Aragón grants one million euros to the Advanced Microscopy Laboratory

The Government of Aragon has granted a direct subsidy of one million euros (€1,000,000) to the University of Zaragoza for the maintenance and operation of the Advanced Microscopy Laboratory (LMA) during the 2026 fiscal year. The aid is formalized through Order ECU/1474/2026, dated September 28, signed by the Councilor for Education, Science, and Universities, Carmen María Susín Gabarre, and published in the Official Gazette of Aragon number 200, dated October 15, 2026 (reference BOA20261015024).

The order is issued under Article 31 of the consolidated text of the Aragon Subsidies Law, approved by Legislative Decree 2/2023, of May 3, which allows for direct granting when reasons of public, social, or economic interest exist that hinder a public call for applications. The file is processed in the Department of Education, Science, and Universities, whose organic structure is established by Decree 141/2026, of July 29.

The application was submitted on July 29, 2026, by the Vice-Rector for Scientific Policy of the University of Zaragoza. The justifying and economic report was issued by the Directorate General for Science and Research on August 17, 2026; the General Comptroller audited the order on September 10, and the Government of Aragon previously authorized the expenditure via an agreement dated September 23, 2026.

A unique scientific infrastructure

The LMA was recognized in 2014 as a Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS). It is part of the ELECMI distributed infrastructure, integrated into the ICTS Map, along with:

• The National Center for Electron Microscopy (CNME) of the Complutense University of Madrid.
• The Advanced Microscopy Laboratory (LMA) of the University of Zaragoza.
• The Electron Microscopy Division (DME) of the University of Cádiz.
• The Applied Electron Microscopy Unit for Materials (UMEAP) of the University of Barcelona.

The laboratory offers local probe and electron microscopies for the observation, characterization, and manipulation of materials at the atomic and molecular scale, and includes a clean room and dual-beam techniques. Law 17/2018, of December 4, on Research and Innovation of Aragon, recognizes it as an infrastructure integrated into the Aragonese R&D&i System.

From the 2009 agreement to the direct subsidy

The Government of Aragon and the University of Zaragoza signed a collaboration agreement on November 18, 2009, for the equipment and operation of the LMA, expanded through addenda on October 26, 2011, and December 19, 2017, effective until December 31, 2021. This was followed by an agreement signed on October 10, 2022, which granted a multi-year subsidy of 930,000 euros per year—3,720,000 euros in total—for the 2022-2025 period, ending on December 31, 2025.

The LMA is administratively dependent on the University of Zaragoza through the Aragon Institute of Nanomaterials (INMA), according to the fifteenth clause of the agreement signed on July 6, 2020, between the CSIC and the university. The order justifies the direct award based on the singular nature of the facility and the fact that the University of Zaragoza is the only entity capable of assuming its management.

Financing, conditions and deadlines

The subsidy is allocated to budget application 15100 G/5423/440030/91002, PEP 2008/000427, of the managing center General Directorate of Science and Research, and covers up to 100% of the eligible costs. Admissible expenses include:

• Research, technical, or administrative personnel providing services to the LMA equipment.
• Contracting of maintenance services and other operating expenses for the equipment.
• Inventoriable material.
• Indirect costs of 15% of the activity cost.

The University of Zaragoza must accept the subsidy within fifteen days of notification and justify it electronically between October 15 and 30, 2026; pending payments may be justified until February 10, 2027. As an ICTS, the laboratory must offer at least 20% of its time to public research organizations and companies, with open and competitive access.

The aid guarantees the continuity of the LMA after the end of the multi-year agreement and reinforces a unique facility in Spain for nanoscience and materials science. Against the order, which concludes the administrative route, an optional appeal for reversal may be filed before the counselor within one month, or a contentious-administrative appeal before the High Court of Justice of Aragon within two months.

Source: Official Gazette of Aragon, no. 200, October 15, 2026, section III (official reference: BOA20261015024).