Aim

• To attract internationally recognised research talent to the Spanish R&D system
• To facilitate the incorporation of established researchers of outstanding international prestige into Spanish institutions
• To strengthen Spain’s scientific excellence, promote knowledge circulation, and support the creation of high-impact research teams 

Key Facts

• Opening date: 23 April 2026 
• Closing date: 4 June 2026 (14:00 CET) 
• Total number of grants: Not specified
• Total Budget of the call: €40 million in total
• Duration: 3 to 4 years (starting from 2027) 

Funded Costs

Project

• Development of an R&D&I project led by the PI 
• Additional eligible costs include:
  • Research staff
  • Equipment
  • Mobility
  • Infrastructure adaptation 
• Funding amount:
  • Up to €1,000,000 per project
  • Up to €1,200,000 for researchers based in the USA 

Eligibility for Candidates

Candidates must:

• Hold a PhD obtained before 1 January 2019
• Have at least 5 years of recent experience abroad
• Be internationally recognised researchers with strong track records (R4)
• Demonstrate leadership (e.g. PI of competitive projects, major achievements) 

Eligible Host Institutions

• Universities
• Research centres
• Health research institutes
• Other eligible institutions based in Spain

Application & Selection Process

• Applications must be submitted by host institutions on behalf of the candidate 
• Submission period: 23 April – 4 June 2026 (14:00 CET) 
• Selection is competitive and based on excellence criteria
• A minimum score threshold is required for funding

Key condition

• Host institutions must commit to creating a permanent position for the researcher before the end of the project.Learn about the hiring instruments and the Spanish Career Path here.

Additional Context

• Part of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2024–2027
• Linked to the Choose Spain initiative to attract global talent
• Supported by Euraxess Spain for researcher mobility and integration.