The Minister of Science and Innovation, Pedro Duque, will appear tomorrow Thursday, March 4 at 10:00 AM before the Commission of Science, Innovation, and Universities of the Congress of Deputies to present the Pact for Science and Innovation. This Pact, signed by more than 70 entities including BIOVEGEN, will be debated with the deputies from all political parties represented in the Lower House. Additionally, in the same session of the Commission, parliamentary groups will vote on the agreement to create a Subcommittee related to the development of the Pact for Science and Innovation and the study and analysis of the modification of the Science Law. The subcommittee will continue the commitment signed by the Ministry with civil society, which is expected to culminate in an agreement with the maximum possible political consensus to provide R&D&I with budgetary stability and public policies. The presentation session can be followed live on the website of the Congress of Deputies.
The Pact for Science and Innovation has already been signed by more than 70 representative Spanish organizations from science, universities, businesses, and workers. This document reflects the agreement of civil society on the role of science and innovation in Spain and outlines a series of concrete commitments regarding resources, organization of the system, and Human Resources, primarily to sustainably increase public investment in R&D+i. First, it aims to secure medium- and long-term public funding to converge with the average public investment in R&D+i within the European Union. Second, it seeks to provide independence and sufficient resources and means to R&D+i funding agencies – the State Agency for Research (AEI), CDTI, and the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) – . Finally, the pact proposes to consolidate a stable public research career and promote a greater incorporation of scientific personnel into companies.