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Catalonian powerhouse

Nature volume 454, pages 248–249 (2008)Cite this article

Spain is revitalizing its science base, with Barcelona surging ahead as a Mediterranean science hub, reports Quirin Schiermeier.

Spanish science stagnated under a 40-year right-wing dictatorship followed by 30 years of, at best, timid reforms. But from 2004, the newly elected Socialist government increased science funding by 60% and started tackling the bureaucracies that obstructed change and froze out new young talent (see Nature 451, 1029; 2008). The government emphasized its commitment after re-election earlier this year by creating a science and innovation ministry, led by biologist Cristina Garmendia.

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  1. Quirin Schiermeier is Nature's Germany correspondent.

    Quirin Schiermeier

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  1. Quirin Schiermeier
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Spain aims at preimier league

Renaissance in Spain

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Barcelona Biomedical Research Park

Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)

Institute of Photonic Sciences

Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies

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Schiermeier, Q. Catalonian powerhouse. Nature 454, 248–249 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7201-248a

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