AEI

The mission of the AEI is to promote scientific and technical research in all areas of knowledge through the efficient allocation of public resources, the promotion of excellence, the encouragement of collaboration among the agents of the System, and the support for generating knowledge with high scientific, technical, economic, and social impact—including that aimed at addressing major societal challenges—as well as the monitoring of funded activities and the provision of the necessary advice to improve the design and planning of the actions or initiatives through which the R&D policies of the General State Administration are implemented.

According to its Statute, the functions of the AEI are:

• The management of the programmes, instruments, and actions assigned to it within the framework of the State Plans for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation, any others expressly assigned to it by the General State Administration, or those arising from collaboration agreements with other entities or from other activities, through the objective and impartial allocation of available resources.

• The organisation and management of ex ante and ex post scientific-technical evaluation of proposals, actions, or initiatives when the use of evaluation criteria based on internationally recognised scientific and technical merit is required, as well as the criteria established in the corresponding calls.

• The verification, monitoring, and subsequent evaluation of the activities funded by the Agency and their scientific, technical, and socio-economic impact, as well as the control of compliance with the conditions and objectives of the grants received.

• The communication and dissemination of the results of the evaluations carried out.

• The monitoring of the management, funding, justification, and results of all actions directly implemented by the Agency, as well as providing advice on them.

• Participation in national and international meetings and forums related to matters within its purpose and objectives, and representation in R&D&I policy forums when so determined by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The Agency’s participation in international forums shall take place in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation when deemed necessary.

• The dissemination and communication of the results of its activities and of the research funded by the Agency.

• The management of actions aimed at fostering collaboration, exchange, circulation, dissemination, and utilisation of scientific and technical knowledge among the actors of the System.

• The execution of activities or provision of services entrusted to it by the General State Administration or, by virtue of contracts, agreements, or other legal arrangements, by other entities.

• The management of R&D actions financed with European funds and those deriving from Spain’s participation in international programmes.

• The economic and budgetary management and the economic-financial control of the instruments and actions for which it is responsible.

• Any other function entrusted to it.