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Ministry of Science and Innovation

Information on the functions of the Ministry of Science and Innovation and its public, linked or dependent agencies.

Functions

The Ministry of Science and Innovation is the department of the General Administration of the State responsible for the proposal and execution of the Government's policy on science, technological development and innovation in all sectors, including scientific research, as well as the other competences and attributions conferred by the legal system.

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  1. The direction of the competences attributed to the department in scientific matters and research and development.
  2. The promotion and coordination of relations with the autonomous communities and local corporations in scientific and research and development matters.
  3. The direction of international relations in scientific, research and development matters, as well as the monitoring of European Union actions in this field and the definition of international cooperation programmes in these matters, bilateral or multilateral, without prejudice to the competences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, as well as the competences of the Under-Secretariat for Science and Innovation.
  4. The exercise of the functions of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, for actions cofinanced by the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, within the scope of its competences.
  5. The promotion, development and coordination of the activities of public research bodies attached to the General Secretariat for Research, including especially the coordination of personnel management.
  6. The management of matters to be dealt with by the Scientific, Technological and Innovation Policy Council, the Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Innovation and the Spanish Research Ethics Committee, within the scope of their competences.
  7. The management of national research awards.
  8. The promotion of knowledge by citizens of the activity developed by the scientific community, without prejudice to the activity of other organs of the department.

  1. The proposal and management of initiatives to promote innovation, including those for the circulation of knowledge, public-private collaboration and the promotion of the creation of knowledge-based technology-based companies.
  2. Coordination of activities to promote strategic areas of innovation.
  3. The issuance of the motivated reports provided for in Royal Decree 1432/2003, of 21 November, which regulates the issuance by the Ministry of Science and Technology of motivated reports regarding compliance with scientific and technological requirements, for the application and interpretation of tax deductions for research and development and technological innovation activities, without prejudice to the competences attributed to other bodies.
  4. The preparation of reports that the employer has the appropriate characteristics to carry out R&D&I activities, in order to authorize the residence and work in Spain of foreigners referred to in the Regulation of Organic Law 4/2000, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners and foreigners in Spain and their social integration, approved by Royal Decree 557/2011, of 20 April.
  5. The accreditation and management of the registry of Innovative SMEs provided for in Royal Decree 475/2014, of 13 June, on bonuses in the Social Security contribution of research personnel.
  6. The direction of state actions in the field of knowledge transfer, in coordination with the Ministry of Universities.
  7. The management of the Registry of Knowledge Transfer Offices.
  8. The management of the Register of Technology Centers and Technology Innovation Support Centers at the state level.
  9. The impulse to the public purchase of innovation.
  10. The promotion of joint programs with autonomous communities and local corporations in the field of innovation, without prejudice to the competences of other organs of the department.
  11. The development of functions linked to innovation in the field of internationalization and international promotion, without prejudice to the competencies of other bodies of the department.
  12. The promotion of Spanish participation in the innovation promotion programmes promoted by the European Union, within the scope of its powers and without prejudice to the competences of other bodies of the department.
  13. Coordination of the bodies with the financial path of the General Secretariat for Research and the General Secretariat for Innovation, for the management of Operational Programs cofinanced by European Union funds within the scope of the competences of this Ministry.
  14. Promotion and collaboration with technology platforms in strategic areas.
  15. Coordination of the contribution to national strategies and plans in the field of innovation, without prejudice to the competences of other bodies of the department.
  16. Relations and coordination with other units, bodies and agencies of the General Administration of the State responsible for innovation policies and sectoral policies closely related to these, including the designation of the persons representing the ministerial department before these bodies, without prejudice to the competences of other organs of the department.
  17. The coordination of State aid, within the scope of its competences, with the State Research Agency and the Center for Development for Technological and Industrial Development, as well as inter-ministerial and European coordination to ensure the correct application of the aforementioned State aid within the framework of the current regulations, without prejudice to the competences in the matter of other organs of the department.
  18. The management of matters to be dealt with by the Scientific, Technological and Innovation Policy Council, the Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Innovation and the Spanish Research Ethics Committee, within the scope of their competences.
  19. The management of national awards in the field of innovation and design.

  1. The ordinary representation of the Ministry.
  2. The institutional relations of the department with public and private bodies and entities, without prejudice to the competences attributed to other bodies.
  3. The exercise of the functions established in article 68 of Law 40/2015 in the field of advice, technical support and direct management in the international field in the case that they are not expressly attributed to other organs of the department.
  4. Support to the Minister or Minister and the management bodies of the department in the planning and coordination of the Ministry's activity, through the corresponding technical advice.
  5. The elaboration and coordination of the general plans of the department in terms of regulations, budgetary policy, personnel and remuneration, heritage, real estate and infrastructure, information and communication technologies, economic programming and budgetary control.
  6. The promotion, coordination, support and supervision of the department ' s general provisions development activities, as well as the efforts related to their publication.
  7. The direction, promotion and management of the functions related to the processing of the affairs of the Council of Ministers, Government Delegated Commissions and General Commission of Secretaries of State and Under-Secretaries.
  8. The promotion and coordination of the relations of the Ministry of Science and Innovation with the jurisdictional bodies, with the other departments of the General Administration of the State, with the persons occupying the Government Delegations and Sub-Delegations and with the other peripheral bodies.
  9. The direction of the inspection function on the services, agencies and centres attached to the department, especially with regard to the personnel, procedure, economic regime, facilities and endowments of these, as well as the assistance to the Minister in the functions of control of the activity of the department, carrying out those that allow to evaluate the operation, effectiveness and performance of the personnel and services of the Ministry.
  10. The management of administrative services, their rationalization and computerization, statistics, administrative information and documentation and the dispatch of matters not attributed to the competence of other organs of the department.
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Regulations

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Organic structure (organigram)

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