AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION

Their core work

Spain's national research funding agency (AEI) that co-finances transnational research through ERA-NET Cofund mechanisms. Rather than performing research directly, AEI aligns Spanish national R&I funding with European priorities by participating in joint calls across environment, energy, food, health, and frontier science. With 48 of its 56 H2020 projects being ERA-NET Cofunds, it serves as the gateway for Spanish researchers to access coordinated European funding in areas from biodiversity to quantum technologies. AEI enables cross-border research collaboration by committing Spanish public funds to jointly designed transnational programmes.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, AEI's portfolio centred on biodiversity, water management, sustainable development, and resource efficiency — reflecting Spain's alignment with traditional environmental JPIs and early ERA-NETs. By 2019–2021, the agency shifted significantly toward climate mitigation and adaptation, circular economy, and frontier technologies including FET Flagships and quantum technologies. This evolution mirrors the broader European policy shift from resource management toward climate action and deep-tech investment.

AEI is increasingly channelling Spanish funding toward climate mitigation, circular economy, and frontier technologies like quantum — expect future joint calls in these areas.

How they like to work

AEI operates almost exclusively as a participant (55 of 56 projects), which reflects its role as a national funding body joining multilateral ERA-NET consortia rather than leading research. With 374 unique partners across 60 countries, it functions as a major hub connecting Spanish research capacity to pan-European and global programmes. Working with AEI means accessing Spain's national funding commitment to a joint call — they are the institutional enabler, not a research performer.

Exceptionally broad network of 374 partners across 60 countries, reflecting its role in multilateral ERA-NET consortia where dozens of national funding agencies co-invest. Geographic reach extends well beyond Europe through programmes like LEAP-AGRI (EU-Africa) and IC4WATER (international water cooperation).

What sets them apart

AEI is not a research institute — it is Spain's central gateway for co-funding transnational research. For consortium builders designing an ERA-NET or joint programming initiative, AEI's participation signals that Spanish national funds will back the call, opening access to Spain's entire research community. Few single organisations participate in as many ERA-NET Cofunds (48), making AEI one of Europe's most active national co-funders of transnational research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• WaterWorks2014
  AEI's only coordinator role across 56 projects — a Water JPI programme with the highest single budget (€799K), signalling water as a strategic national priority.
• BiodivERsA3
  Long-running biodiversity ERA-NET (2015–2022) with €671K — one of AEI's largest investments and a cornerstone of European biodiversity research coordination.
• QuantERA
  Marks AEI's entry into quantum technologies funding, representing the agency's shift toward frontier deep-tech investment alongside traditional environmental programmes.