The Spanish institution showcased its extensive experience with European programs and the support mechanisms available to researchers
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is Spain's largest public research institution and one of Europe's leading scientific organizations. With over 120 research centers and institutes spread across the country, it conducts cutting-edge research in all fields of science and technology—ranging from biomedicine and environmental sciences to engineering, artificial intelligence, and the humanities.
The Australian Leaders visited the CSIC headquarters to learn about its research structure, international experience, and the collaboration opportunities offered by the Horizon Europe program. Mónica Martín-Lanuza (Head of the International Alliances Department), Cynthia Monescillo (Senior Advisor for International Programs in Pre-award Services), and Cristina Agudo (Internationalization Specialist) showcased the scale of the institution, which employs a workforce of nearly 18,000 people and operates 124 research centers across Spain, covering a wide range of disciplines. Its areas of expertise are organized into broad fields encompassing life sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences and humanities.
They also highlighted the diversity of the centers and their specialization in fields ranging from biomedicine, agriculture, and food science to advanced materials, microelectronics, robotics, digital technologies, and social sciences. This structure enables the pooling of capabilities from various disciplines and locations to address specific scientific challenges.
International experience and Horizon Europe
CSIC representatives highlighted the organization's extensive experience with European programs and its capacity to participate in international projects. According to the data presented, the institution has steadily increased its participation in Horizon Europe projects in recent years, reaching approximately 760 active projects—an increase of nearly 30% compared to 2021.
Regarding the new opportunities the Horizon Europe program opens up for Australian institutions, it was highlighted that CSIC researchers already possess prior experience collaborating with Australian entities; there are currently 43 collaborative projects involving both Australian entities and the CSIC across various European framework programs.
Support for researchers
The institution's success in European programs is partly due to the services it offers its researchers to facilitate their participation in these programs. CSIC’s specialized units work on promoting opportunities and finding partners, as well as supporting project preparation and management once funding has been secured.
This support can begin months before a call for proposals is published—starting with the identification of opportunities and potential partners—and continue throughout the proposal preparation phase. CSIC representatives emphasized the importance of starting well in advance: ideally, an opportunity should be identified five to six months before the call closes, although timelines vary by area and program.
The value of joining existing consortia and connecting with researchers who possess complementary expertise was also highlighted. In this regard, international offices can help identify specific profiles within scientific networks and past European projects.
From proposal to project management
Furthermore, CSIC’s support does not end with the submission of a proposal; once a project secures funding, specialized units can assist researchers with administrative and legal matters, including the negotiation of consortium agreements.
It is also crucial to establish clear terms among partners from the outset, particularly regarding intellectual property, knowledge transfer, and the use of results.
CSIC also showcased other aspects of its international activities, such as mobility programs and bilateral agreements with scientific institutions in other countries. These initiatives foster links between researchers, allowing personal and scientific relationships to evolve into larger-scale projects.
The institution also highlighted its participation in major international scientific infrastructures and its role in knowledge transfer and science outreach. Alongside its research work, CSIC develops initiatives designed to bring science closer to society and provide scientific knowledge to support decision-making regarding specific social and environmental challenges. The meeting concluded with both parties expressing a willingness to collaborate on Australia's entry into the Horizon Europe program and to capitalize on the opportunities it will create starting January 1, 2027.
Meeting attendees:
Mónica Martín-Lanuza, Head of the International Partnership Department
Cynthia Monescillo, International Senior Programme Adviser at Pre-award Service
Cristina Agudo, Internationalization Specialist
