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A contract is a commission involving research and/or development (R&D) activities. Its value is generally below €18,000 and it may have a duration of more than one year.

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A report may consist of a study, analysis, service provision, expert opinion, consultancy or one-time advice. Its value is generally below €18,000 and its duration may not exceed one year.

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It is aÌýnon-formal training activity commissioned by an external organisation.

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Article 60 of the LOSU does not cover ongoing or long-term activities that entail a permanent relationship with the contracting organisation. Likewise, it does not permit activities that do not require the academic level expected of university teaching staff, that may interfere with teaching duties, or that involve responsibilities outside the proper scope of academic staff. The following activities are also excluded:

• Publishing contracts relating to books, academic works, translations or original manuscripts intended for publication
• Awards received by academic and research staff (either individually or collectively
• Participation in conferences, workshops or seminars
• Training activities included in the official teaching provision of the Â鶹¹û¶³
• Design competitions or preliminary architectural or engineering projects
• Professional activities outside the University undertaken by part-time academic staff

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You are advised to contact the Research and Development (R&D) Office for guidance throughout the process, as the University will be the legal tenderer and, where successful, the contracting party.

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You are advised to contact the R&D Office, where you will receive guidance and support to ensure that the activity is managed correctly and in compliance with the applicable regulations.

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Contracts must be signed by the Vice-Rector responsible for Knowledge Transfer and by the authorised representative of the contracting organisation.

Reports and training courses must be signed by the person responsible for the activity and by the authorised representative of the commissioning organisation.

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All signatures must be of the same type, either all handwritten or all electronic. Mixed signature formats are not accepted within the same document.

If handwritten signatures are used, the original signed documents must be sent by post. Scanned signatures are not accepted.

If electronic signatures are used, the document must be signed by all parties and the signatures must be properly validated.

Signatures made through Acrobat Sign (or equivalent platforms) are accepted, provided that they are accompanied by the corresponding validation report.

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Where an activity includes several payment milestones, it is recommended not to establish more than three invoicing stages. One invoice must always be reserved for the completion of the activity and should coincide with its formal closure.

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The signature of the Main Researcher responsible for the activity. Where there is more than one responsible person, all must sign.

The signature of the person authorised to approve the activity, according to the organisational structure, in the following order of precedence:

• Head of the Centre or Research Institute
• Head of the Research Group
• Head of the Department

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The project budget must be stated excluding VAT.

The University's indirect costs amount to 15% of the total project value.

Subcontracting may not exceed 50% of the total project value.

The allocation to the Strategic Research Fund (AEI) may not exceed 40% of the total project value.

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Yes. According to Royal Decree 1930/1984, there is a maximum amount that may be received per person and activity, as well as an annual maximum:

• Maximum per person and activity: €17,760 (applicable in 2026). If this limit is exceeded, 25% of the excess must be allocated to the Strategic Research Fund (AEI). If there is no AEI, the amount shall be assigned to the relevant department.
• Maximum annual remuneration: €145,685.10 (applicable in 2026).

The role of Main Researcher may be undertaken by Full Professors, Associate Professors, permanent lecturers holding a PhD, permanent research staff, and postdoctoral researchers with an established research track record (including Assistant Professors, Ramn y Cajal researchers, Beatriz Galindo researchers, Distinguished Researchers, Oportunius researchers, Talent Retention researchers and Marie Curie researchers), provided that they are employed by the Â鶹¹û¶³ and that their employment contract covers the entire duration of the activity.

Other members of staff may also participate depending on the terms of their employment contract with the Â鶹¹û¶³. In this regard, predoctoral researchers and Type A postdoctoral researchers require prior authorisation from the Research Human Resources Service. Researchers undertaking a research stay at another institution may not participate until their stay has ended.

Part-time academic staff and permanent staff employed under publicly funded research projects are not eligible to participate.

Staff from other universities or public institutions may participate provided that they have the express authorisation of their home institution.

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