The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of science and innovation as essential elements for successfully tackling the major challenges of today's world. Spain will therefore undertake a profound institutional reform and a strengthening of the State Science, Technology, and Innovation System (SECTI), in which digitalization has a prominent place.
In the short term, the aim is to tackle the country's economic and social recovery and, in the medium term, for the SECTI to be a key instrument for tackling major challenges such as an ecological and fair transition, digitalization and the demographic challenge, and to increase and accelerate investment in R&D&I in a sustainable manner and in strategic areas.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of science and innovation as essential elements in successfully addressing the major challenges of today's world.
For this reason, Spain will undertake a profound institutional reform and a strengthening of the State Science, Technology, and Innovation System (as reflected in the Spanish Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy 2021-2027), in which digitalization plays a prominent role.
Specifically, the actions for the digital promotion of the State Science, Technology, and Innovation System (SECTI) are structured around five lines of action:
- Strengthening the capabilities, infrastructures, and equipment of SECTI actors.
- Knowledge transfer
- Public-Private and interdisciplinary R&D&I Projects
- Aerospace sector
- Complementary Plans with the Autonomous Communities
Objectives
Actions
The strengthening of the capabilities, infrastructure and equipment of SECTI agents will lead to the optimization and internationalization of Spanish infrastructures and greater use and participation in international projects thanks to research funding.
The promotion of knowledge transfer will serve to address the challenge of improving all the key agents necessary for scientific knowledge. In addition, the application of research results to the development of new technologies to meet the challenges of society is sought.
The objective of this series of projects is to strengthen knowledge transfer and public-private collaboration by promoting the generation of collaborative research projects between companies and Spanish R&D&I groups.
The aerospace sector will be oriented towards the green transition, reinforcing Spanish capabilities and generating a knock-on effect on the entire value chain.
An investment of 445 million euros has been mobilized in R&D&I programs within the framework of eight Complementary Plans with the Autonomous Communities, with a transversal focus on the double green and digital transition. In relation to the present agenda, the Quantum Communication Program stands out, with a budget of 73 million euros (53 million euros from the Recovery Plan and the rest financed by the Autonomous Communities). This program is aligned with key European initiatives in this area, both the Quantum Flagship and the European Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI), through the creation of cutting-edge infrastructures and acting as a driving force for the European quantum industry. It has the participation of CSIC and the Autonomous Communities of the Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia, Madrid and Castilla y León.
