Knowledge-generating Bodies Directory

The Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas (OEPM) is an autonomous public entity under Spain’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism. Established in 1975, it is responsible for granting and managing industrial property rights in Spain, including patents, utility models, trademarks, trade names, industrial designs, and semiconductor topographies. The OEPM also represents Spain in international forums and organizations related to industrial property

ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones is a public business entity under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain. Established in 1982, it aims to boost the international presence of Spanish companies and attract foreign investment to the country. ICEX offers a wide range of services, including market intelligence, strategic consulting, financial advice, and talent development programs. With a network of 104 Economic and Commercial Offices worldwide, it supports Spanish businesses in navigating global markets and enhancing their competitiveness.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is a global, non-governmental scientific organisation founded in 1919 that brings together national chemistry societies and organisations from around the world to promote consistent standards, terminology, nomenclature and data practices in chemistry. Through its network of volunteers and committees, IUPAC develops authoritative recommendations for chemical nomenclature (including naming new elements), measurement standards, data formats and terminology, thereby ensuring that the language of chemistry is internationally consistent and accessible. Governed by a Council of national members, supported by an Executive Board and Science Board as well as numerous task groups, IUPAC serves as the “world authority” in chemistry for standard-setting and international collaboration.

The Ayuntamiento de Madrid is the local government and top-tier administrative body responsible for governing the city and municipality of Madrid, Spain, led by the Mayor (Alcalde), currently José Luis Martínez-Almeida. Serving as the City Council, its main functions include managing essential municipal services such as urban planning, public infrastructure (works and equipment), mobility and environment (like the Madrid 360 sustainability strategy), social welfare, public safety (Security and Emergencies), and culture/tourism. Its headquarters are located in the iconic Palacio de Cibeles (Cibeles Palace), where the Plenary, composed of democratically elected councillors, determines local policy and oversees the executive functions carried out by the Mayor and the Governing Board.

The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service is responsible for the proposal and implementation of the Government's policy on telecommunications, the information society, digital transformation and the development and promotion of artificial intelligence.

The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service is also responsible for proposing and implementing government policy on public administration, civil service and public governance.

The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, under the senior management of the head of the department, carries out the functions legally assigned to it through the following senior and executive bodies:

• The State Secretariat for Digitization and Artificial Intelligence, on which the General Directorate for Digitization and Artificial Intelligence, the General Directorate of Data and the General Directorate for Strategic Planning in Advanced Digital Technologies and New Language Economics depend.

• The State Secretariat for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, on which the General Secretariat for Telecommunications and Management of Audiovisual Communication Services is responsible.

• The Secretariat of State for Civil Service, on which the General Secretariat for Digital Administration, the Directorate-General for Civil Service, with the rank of Sub-secretariat, and the Directorate-General for Public Governance are responsible. The Office for Conflicts of Interest, with the rank of Directorate-General, also falls under this Secretary of State.

The Subsecretariat for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service is a direct responsibility of the person in charge of the department.

As an organ for immediate assistance to the head of the Department, there is a Cabinet, with general management rank, with the structure set out in Article 23.2 of Royal Decree 1009/2023 of 5 December, establishing the basic organizational structure of the ministerial departments.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 23.4 of Royal Decree 1009/2023 of 5 December, there will be a communication unit in the Cabinet, responsible for the official communication of the department, which will be responsible for directing and maintaining the information relations with the social media and disseminating the general information of the department.

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The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities is the State Administration department responsible for the implementation of the Government's policy on scientific and technical research, technological development and innovation in all sectors, including the management of international relations in this area and Spanish representation in programmes, forums and organisations in the European Union and the relevant international organisations.

Almost since its foundation, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has established Institutional Delegations in various regions as an essential part of its organisational structure. In fact, the delegations in Galicia and Navarre were opened in 1943. At that time, the Galician delegation was presided over by the rector of the University of Santiago de Compostela, who was assisted by other board members of renowned prestige from academic and professional fields.

In 1985, the headquarters of the Galician Delegation were established, namely in the facilities of the Galician Agrobiological Research Institute (Santiago de Compostela), and José Manuel Gallardo Abuín, a research professor from the Institute of Marine Research (Vigo), was appointed institutional delegate.

The CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) is the largest public research body in Spain. It is multisectoral and multidisciplinary in nature and is attached to the Ministry of Science and Innovation. There are eleven CSIC institutes in the Valencian Community, some of which are collaborations with Valencian universities and public bodies. These centres cover the scientific areas of humanities and social sciences (1), biology and biomedicine (2), natural resources (1), physical sciences and technologies (2), food sciences and technologies (1), agricultural sciences (2), and chemical sciences and technologies (1). Furthermore, the CSIC establishes collaborations with other entities. While maintaining the original affiliation of the participating researchers, these collaborations create a connection between them with a greater dedication to permanence, thus forming associated units. The CSIC Delegation in the Valencian Community represents the CSIC Presidency in this autonomous community. It is headed by the institutional delegate, Mr. Juan Fuster Verdú.

