"There will be no CSIC contracts until there is no funding ... - The País.com (Spain)

physicist Emilio Lora-Tamayo has lived as chairman and managing the most acute crisis in living memory of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), with a budget hole that has been on the verge of collapse as scientific institution in Spain. The rescue has arrived, in extremis, in the form of 70 million, approved last week, adding another 25 this past July. “O me the money arrived in the month of October or technical failure we entered,” says Lora-Tamayo in his office at the headquarters of the CSIC. What now? “Not that we have a buoyant scenario, of course, and we need austerity and prudence in spending, but it is not this year, we were in a situation that did not go out …”.

Lora-Tamayo (Madrid, 1950), well known institution which was president between 2003 and 2004, and knew what he faced when he took office repeat, to get the Government of Rajoy, with a stage critical budget. But these almost 22 months must have been very difficult, with continued budgetary drift with the uncertainty and confusion of the 11,500 people who work in the CSIC and constant protests against cuts in R & D.

Asked . What will notice CSIC researchers credit of 70 million

“O me the money arrived in October or we entered technical default”

Reply . will see the president with a relaxed face. And we have the assurance that we cover the year that we have avoided technical bankruptcy. I want to highlight the complete receptivity by the ministry [Economy and Competitiveness]: we made some promises have been fulfilled in time and amount promptly. So now we come to the end of the year without any problems, with zero deficit and, most importantly, up to 2014, 50 million transfers received from the ministry. These two elements, and CSIC Viability Plan, we put in a scenario much clearer.

P. What are going to plug those holes 70 million

R. It will complete the credit allocation has been done to the institutes from the resolution of July 4, when they were given 50 million … then in September were another 25, and 25 more in September and October. In addition, a contingency bag to handle cases in which the envelope does not arrive. To cover this semester research projects we were missing about 15 million. Furthermore, the money is devoted to the operation of the institution operating.

P. For many researchers July 4 was an yard in which they are spending limited funds they had gained in projects outside the CSIC, contracts, etc. …

R. The situation is as it is and at that time, the availability of credit did not allow more than those 50 million. If we had not taken the decision to rationalize expenditures, or rationing, we run the risk that the first request will take money and not much to ask to stay later. We knew that with the 50 million did not cover all the needs of the projects, but also open a bag of contingency scientists could request the money in deciding not to paralyze a research project or incur no penalties … Is that since 2009, began CSIC reduced budgets, but continued a series of investment programs that generate own expense. From the outset we note that the money was running out. We cut these programs, but drag the commitments and that is what has carved CSIC capacity.

“It is not automatic that people formed here have to stay here”

P. So, were suspended in 2012, calls for the CSCI program contracts JAE (Board of Advanced Studies). How long?

R. Until there is a covering that program budget. It never has been. JAE program seems like a great initiative that complements the contracts Juan de la Cierva and Ramón y Cajal of the ministry … but until we have specific funding for it … The latest JAE termination of contracts of doctors was in November 2011 were about 100.

P. CSIC How does the 10-month delay of the call for projects of the State Plan?

R. The ministry is imminent tells me the call and I have no reason not to believe it. If the call is made now will not be resolved until May or June, and also assure me that does not mean you do not get the 2014. That everyone assumes that we swallow a call, I do not take it for granted, no one has told me that I will well and explicitly asked. But what will happen … not for me to decide.

P. How many places will be convened for the CSIC in 2014?

R. will use public spaces 2014. What is in the Finance Act, once again, is that the CSIC (to all public research organizations) allow us 10% of the net rate of replenishment. No big deal, but for me it has a testimonial value: despite the situation, the Government identifies us as something that must be promoted.

P. With a place for every 10 who retire without JAE contracts, is not the CSIC shooting himself in the foot? With fewer researchers will be less projects and industrial contracts.

“I do not take for granted that we swallow one year National Plan”

R. Yes, is decreasing uptake capacity projects. But it is now further refine the aim-shots-and talking to sign, with the few items that we have, to excellent. We are all wishing for more human resource capacity, but must be very defined and very excellent. So when I say that people will have formed here … It is very important for scientists to come out and when you’re good researcher is the raffle. What we need is to have sufficient opportunity to, if not now, in the moment as possible, recapture, forgiveness capture the best excellence there. It is not automatic that people who have been trained here have to stay here to work. People have to be trained and we can capture the best that is in each moment, that maybe are not the same … some of them do, and some do not.

P. One hundred CSIC center directors have signed the four points of the Charter by science on payback, 2008, not at the rate replacement of 10%, creating the State Investigation Agency … What do you think?

R. Everyone can be pretty much agree with many of the things said there, with hints … I’m not so in accordance with the pipe, through a letter. In the case of directors, have signed a personal capacity. The directors are delegated the President in the centers therefore are expressing a personal opinion …

P. Is it okay payback 2008?

R. Who is not going to look good? But that it is “now want one third and one third the next year …”. No, look at the situation how it is.