UC3M publishes its 2023–2024 Research and Knowledge Transfer Report
A commitment to talent, innovation and sustainability
6/25/25
The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has released its 2023–2024 Research and Knowledge Transfer Report, highlighting significant progress in talent recruitment, competitive funding and the creation of technology-based companies. The report presents key figures on the University’s R&D+i activity and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflecting UC3M’s strong commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, and the transfer of knowledge to society.
In 2024, UC3M achieved the highest research funding intake in its history, reaching a total of €56.78 million. Over the past two years, this figure has surpassed €100 million, positioning the University as a leading institution in attracting resources for research and innovation projects.
In terms of scientific output, UC3M has maintained its strong publication record, with an annual average of 1,291 national and international articles. The number of doctoral theses has also shown an upward trend, with a total of 338 theses defended in the past two years—an increase of nearly 30% compared to the previous biennium.
UC3M has reinforced its commitment to attracting top research talent. Three new researchers have joined the institution with European Research Council (ERC) projects, bringing the total to 13 active ERC projects. Additionally, eight researchers were recruited through the University’s Researcher Consolidation Programme, and three grants were awarded under the ATRAE programme to attract established research talent.
The University's internal research funding programme has seen a significant budget increase, from €795,000 in 2023 to €1,629,389 in 2024. This growth has enabled the launch of new funding calls for acquiring research support tools, supporting targeted research projects, and providing grants for young PhD holders. For the first time, funding has also been allocated to initiatives aimed at promoting technology transfer and the creation of start-ups. Furthermore, in 2024, a new funding call was launched to support the research activity of UC3M’s research groups, co-financing the hiring of 11 technical and R&D management staff.
A new feature of this year’s report is the inclusion of UC3M’s contributions to the SDGs, based on the number of proposals submitted with related themes. The report highlights especially strong activity in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), as well as SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). For the first time, the report also includes University staffing data disaggregated by gender, representing a significant step forward in transparency and commitment to gender equality.
UC3M is firmly committed to ensuring gender equality in research careers, identifying and addressing gender gaps, and promoting the visibility and contributions of women in research, knowledge transfer, and entrepreneurship. In line with this, two new internal calls are planned for 2025: one to fund six R&D managers to support networks of female researchers, and another to finance predoctoral contracts for women. Since 2023, the University has also offered a mobility scheme for researchers to spend time at other institutions, with special features to support work-life balance.
Other key milestones in 2024
UC3M has remained highly active in R&D+i over the past year, as reflected in the report. In the field of artificial intelligence (AI), the University awarded 20 predoctoral training fellowships for the 2024–2025 academic year. It also launched a call for interdisciplinary R&D projects in AI, with a total funding allocation of €1,337,640, under the 2023–2026 multi-year agreement between the Madrid Regional Government and UC3M to promote research and knowledge transfer.
As part of the same agreement, a funding call was launched in 2024 for infrastructure upgrades aimed at strengthening and modernizing the University’s central services and research support facilities. Seven grants were awarded for the acquisition of new equipment.
UC3M’s research institutes also adopted a new regulatory framework in 2024. Approved by the University’s Governing Council on 24 October 2024, this framework sets a three-year deadline for transforming UC3M’s proprietary, affiliated, and joint research institutes into UC3M Accredited Institutes. Evaluation criteria for this transition have already been approved, and the accreditation process began in 2025.
In 2024, UC3M founded five new spin-off companies in which the University holds an equity stake, bringing the total number of spin-offs created since 2015 to twelve. One of these companies achieved a successful "exit" in 2022, demonstrating the University’s potential for innovation and knowledge transfer to the business sector.
Through this report, UC3M reaffirms its commitment to research excellence, talent attraction, and the transfer of knowledge to society, consolidating its position as a leading institution in Spain’s higher education landscape.
More information:
2023–2024 Research and Knowledge Transfer Report:
