Spanish government accused of inflating budget

The Confederation of Spanish Scientific Societies has accused the Spanish government of inflating the R&D budget by allocating an excessive amount in loans that are never actually granted.

In a study published on 11 March, Cosce said that the 46 per cent of the budget—or €2,209 million—earmarked in 2013 by the Spanish government for research and innovation—never left the ministry’s coffers.

Most of this money was meant to fund research through loans, which public universities and research centres are not eligible for. According to the report, only one fourth of the loans foreseen that year were eventually granted.