Can your centre be a beneficiary institution?
The following entities may be beneficiaries provided they meet the conditions of research and knowledge dissemination organisations:
OPI
Public research bodies as defined in Article 47 of Law 14/2011.
Universities
Public universities and university institutes; private universities with demonstrated R&D&I activity, registered in the RUCT.
Health institutions
Public and non-profit private health entities and institutions linked to the SNS.
Health research institutes
Institutes accredited under Royal Decree 279/2016.
Technology centres
Technology Centres and Technology Innovation Support Centres registered under RD 2093/2008.
Other R&D&I centres
Public or non-profit private centres with their own legal personality whose main activity is R&D&I.
Entities in which any of the circumstances set out in Article 13 of Law 38/2003 apply, or those subject to a pending recovery order for aid declared illegal by the European Commission, may not obtain beneficiary status.
Application procedure
The application is submitted by the R&D institution where the thesis project will be carried out. The process has two steps:
1 · Applicant
Prior accreditation in the Unified Applicant Registry (RUS), completion of the electronic application form, validation, electronic submission and signing of the generated documents.
2 · Legal representative of the institution
Completes the required information in the application, validates and submits it electronically.
Application content
- Application form (institution).
- List of applicants with their thematic area and thesis supervisor.
- Individual form for each applicant.
Documents to attach
- CVA of the thesis supervisor.
- Description of the scientific-technical and training context of the group (Annex II, max. 10 pages).
- Academic qualification certificates.
- For foreign qualifications, declaration of grade equivalence (MICIU electronic office).
Timeline
The three dates the centre needs to mark.
Application submission
From 20 October to 20 November 2026. The centre submits each application electronically, validated by the legal representative.
Provisional resolution (PRP)
Publication of the provisional list. Objection period as set out in the call.
Contract signing and joining
Start of predoctoral contracts. Up to 9 extendable months from the award date.
Obligations of the beneficiary institution
Contract formalisation
20 days following the award decision to formalise and submit the contract (extendable for justified reasons).
Joining
9 months from the award for the effective joining of the research staff. Only the contract is required, not doctoral enrolment.
Agreement with the university
If the beneficiary institution is not the university where the person enrols, an agreement must exist for them to carry out university teaching.
Equality and prevention
Comply with the effective equality obligations under Organic Law 3/2007 and occupational risk prevention (Law 31/1995, RD 171/2004).
Reporting and monitoring
Financial monitoring
Financial justification report within 3 months of the end of the grant execution period, in accordance with the AEI procedure.
Scientific-technical monitoring
The institution submits two reports to the granting body:
- Interim report: between months 20 and 21 (key for continued funding).
- Final report: in the month following the end of the period, covering the entire grant period.
The reports include a description of the work carried out, compliance with the training programme, teaching collaboration and, where applicable, research stays. The updated CV of the research staff is attached. The annual scientific and economic monitoring report is eliminated.
Funding and eligible costs
⚠️ Distinguish between the grant (what is awarded to the institution) and the contract amount (what the contracted person receives). The annual grant of €32,500 includes the employer's Social Security contribution: this is why the net gross salary reaching the PhD student's payroll is lower.
What the annual grant of €32,500 covers
Employment cost
- Gross salary of the researcher (minimum 75% of M3 AGE 2026 = €25,456/year).
- Employer's Social Security contribution paid by the institution.
Other items (total grant)
- End-of-contract severance pay: €3,350 (total, at end of period).
- Research stays at R&D centres and doctoral enrolment: €10,000 (total, 4 years).
| Item | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Employment cost (salary + Social Security) | €32,500 | Annual |
| End-of-contract severance pay | €3,350 | Total |
| Research stays at R&D centres and doctoral enrolment | €10,000 | Total (4 years) |
| Total individual amount | €143,350 | Per grant |
Employment, severance, stays and enrolment costs are all included in a single grant. The separate stays call and the management cost compensation for host institutions are eliminated.
Modifications to the award
The institution may request the following from the granting body:
Interruptions and extensions
Temporary incapacity, pregnancy, birth, adoption, breastfeeding, work-life balance, care of minors or family members, leave of absence for gender-based violence.
Changes
Of supervisor, team or beneficiary institution, on justified grounds and due to unforeseen circumstances. The new institution must declare compliance with the requirements and obligations.