Spain offers a wide range of funding opportunities to support research activities, whether you're seeking funding for a research position, a project, a start-up, science communication, or knowledge valorisation. You can apply to European, national, and regional funding agencies and entities.
Funding Bodies
National funding Bodies
At national level, the main funding bodies are:
- The National Resarch Agency (AEI) that funds positions, projects and programmes
- CDTI (Center for the Develoment of Technology and Innovation)that primarily funds project for companies,
- Health Insitute of Carlos III (ISCIII) that funds health-related research positions, projects, and programmes.
- FECYT (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technilogy) that funds projects for science dissemination, science for policy and Open Science projects.
National competitive funding is structured around several strategic lines, as defined by the Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (PEICTI) and implemented annually through the Annual Action Plan (PAA):
- Human Resources
- Research and Expermiental Development
- Knowledge Transfer and Collaboration
- Innovation
- Internationalitation
- Local and Regional Cooperation
- Strategic Lines
Regional Funding
Spain’s autonomous communities also have their own research and innovation funding programmes. These regional initiatives complement national and European funding schemes.
Funding opportunities for Research positions in Spain
You can explore a wide range of European, national, regional, and private funding options to support your research career in both the public and private sectors in Spain.
In this document, you will find the following:
- A non-exhaustive list of programmes published in the last two years.
- A mapping of programmes to the European Research Career Framework, helping you align your competencies, merits, and tasks.
- Information on the eligibility period (first and last year after PhD) for each programme, where applicable.
- Contract duration, visually represented by the size of each programme box.
- Links to official websites where calls are published, so you can stay updated on future opportunities.
Find the 8th edition of the career path in Spain at a glance! and general information on planning your funding application here:
If you're considering applying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action:
- Find salary calculation details here
- Contact a MSCA National Contact Point for personalized support here
Funding opportunities for Research Projects
National competitive funding calls are published by various agencies. You can find:
- Open calls for project funding and other programmes here
- Annual calendar of programmes funded by the AEI
You can find support to apply for European projects from the Spanish European Office. More information:
Support to apply for EU funded projects