Carolina Grau Ferrando, new managing director of FUNDECYT in Extremadura

The Governing Council of the Junta de Extremadura, in its session on September 1, 2026, has agreed to the dismissal of José Luis Canito Lobo as Managing Director of the FUNDECYT Foundation-Scientific and Technological Park of Extremadura and the appointment of Carolina Grau Ferrando in his place. Both agreements are published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura number 170, dated September 2, 2026, through Decrees 157/2026 and 158/2026, dated September 1.

The decision was adopted upon the proposal of the Minister of Industry, Energy, Science, and Territory, María Mercedes Morán Alvárez, and following the deliberation of the Governing Council. Previously, the foundation’s Board of Trustees, in its meeting on August 31, 2026, agreed to propose both the dismissal and the new appointment, following the procedure provided for in articles 19.g) and 31.2 of its Statutes.

Regulatory framework of the foundation

The FUNDECYT-Scientific and Technological Park of Extremadura is constituted as a foundation of the regional public sector, in accordance with article 2 of Law 5/2007, of April 19, General Public Finance Law of Extremadura, dedicated to purposes of general interest and non-profit, under the protection of Law 50/2002, of December 26, on Foundations.

Decree 107/2026, of May 26, which establishes the organic structure of the Ministry of Industry, Energy, Science, and Territory, assigns the foundation to said Ministry and, specifically, to the General Secretariat for Science, Technology, and Innovation. Paragraph 2 of article 31 of the Statutes establishes that the appointment and dismissal of the Managing Director are carried out by decree of the Governing Council, upon the proposal of the Ministry competent in research, development, and innovation, following designation by the Board of Trustees by absolute majority.

Procedure and effects

The dismissal of José Luis Canito Lobo is agreed upon while thanking him for the services rendered and takes effect from the day of the publication of the decree in the Official Gazette of Extremadura. For her part, the appointment of Carolina Grau Ferrando as Managing Director takes effect from the day following said publication.

Both decrees are issued in accordance with articles 23.o) and 36.g) of Law 1/2002, of February 28, of the Government and Administration of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, and with Law 1/2014, of February 18, regulating the statute of public officials. The documents appear signed in Mérida on September 1, 2026, by Minister María Mercedes Morán Alvárez and by the President of the Junta de Extremadura, María Guardiola Martín.

Relevance for the R&D&i ecosystem

The leadership transition at FUNDECYT comes at a key moment for the region’s research, development, and innovation ecosystem, as the foundation coordinates the Extremaduran scientific and technological park and channels a significant portion of the knowledge transfer programs and support for technology companies. The new management, attached to the General Secretariat for Science, Technology, and Innovation, will be responsible for driving the regional R&D&i strategy and consolidating collaboration between the university, the administration, and the business community.

Source: Official Gazette of Extremadura, No. 170, September 2, 2026, Section II (Authorities and Personnel), 1. Appointments (official references: Decree 157/2026, ref. 2026040200, and Decree 158/2026, ref. 2026040201).