13/09/2011

Dr. Joan Comella, director of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), met on the afternoon of September 12 the Minister of Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, in his role of secretary general of the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE), along with its president Carlos Andradas. The meeting, held at the headquarters of MICINN, is the first between the Minister and the new board COSCE, that was elected last June.Garmendia talked with the representatives of the COSCE about the new Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, passed with broad consensus on parliamentary procedure, which initial development will take place in this last stretch of the legislature. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Carlos Andradas said that COSCE was "very satisfied" with the final text of the law. COSCE and Garmendia and have also initiated contacts for future configuration of the State Research Agency as planned in the Law of Science. Both have agreed to give the agency maximum flexibility and independence in the distribution of funds from the promotion of quality and excellence. In addition, both parties have begun to study the preliminary documents with the respective proposals on the final design of the agency.