The transfer will give the region its own authority to plan, promote and implement research, development and innovation programmes. Navarra will manage around €13.3 million, and local companies and research centres will still be able to apply for national funding calls.
A further step in self-government
The Government of Navarra and the Spanish Government have reached an agreement to transfer R&D&I powers to the region. President María Chivite announced the deal in the Navarra Parliament. The details were then set out by First Vice-President and Minister for the Presidency and Equality, Javier Remírez, and by Minister for Universities, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Juan Luis García.
The agreement implements Article 44 of LORAFNA, Navarra’s statute of self-government. This article gives the region exclusive powers over scientific and technical research, without prejudice to the State’s role in general promotion and coordination. The regional government described the transfer as “a further step forward in self-government”. It is the fifth transfer secured by the current administration.
What Navarra will take on
Navarra will be responsible for organising, planning, promoting, implementing and monitoring R&D&I programmes within the region. The State will retain general coordination and the promotion of initiatives of general interest.
The assessment was based on budget lines from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities totalling around €829 million. Applying Navarra’s current allocation index, around €13.3 million will be managed by the regional administration. The budget lines selected fund structural, ongoing activities. National competitive funding calls remain unaffected, and organisations based in Navarra will be able to keep applying as usual.
Next steps
The text will be submitted to the Navarra delegation of the Transfer Board and then signed by the Joint Committee with the Spanish central administration. The transfer will take effect once the Royal Decree comes into force, expected in the final quarter of 2026. A joint technical committee, with equal representation from both administrations, will oversee its implementation and coordinate cooperation between them.
Source: navarra.es