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| The Catalan Research and Innovation System
Catalonia is emerging as one of the leading centres of knowledge of the Mediterranean, and the Catalan Agreement on Research and Innovation, promoted by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Enterprise (DIUE), is its road map. Today Catalonia produces almost 1% of world scientific production, 2.5% of the European Union and 25% of the Spain total. It is the fifth European region (according to Eurostat) with more workers who are dedicated to science and technology (nearly 600 000 in 2007). 40 000 of these 600 000 were involved full-time in research and 25 000 were researchers. The Catalan Research and Innovation System is essentially made up of the universities, the public research centres of the regional administration (CERCA), the network of centres linked to the Catalan Health Service, Spanish state public research bodies (CSIC) and private sector R&D&I departments.
Catalan scientific policy is principally established by means of the Government of Catalonia research plans, the state plans of the Spanish government and the European Union research support programmes. Although research resources have not been completely transferred, since the reestablishment of Government of Catalonia its ministries and centres have undertaken a series of measures in the field of R&D. In order to coordinate all the measures of the Government of Catalonia in the field of scientific research and technological innovation, the Inter-ministerial Commission for Research and Technological Innovation (CIRIT) was created in 1980. On 10 November 2009, the Government of Catalonia, at the request of the Minister for Universities, Innovation and Enterprise, approved Decree 175/2009 creating the Inter-ministerial Research and Innovation Commission (CIRI) and the Research and Innovation Coordination Office (OCRI). As a consequence of this restructuring of the Ministry of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, the Inter-ministerial Council for Research and Technological Innovation (CIRIT) will cease to exist and the human and material resources assigned to the Management of this body will be reassigned to the Research and Innovation Coordination Office (OCRI). These changes, together with the creation of the Catalan Council for Research and Innovation (CCRI) fulfil the commitments that the Government of Catalonia assumed in the Catalan Agreement on Research and Innovation (CARI) regarding changes on the political level in the governance of the Catalan research and innovation system.
What is the CARI? It sets out the roadmap on research and innovation for the next 15 years. It was signed by the Government of Catalonia, all Catalan universities, political parties represented in parliament, Fomento del Trabajo, PIMEC and UGT. Other agents (research centres, science parks, chambers of commerce, local administration, technology centers, banks, business schools, etc.) are formalizing their support to the Agreement. This support means to share the purpose and vision of the CARI and the challenges and objectives and the need to develop the commitments to be established. More information:www.gencat.cat/diue/departament/pnri/  www.gencat.cat/diue/departament/pnri/preguntes/index.html
The 2010-2013 Research and Innovation Plan (PRI) is the instrument the Administration of the Government of Catalonia uses to perform the task of planning, promoting and coordinating Catalonia's research and innovation. It is also the fundamental instrument for maintaining the development of the Catalan Agreement on Research and Innovation (PNRI) This Plan covers a period lasting up to 2013, with the aim of synchronising it with European planning (EU 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (2007-2013)). The inter-ministerial contribution to this Plan has been decisive in the much sought-after horizontal integration of RDI objectives and policies. Compared to previous plans, the advice received by the Catalan Council for Research and Innovation (CCRI), who at the request of the Government has provided its opinion on the framework of the 2010-2013 PRI, has also been conclusive, as has the OECD report (OECD Reviews of Regional Innovation: Catalonia, Spain (2009)). The Catalan Research and Innovation Plan 2005-2008 (PRI), which lays down the strategies to be pursued by the Generalitat in the coming years, was approved by the government in January 2005. CIRIT was responsible for coordinating work on the plan, which was drawn up jointly by Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise and the Department of Employment. www10.gencat.cat/pricatalunya/pri_2005/eng/index.htm The Research Directorate General Master Plan (2004-2007) Previous Catalan Research and Innovations Plans
The National R&D&I Plan 2008-2011, which constitutes the strategic backbone for Spanish R&D&I policy, aims to contribute to the generation, diffusion and exploitation of knowledge to the benefit of society. www.plannacionalidi.es/plan-idi-public/ Programa Ingenio 2010 is a technological development plan aimed at involving the State, the universities, other public research bodies, and businesses in the endeavour to make Spain competitive in the R&D and Innovation area. It consists of three main instruments: CÉNIT, CONSOLIDER and AVANZ@. More information: http://web.micinn.es
 How European science policy is being shaped?
The Framework Programmes, which represent the main initiative in support of R&D in the European Union, essentially provide funding for basic research, technological development, innovation, and transnational cooperation mechanisms for businesses and research centres in the EU and in other countries. The EU also finances improvements to European infrastructures and coordination between systems, researcher training and coordination between national R&D programmes, and also funds the creation of pan-European technology platforms. 7th Framework Programme 2007-1013. It bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA European Research Area. More information: European Research Area
In Catalonia The Catalan science and technology system is fundamentally composed of universities, Catalan public research centres, centres associated with the Catalan healthcare system (Catalan Health Service), State public research centres, and company R&D departments.
Between the public and private sectors there are many interface structures functioning in a range of areas (the sciences, technology, production, finance, etc.). The aims of these interfaces are to ensure that the results of research are transferred and to facilitate the application of innovative technologies in the productive sector. Of note in this respect is the work of technology transfer offices, technical service centres, training and assessment centres, science and technology parks, risk capital entities, spin-off bodies, and finally, research-support bodies such. Finally, private sector research will not be overlooked, particularly the R&D&I departments of medium and large private companies in the automobile, food processing, chemicals and pharmaceutical sectors.
FACILITATOR ORGANISATIONS
LEVEL OF IMPLEMENTATION
The institution focuses on training and attracting research talent; providing better incentives and conditions for research; becoming a point of reference for the assessment of the research system; improving the social recognition of research; and increasing the impact of research (improving knowledge transfer between university and enterprise).
Research career comprises four stages:
Each stage in the career plan is supported by a series of instruments aimed at fostering the development of careers in both the public sector (universities, research centres, hospitals, government bodies, etc.) and private sector (business and other entities). The programme also actively supports mobility of researchers between countries and between the academic and business sectors. Those tools are the following:
More information: http://www10.gencat.cat/agaur_web/AppJava/english/index.jsp The first strategic objective of the 2010-2013 PRI is the best scientific, creative, innovative and entrepreneurial talent. To enable the incorporation, retention and mobility of talent in the research and innovation system so that its agents have the necessary human capital to implement the activities. A revision of research career is planned within the framework of this strategic objective. More information: www10.gencat.cat/pricatalunya/recursos/pri_2010_13_resum_exec_eng.pdfResearch career in Spain: http://www.micinn.es/portal/site/MICINN/menuitem.8ce192e94ba842bea3bc
Source: Ministry of Science and Innovation
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The Catalan Research and Innovation System 
), an internal market for science and technology. It fosters scientific excellence, competitiveness and innovation through the promotion of better co-operation and coordination between relevant actors at all levels. 