The Spanish Agency for Research (AEI) has opened the 2025 edition of the prestigious Ramón y Cajal (RYC) programme, inviting high-calibre researchers to join the Spanish research system. The call is part of the State Programme for Human Resources within the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2024-2027.
With a total budget of €132.3 million and 494 grants (including reserved places for researchers with disabilities), the RYC 2025 call allows institutions in Spain to contract outstanding researchers for a stable five-year path (with phases) leading to potential tenure-track-like status.
Candidates must hold a doctoral degree obtained in the period 2015-2023 (or 2012-2023 for the disability turn) and must apply jointly with a host institution in Spain. Host entities include public research organisations, universities, accredited health research institutes and non-profit R&D bodies.
The call will be open from 19 November to 11 December 2025 (14:00 h Spain peninsular time) and applications are submitted online via the AEI’s dedicated platform. The competitive process seeks to identify junior research leaders who can contribute significantly to Spanish science and innovation.
This initiative emphasises Spain’s commitment to attracting and consolidating research talent, including those working abroad, thereby reinforcing the national research ecosystem and helping achieve Europe’s objectives for research excellence and mobility.
For more information and to access the call’s documentation, visit the AEI website: Agencia Española de Investigación