GUIDE | HR Excellence in Research 2026: what’s new
25 de March de 2026
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19 de May de 2026GUIDE | HR Excellence in Research 2026: what’s new
25 de March de 2026Deep tech in Europe: projects driving innovation and science-based startups
19 de May de 2026Insights, Strategic planning and evaluation
· 28 de April de 2026
Key changes in the 2026 “Severo Ochoa” Centres of Excellence and “María de Maeztu” Units call
The 2026 call for “Severo Ochoa” Centres of Excellence and “María de Maeztu” Units introduces significant changes aimed at strengthening scientific quality, international positioning and the global impact of funded centres and units.
The Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) has announced the forthcoming 2026 call for the “Severo Ochoa” Centres of Excellence and “María de Maeztu” Units of Excellence programmes. These programmes recognise existing excellence and seek to strengthen its development through medium-term strategic plans supported by competitive funding and rigorous international evaluation.
Applications will remain open until 17 June 2026. This edition introduces significant changes designed to reinforce scientific quality, international visibility and the global impact of funded centres and units.
Main changes in the 2026 call compared with 2025
- Programmes in which the call is integrated: greater explicit emphasis on talent and training.
- 2025: R&D Promotion Programme.
- 2026: Experimental R&D Programme + Human Resources Programme.
- Subprogrammes: strategic reorientation towards talent.
- 2025: Institutional strengthening + training (previous model).
- 2026: Institutional strengthening + training, talent attraction and retention subprogramme.
- Predoctoral activities: introduction of a new postdoctoral phase.
- 2025: Traditional predoctoral training.
- 2026: Predoctoral training + postdoctoral orientation period (POP).
- Exclusions based on previous evaluation: stricter filters for resubmissions.
- 2025: Not always explicit.
- 2026: Exclusion of centres/units from 2025 scoring below 85 points or failing to pass phase 1.
- Participation of accredited centres: clearer and stricter incompatibility rules.
- 2025: Similar restrictions, but less explicitly stated.
- 2026: Centres/units accredited in 2023, 2024 and 2025 may not apply.
- Maximum number of applications: stricter first-come admission rules.
- 2025: Similar (≈4).
- 2026: Maximum of 4 (13 for CSIC), with strict rules based on registration order.
- AEI organisational structure: internal reorganisation of the agency.
- 2025: Previous structure.
- 2026: Changes to the names of Directorates and Subdirectorates.
- Duration of strategic plans: explicit definition of the start date.
- 2025: 4 years.
- 2026: 4 years (starting, at the latest, on 1 January 2027).
- Eligible costs: greater detail and financial control.
- 2025: Similar.
- 2026: Stricter rules on personnel, salary supplements (≤5%) and co-financing.
- Mobility and research stays: greater regulatory precision.
- 2025: General regulation.
- 2026: More specific limits on duration, amounts and allowances.
- Evaluation principles: closer alignment with European responsible research assessment policies.
- 2025: Already partially aligned.
- 2026: Explicit reinforcement of DORA and European talent principles.
- Digitalisation and management: full consolidation of digital processing.
- 2025: Electronic procedures.
- 2026: Greater use of Facilit@, RUS and SISEN.
- Strategic narrative: evolution towards a more comprehensive approach.
- 2025: Scientific excellence.
- 2026: Excellence + impact + transfer + talent.
More demanding evaluation: strategic preparation as a success factor
The complexity of the criteria, the level of scrutiny and the emphasis on impact mean that attention to detail and strategic clarity are decisive for a proposal’s success. This is where specialist support can make a difference by helping maximise the quality of applications.
In highly competitive calls of this kind, Effectia adds value through the structuring, planning and management of excellence proposals. Our approach helps systematise the strategic preparation of the application, improve alignment between scientific objectives and expected impact, and facilitate monitoring of requirements and evaluation criteria. It also reduces the administrative burden and optimises the presentation of the centre’s results and capabilities.