The program promotes the development of advanced technologies for the exploration of the universe and instrumentation for future experiments in particle and nuclear physics
The Regional Ministry of University, Research and Innovation makes available to Andalusian universities and public R&D centers aid worth 7.85 million euros to finance research projects in astrophysics and high-energy physics that develop advanced technologies for the exploration of the universe and its components. To this end, the regional Executive will open a call for expressions of interest from today Monday, February 20, so that these Andalusian knowledge agents can present their proposals and initiatives and thus promote new scientific-technical advances in this field.
These subsidies are part of the Complementary Plan for Astrophysics and High Energy Physics promoted by Andalusia together with the Valencian Community, Madrid, Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Cantabria, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Innovation and with the support of the European recovery funds.
The method of expressions of interest constitutes a public consultation launched by the Administrations in order to receive proposals that are adjusted to a certain action that they want to implement and to subsequently finance the best valued ones. The deadline to participate in this process of the Regional Ministry of University will end on March 10 and applications must be submitted in the electronic registry of the Administration of the Board, through the following address: http://www.sica2.cica.es or alternatively at https://juntadeandalucia.es/servicios/tramites/presentacion-documentos.html.
This program contemplates the implementation of several lines of action oriented towards the development of cutting-edge instrumentation for future particle and nuclear physics experiments and the promotion of astrophysical instrumentation aimed at Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS), at projects of the European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and space missions. In the same way, it seeks to promote space exploration with small satellites or the design of large astronomical maps. The application of new technologies such as big data or artificial intelligence in this field of research will also be deepened.
Promotion of the Calar Alto Observatory and the National Accelerator Center
The collaboration of the seven regions in all these aspects is intended to make a qualitative leap in the country’s participation in the next generation of leading international projects in this field.
These funds will provide a significant boost to Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures located in the Region and related to astrophysics and high-energy physics, which is the branch of physics that studies the elementary components of matter and the interactions between them. .
Specifically, it will be a boost for the Calar Alto Observatory, the largest continental astronomical observation facility in Europe located in the Sierra de los Filabres (Almería). It has exceptional instrumentation and these resources will contribute to the development of a new instrument for the 12-foot telescope, an integral field spectrograph. Also for the National Accelerator Center, located in the Cartuja Science and Technology Park (Seville), which will be able to optimize its mass spectrometry system, thus being able to position as a leader in the application of this technique to nuclear physics problems, particles and astrophysics.
Likewise, the proposed lines of work will also have a positive impact on the research groups integrated into the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía.
Activities 2025
The research teams will have until September 30, 2025 to carry out their activities, and the period of execution cannot exceed two and a half years.
Applications submitted to this line of incentives must be endorsed by doctoral research staff and, among the members of the research team, scientists selected through Emergia may be included. This program of the Junta de Andalucía promotes the attraction of talent with international experience to the community and the second edition has recently been resolved with an investment of 15.7 million and the incorporation of 60 profiles to Andalusian science.
Among the concepts eligible for financing is the salary cost, which should represent approximately 40 or 50% of the total budget. Disbursements in equipment or infrastructures will also be covered, representing around 30 or 40%, as well as other execution expenses that are strictly necessary for the correct implementation of the initiative, with an associated percentage of between 5 and 10% of the global calculation.
The evaluation and selection of the applications will be carried out by the Directorate of Evaluation and Accreditation (DEVA) of the Andalusian Knowledge Agency, taking into account the scientific-technical quality of the proposal and of the research group, its alignment with the fields of work indicated, its comprehensive nature (covering the maximum possible number of these areas of action), as well as the economic and social impact derived from the project.
This line of subsidies is co-financed by the Junta de Andalucía with 2.75 million euros (35%), and by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, which assumes the remaining amount of 5.10 million euros (65%), through of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which draws on the ‘Next Generation’ Recovery Fund, approved by the EU to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Investment of 39.1 million in seven Regions
The Complementary Plan for Astrophysics and High Energy Physics has, for its implementation in the seven regions, an allocation of 39.1 million euros; 16.1 from the participating communities and another 23 from European funds through the Ministry
The complementary plans make it possible to establish collaborations and align the efforts of the central administration and the autonomous communities with community financing for recovery in strategic areas for the country, responding to European criteria. They focus on eight areas of interest, of which four have the participation of Andalusia: in addition to astrophysics, also biodiversity, biotechnology applied to health and marine sciences.
