Spain provides emergency funding to national research organization

Nature : The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) received €70 million from the government on 18 October. In July, CSIC president Emilio Lora-Tamayo had said that without €75 million in additional funding by the end of the year the organization would have to shut down many of the more than 100 research institutes it manages. Annual funding for CSIC has fallen to 30% of 2008 levels. Protests earlier this year prompted the government to propose an increase in research funding, but the €50 million increase for CSIC in 2014 is not expected to cover the organization’s costs next year. Protests continue because of scientists’ concern over whether funding will go forward. The government has not yet issued its National Plan for Science and Technology Research, Development and Innovation, which was expected to be released at the beginning of the year. The plan will provide details for grants available from 2014 to 2016.