are very motivated. It's something new, and people are excited."

A Climate of Change
Motivation for building a system of research excellence is what drives Miguel Beato, who as director of the Center for Genomic Regulation, or Centre de Regulació Genòmica (CRG), an international research institute in Barcelona, is contributing to the national metamorphosis. CRG is just one example of the changes happening in the country, particularly in Catalonia."