841 Groups to Receive €45.8 Million in Funding

The Agency for the Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR), a body of the Catalan government, has published the provisional resolution for the SGR-Cat 2025 research grants. A total of 1,361 research groups have been recognised, with 841 set to receive funding for the 2026–2028 period. The total budget for the call is €45,803,821, representing an increase of nearly €7 million compared to the 2021 edition. Funding will be distributed across research groups from Catalan universities, CERCA research centres, CSIC centres in Catalonia, foundations, and scientific infrastructures. Of the 1,361 recognised groups, 795 are based at universities and 679 at CERCA centres.

Focus on Stability, Gender Parity and Impact

The grants aim to strengthen Catalonia’s research, development and innovation (R&D&I) system and boost its international visibility. To qualify, groups must have a stable core of at least four full-time doctors. This edition introduces stricter criteria to promote long-term stability and growth in research personnel, with average team size now at 20 members, up from 14 in 2017. Evaluation is based on six criteria: results (35%), research inputs (30%), work plan and challenges (15%), leadership and sustainability (10%), gender perspective (5%), and expected impact (5%). Women lead the majority of both submitted and funded groups, reflecting a commitment to gender parity.

  • Medical and Health Sciences
  • Engineering, Technology and Architecture
  • Social Sciences
  • Biomedicine
  • Sciences and Agricultural and Food Sciences

These were the knowledge areas with the highest number of provisionally selected projects.

Next Steps and Official Publication

The resolution forms part of the Catalan government’s broader strategy under the 'Pla Catalunya Lidera' and the departmental action plan for Research and Universities, which position research excellence as a driver of societal progress. The provisional resolution is now published on the Generalitat’s official portal. Groups have a set period to submit observations or appeals before the final resolution is confirmed. Further details, including the full list of recognised groups, are available via the Generalitat press release and AGAUR’s transparency portal.

Sources: Govern de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya, recerca.url.edu.