Sol Carretero meets the Minister of Science to discuss talent attraction programs

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The Minister of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Diana Morant, met this Monday at the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid with six researchers who have benefited from the ATRAE and Research Consolidation calls. Among these researchers is Sol Carretero, a senior scientist at the Institute of Materials Science of Madrid (ICMM-CSIC) for the past year. During this meeting, Morant announced that the Spanish Government plans to approve an investment of 80 million euros this Tuesday in the Council of Ministers for two new editions of these programs to attract and consolidate scientific talent in our country.

Morant emphasized that these calls are "success stories" to "make Spain a country that knows how to care for scientists, incorporates them into the science system, and provides them with stability." In this regard, she highlighted that the new calls will be funded with the national budget. "We are already answering the question of what will happen after the Recovery Plan funds: we are covering it with the national budget because we are committed to increasing investment in science to allocate 3% of GDP in 2023, with public and private financing," she said.

New Research Consolidation Call, Funded with 50 Million Euros

Morant explained that the government plans to authorize an allocation of 50 million euros for the third edition of the Research Consolidation call, which aims to consolidate the careers of 250 researchers from our country and abroad in institutions within the Spanish R&D system.

In the two previous editions of this call, coordinated by the State Research Agency (AEI), nearly 169 million euros were granted, consolidating the careers of 842 researchers from 34 different nationalities in Spanish institutions. Of the total, 731 researchers are Spanish and 111 are foreign.

**Second Edition of the ATRAE Program, Funded with 30 Million Euros**

Additionally, the minister detailed that the government plans to authorize the second edition of the ATRAE program, coordinated by the AEI, which will have a budget of 30 million euros to attract 30 world-leading scientists who have recently worked abroad to Spain.

In its previous edition, the call successfully incorporated 30 internationally renowned researchers into our country, 15 of whom are Spanish and 15 foreign. "We are managing to bring back the talent that left and attract foreign talent that sees our country as an attractive place to do science," Morant said.

Each of them receives a three- to four-year contract with a commitment to stabilization by the hosting entity. Additionally, they receive up to one million euros to develop their research line in Spain, purchase equipment, hire staff, and cover their salary.