Spanish National Research Council

Spanish National Research Council
Agency overview
Formed November 24, 1939
Preceding agency Junta de Ampliación de Estudios (JAE)
Jurisdiction Spain
Headquarters Serrano 117. 28006 Madrid
Agency executive Rafael Rodrigo Montero, President
Website
http://www.csic.es

The Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - CSIC) is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third largest in Europe. Belonging to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Secretary of State for Research, its main objective is to develop and promote research that will help bring about scientific and technological progress, and it is prepared to collaborate with Spanish and foreign entities in order to achieve this aim.

CSIC plays an important role in scientific and technological policy, since it encompasses an area that takes in everything from basic research to the transfer of knowledge to the productive sector. Its research is driven by its centres and institutes, which are spread across all the autonomous regions. CSIC has 6% of all the staff dedicated to Research and Development in Spain, and they generate approximately 20% of all scientific production in the country.[1] It also manages a range of important facilities; the most complete and extensive network of specialist libraries, and also has joint research units.

Contents

Origins

Its origins are found in the Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios (1907–1939) born within the Institución Libre de Enseñanza and inspired in the Krausist philosophy.

Duties

According to the Statute’s article 5 of CSIC State Agency,[2] the current objectives and functions of the CSIC are:

Scientific-technical areas

Its multidisciplinary and multisectorial nature means CSIC covers all fields of knowledge. Its activity is organised around eight scientific-technical areas:

Large facilities

CSIC provides services to the entire scientific community through management of the Singular Scientific and Technological Infrastructures (ICTS) recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation: these are unique or exceptional facilities involving relatively high investment and maintenance costs in relation to R&D investment budgets in their field. The whole science community and society at large can have access to them, which is justified by their importance and strategic nature, and for this reason they receive each year many national as well as foreign researchers. The importance and scientific and social repercussion of these large facilities is recognised and supported by the European Union.

CSIC administers the following Spanish ICTS:

And the Spanish part of two large European facilities:

Research centres

CSIC has a number of specialised research centres carrying out research in several fields:

Literature

See also

References

  1. ^ "Comparecencia del Director General del CSIC, ante el Congreso de los Diputados, para informar sobre el funcionamiento y los resultados del CSIC y su aportación a la investigación". http://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L9/CONG/DS/CO/CO_244.PDF#page=4. 
  2. ^ "Real Decreto 1730/2007 de 21 de diciembre por el que se crea la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y se aprueba su Estatuto". http://www.boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=2008/00591. 

External links

Departments and agencies of the Government of Spain
Cabinet
Agencies
Bank of Spain · Centro Nacional de Inteligencia  · Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas  · Instituto Nacional de Estadística · National Securities Market Commission · Meteorological Office · Agencia Española de Protección de Datos · Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo · Agencia Tributaria · Agencia de Evaluación y Calidad