Image
Funding program for Pre-doctoral Students in Companies and Technology & Research Centres in La Rioja
Published on 10 September 2019
Spain
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Since 2013, the Government of La Rioja has been focused in R&D&I activities both in the public and private sector as one of its main policy challenges, addressing this funding program to carry out research activities in companies, technology & research centers located in La Rioja region.
Companies and research and technology centers are the beneficiaries of this funding program which allows them to hire pre-doctoral research staff covering their labor costs, enrollment fees and mobility expenses up to 48 months according to Spanish science law. Pre-doctoral students will be developing a real research project and at the end of this period, they will be able to have concluded their doctoral thesis within this framework some of which are focused in the agri-food sector as it is strategic for the regional economy
In the 1st call for the 2013-2017 period, this pre-doctoral funding program provided financial support to 8 organizations, 1 of them focused in mushroom research activities.
In the 2018-2022 call, the number of subsidies increased to 10, and 6 of them were based on mushrooms research activities, food safety, food industry processes simulation, reuse of food waste products and research and innovation in viticulture and oenology.
This objective is developed in La Rioja RIS3 Strategy in its prioritized area “La Rioja smart territory” and deploy in the the Fifth La Rioja R&D&I Plan - 2017-2020 in its Action Plan 2.1: "Promotion of research capital and its employability
Companies and research and technology centers are the beneficiaries of this funding program which allows them to hire pre-doctoral research staff covering their labor costs, enrollment fees and mobility expenses up to 48 months according to Spanish science law. Pre-doctoral students will be developing a real research project and at the end of this period, they will be able to have concluded their doctoral thesis within this framework some of which are focused in the agri-food sector as it is strategic for the regional economy
In the 1st call for the 2013-2017 period, this pre-doctoral funding program provided financial support to 8 organizations, 1 of them focused in mushroom research activities.
In the 2018-2022 call, the number of subsidies increased to 10, and 6 of them were based on mushrooms research activities, food safety, food industry processes simulation, reuse of food waste products and research and innovation in viticulture and oenology.
This objective is developed in La Rioja RIS3 Strategy in its prioritized area “La Rioja smart territory” and deploy in the the Fifth La Rioja R&D&I Plan - 2017-2020 in its Action Plan 2.1: "Promotion of research capital and its employability
Resources needed
The Project has been funded by La Rioja Government with 700,800€ in the 2013-2017 call and 2,208,382€ in the 2018-2022 call.
Regarding the human resources involved to run this practice, they are mainly composed by the Innovation Service staff of La Rioja Government which manages these calls.
Regarding the human resources involved to run this practice, they are mainly composed by the Innovation Service staff of La Rioja Government which manages these calls.
Evidence of success
In the 1st call the total budget was 700,800€, and in the 2nd call, the total budget was extended to 2,208,382€.
8 projects are related to agri-food sector in order to increase mushroom research activities based on the characterization of bioactive compounds, the improvement of food industry processes simulation, the reuse of food waste products, and advanced researches in the wine production, grapevine interactions with the biological environment and new viticulture production systems
8 projects are related to agri-food sector in order to increase mushroom research activities based on the characterization of bioactive compounds, the improvement of food industry processes simulation, the reuse of food waste products, and advanced researches in the wine production, grapevine interactions with the biological environment and new viticulture production systems
Potential for learning or transfer
According to our own experience, the development of this practice by other European regions would encourage public & private collaboration among governments, companies and research centres thanks to the possibility of carrying out research activities with a very positive impact on society and the regional stakeholders.
These activities could be associated with the development of new products, processes or services, as well as the formalization of collaboration contracts and exploitation contracts with national or international R&D companies and other institutions. In addition, the dissemination of R&D results is the best way to promote regional knowledge in an international context which may allow to attract talent to the region.
It is also highly recommended to align the activities developed in this framework of collaboration with the strategic plans of each region (RIS3).
These activities could be associated with the development of new products, processes or services, as well as the formalization of collaboration contracts and exploitation contracts with national or international R&D companies and other institutions. In addition, the dissemination of R&D results is the best way to promote regional knowledge in an international context which may allow to attract talent to the region.
It is also highly recommended to align the activities developed in this framework of collaboration with the strategic plans of each region (RIS3).
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Regional Government of La Rioja
Spain
La Rioja
Contact
Industrial Engineer