This Friday, February 18, the new science law was scheduled to be approved; since the previous one has been in force since 2011 and still has a lot to improve. And so it has been, the new text has been approved. With this law, the Government of Spain seeks to reduce precariousness among researchers and retain talent so it doesn’t go abroad; but we will have to wait for the Congress of Deputies to approve it.
Some associations had criticized this new law. However, the Council of Ministers seems to have listened to their requests. To begin with, the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, explained that this is the first time that the obligation to invest in science has been shielded by law. This investment will be a minimum of 1.25% of GDP, which added to private investment, will reach the 3% set by the European Union. The constant investment will allow hiring personnel; but also to improve the infrastructures and tools used by researchers. “This is the law that the system needs,” said the minister. “We shield by law that researchers have the necessary resources,” she added.
In the wake of critics of the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE) and the Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad (RAICEX) towards the bill; the Council of Ministers has decided to make a change in this new law. And now yes, all experience will be taken into account that researchers have out of the Public Research Organizations (IPO). This is important since there are researchers who have worked before in centers, foundations, companies or universities, both inside and outside of Spain. In addition, when calculating the five-year period, it is important because it represents a salary bonus.
This is the new law of science
However, COSCE states in a press release from the end of January that the final draft does maintain or recognize several things that they consider important. For example, the aid program for Ramon y Cajal contracts; Also the figure of tenure trackwith which seeks to help researchers at the beginning of their scientific career until they reach permanent contracting in the public system. Even so, it is still “insufficiently outlined”. In addition, the scale of Senior Scientists in the OPI is maintained and the union of Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation is established in a single plan.
On the other hand, the text recognizes the excessive bureaucratization of the system; but it does not give solutions to get out of this problem that slows down the investigation a lot. For his part, Morant has given a brushstroke on the novelties in terms of excess paperwork. From now on, researchers will be able to make simplified accounts of the use of the money and the verification that the money is well invested will be done “by sampling”. They have also commented Morant that they are going to stabilize the calendars of calls for scholarships and grants; in this way the investigators will be able to organize themselves with more time to present all the paperwork.
Leave of absence, are no longer taken into account
One of the great demands in recent years is indefinite contracts. And the fact is that the world of research in Spain is very precarious. Hereinafter all contracts will be indefinite. In the case of starting in the world of research, a “more stable itinerary” is going to be made to get the place. Thus, those who start will have a six-year contract with an evaluation after three years that will give them the R3 certificate.
On the other hand, it has also been requested on numerous occasions that the leave of absence, of whatever kind, are not taken into account in the evaluations. And it is that until now they penalized, since the last years of investigation were evaluated. This harmed people who requested permission to care for their children or dependent or sick relatives. All this “will no longer be taken into account”Morant has stated.
“This is the science law that Spain needs to become a fairer and greener country. It is the law that we need for science to settle “, Morant commented towards the end of his appearance.
This new law also coincides with an increase in the General State Budgets (PGE) in investment in science. The item from the Ministry of Science and Innovation has gone from 2,007 million euros in 2019 (extended in 2020) to almost double; that is, budgets set at 3,843 million by 2022as Minister Diana Morant explained last October.
The new science law now has to go through the Congress of Deputies. We don’t know how much of all this will take place in the end. These first brushstrokes seem to lead to the fight against precariousness in a key sector for the future of Spain.