The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has unveiled its comprehensive 2023–2024 Research and Knowledge Transfer Report, showcasing an extraordinary year marked by unprecedented advancements in research funding, talent acquisition, and innovation-driven initiatives. This extensive report not only details the quantitative growth of UC3M’s research portfolio but also highlights strategic alignment with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), affirming the university’s pivotal role as a beacon of scientific excellence and societal impact in Spain’s higher education ecosystem.
In a historic milestone, UC3M secured a record-breaking €56.78 million in research funding for the year 2024 alone. When aggregated over the past two years, funding inflows have surged beyond the €100 million threshold, an achievement that firmly positions UC3M at the forefront of institutions competitively attracting research and innovation capital. This influx of resources underpins a robust research infrastructure and catalyzes cutting-edge projects across diverse scientific disciplines.
The university’s prolific scientific output remains a cornerstone of its research profile, registering an impressive yearly average of 1,291 peer-reviewed articles published in prestigious national and international journals. Concurrently, the production of doctoral dissertations has witnessed a notable escalation, with 338 theses defended within the last biennium—a near 30% increase compared to the previous period. This trajectory evidences not only sustained academic rigor but also the cultivation of emerging research talent.
Talent recruitment stands out as a key pillar within UC3M’s strategic research agenda. In the past year, the university successfully onboarded three additional researchers funded by competitive European Research Council (ERC) grants, expanding the total active ERC projects to 13. Complementing this, the Researcher Consolidation Programme enabled the recruitment of eight promising academics, while the ATRAE scheme facilitated three grants aimed at attracting established researchers. These targeted initiatives reflect UC3M’s commitment to fostering a dynamic and high-caliber research community.
Financial backing for internal research endeavors experienced a dramatic escalation with the internal funding programme’s budget more than doubling—from €795,000 in 2023 to an impressive €1,629,389 in 2024. This infusion enabled the launch of multiple funding calls aimed at equipping researchers with advanced tools, supporting specialized investigative projects, and offering grants specifically tailored for young doctorate recipients. Notably, 2024 marked a paradigm shift as funds were earmarked for technology transfer initiatives and startup incubation, emphasizing UC3M’s transition from pure research to innovation commercialization.
The report’s novel inclusion of University contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adds a strategic dimension, linking UC3M’s research themes with global challenges. Particularly strong engagement was observed in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), alongside significant endeavors targeting SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This mapping of SDG alignment underscores UC3M’s purposeful orientation towards generating research outcomes with global relevance and societal benefit.
In pursuit of gender equality, UC3M has taken significant strides by disaggregating staffing data by gender for the first time, a move signaling heightened transparency and institutional commitment. The university’s forward-looking gender policies encompass initiatives to close career gaps, enhance the visibility of women’s contributions in research and entrepreneurship, and promote equitable opportunities. Upcoming funding calls for 2025 include support for six R&D managers dedicated to networks of female researchers and predoctoral contracts earmarked for women, reinforcing these principles.
Artificial intelligence (AI) research at UC3M has experienced notable expansion, with 20 predoctoral fellowships awarded for the 2024–2025 academic year, fostering specialized training in this transformative area. Moreover, the university launched a competitive call for interdisciplinary AI projects, backed by a total funding pool exceeding €1.3 million. This initiative forms part of a broader multi-year collaboration agreement with the Madrid Regional Government, aiming to elevate AI research capabilities and knowledge transfer prospects.
The modernization of research infrastructure is another critical facet of UC3M’s 2024 agenda. Through coordinated funding calls, seven grants were allocated for the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment to upgrade central services and research support facilities. Such infrastructural investments are strategic enablers, enhancing the university’s capacity to conduct advanced experiments and support multifaceted research collaborations.
A transformative regulatory framework for UC3M’s research institutes was ratified in 2024, introducing a structured three-year timeline to transition affiliated, proprietary, and joint research entities into UC3M Accredited Institutes. This reconfiguration aims to standardize quality metrics, streamline governance, and elevate the research ecosystem’s competitiveness. With evaluation criteria already established, the accreditation process has commenced, heralding a new era for institutional research excellence.
In its commitment to the translation of research into economic and societal value, UC3M has founded five new spin-off companies during 2024, now holding equity stakes in twelve such enterprises since 2015. This entrepreneurial momentum culminated in a notable “exit” event for one company in 2022, exemplifying the university’s ability to nurture high-impact innovations and successfully transition them into the marketplace.
Overall, the 2023–2024 Annual Research and Knowledge Transfer Report poignantly illustrates UC3M’s unwavering dedication to amplifying research quality, securing top-tier talent, and fostering dynamic knowledge transfer capabilities. This holistic approach consolidates its standing as a pioneering research institution, not only within Spain but also on the broader international stage, driving impactful science that resonates with societal imperatives and global sustainability agendas.
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Keywords: Research management; Academic publishing; Scientific community; Research programs; Information access; Open access; Big data; Research funding