Salamanca Tech is an initiative by the City Council of Salamanca aimed at positioning the city as a hub of innovation and technological development. Through collaboration with universities, startups, tech companies, and research centers, it drives projects in health, science, technology, entrepreneurship, logistics, and sustainability. Key spaces include Tormes+ Innovation Space for immersive technologies and the IoT and AI Center (AIR Institute), supporting research, training, and entrepreneurship. Salamanca Tech also organizes events like the Salamanca Tech Summit and offers programs to support young professionals and startups.‍

The Network of Valencian Universities for the Promotion of Research, Development, and Innovation (RUVID) was established in December 2001 through a collaboration agreement between the five public universities in Valencia. In 2003, RUVID acquired its own legal personality and was incorporated as a non-profit association. It is currently composed of the following members. RUVID's purpose is to foster and facilitate scientific research, technological development, and innovation in all disciplines in which its members operate, in order to strengthen their role as agents of the Science-Technology-Innovation System. To this end, RUVID promotes lines of cooperation among its members and with other agents in the System.

Abioinnova is a public-private biotech / health-tech incubator and accelerator located in Salamanca (Spain), promoted by the City Council, under its “Salamanca Tech” strategy. It aims to attract, support and scale up startups or projects in biomedical engineering, biosanitary, personalised medicine, rare diseases, medical devices and related areas. Abioinnova offers specialised infrastructures (labs, shared high-tech equipment), private and co-working spaces, mentoring, business development, assistance with technology transfer, access to financing and internationalisation support. It is also part of the transboundary biotech ecosystem via the IberoBio project, which seeks to position the biotech sector across Spain-Portugal.

The Castilla-La Mancha Research and Innovation Agency has the mission of promoting scientific and technical research in all areas of knowledge through the competitive and efficient allocation of public resources, the monitoring of funded activities and their impact, and the provision of advice on the planning of actions or initiatives that implement the R&D policies of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government (Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha).

The Federación de Entidades de Innovación de Castilla-La Mancha (FEDICAM) is a regional federation that brings together the main technological and innovation centres of Castilla-La Mancha covering sectors such as metal, textiles, ceramics, wood and footwear with the goal of strengthening research, development and innovation (R+D+i) and transferring knowledge to the productive fabric. Acting as a coordinating body, it represents and supports its members in accessing regional, national and European funding programs, fosters specialization and technological capacity, and works closely with the regional government to align policies and promote competitiveness. Through initiatives like participation in EU projects and regional aid schemes, FEDICAM helps position these centres as key drivers of innovation and industrial modernization in the region.

The Agencia Gallega de Conocimiento en Salud (ACIS) is a public entity from Gallicia created with the vocation of becoming the nucleating element of the healthcare knowledge and innovation ecosystem in Galicia.

Fundación para el Conocimiento madri+d is an initiative of the Regional Government of Madrid created in 2002. Its main objectives are to contribute to make the quality of higher education, science, technology and innovation key elements of the competitiveness and well-being of citizens.

Fundación madri+d carries out the following activities to achieve its objectives:

• Contribute to the improvement of higher education through evaluation reports and others for accreditation and quality certification in the university environment, as well as to the measurement of the performance of the public service of higher education in accordance with objective procedures and transparent processes, considering the Spanish, European and international framework.
• Evaluate and accredit science and technology programs and projects.
• Promote the protection and transfer of knowledge from academic and scientific environments to business.Promote the creation, consolidation and growth of technology-based companies through different acceleration programmes such as: ESA BIC and HealthStart madri+d, Private Investors Network and Mentors Network madri+d. Fundación madri+d has also the first Mentoring Certification for Entrepreneurs of excellence in Europe.
• Manage research and innovation European programmes and promote the participation of Madrid institutions in European Programmes.
• Offer specialized training on R&D&I.
• Promote the dissemination of science and innovation through the organization of popularization activities and also giving specialized information in science and innovation through the website www.madrimasd.org and the daily newsletter, Notiweb.
• Foster scientific vocation and entrepreneurial spirit among young students without gender barriers.
• Promote Madrid as a place of international excellence for higher education, science, technology and innovation.
• Carry out other activities that are necessary to achieve the above objectives.

Fundación madri+d won in 2007 the IRE Award for Best European Regional Innovation Scheme.

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