Madrid allocates 35.2 million euros to 195 predoctoral research contracts

The Community of Madrid will allocate 35,246,250 euros for the hiring of 195 predoctoral researchers in training within the 2026 call, approved by Order 4636/2026, of October 23, from the Regional Ministry of Education, Science, and Universities. The summary is published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE OF THE COMMUNITY OF MADRID (BOCM) no. 263, of November 2, 2026, with the reference BOCM-20261102-3. To these positions are added another 5 reserved for people with disabilities, funded with 903,750 euros (BOCM-20261102-4), for a total of 200 grants.

The regulation signed by the regional minister Mercedes Zarzalejo Carbajo is based on the regulatory bases established by Order 1956/2026, of May 18, from the same ministry, and is processed under a competitive bidding regime. The full text is available in the National Grants Database, with identifiers BDNS 937912 (general track) and BDNS 937913 (disability track), and on the portal www.comunidad.madrid. The call includes a credit reserve for the hiring of people with a disability equal to or greater than 33%, and positions not filled in that track will be incorporated into the general track.

35.2 million distributed over four annual installments

The budget for the general track amounts to 35,246,250 euros, which will be executed during the four-year duration of the grants. The planned distribution is as follows:

• 2026: 0 euros.
• 2027: 10,237,500 euros.
• 2028: 7,897,500 euros.
• 2029: 7,897,500 euros.
• 2030: 9,213,750 euros.

The disability track, for its part, mobilizes 903,750 euros, with 262,500 euros in 2027, 202,500 in 2028, 202,500 in 2029, and 236,250 in 2030. The aid intended to cover the hiring costs of each file is set at 40,500 euros annually between 2027 and 2029, and 47,250 euros in 2030.

Minimum salaries from 30,000 to 35,000 euros

The grants will have an execution period of four years from the incorporation of the research personnel into the organization. The minimum annual gross salary will be 30,000 euros during the first three years and 35,000 euros in the last year, in accordance with article 14 of Order 1956/2026 and article 7 of Royal Decree 103/2019, of March 1. The payment of the amount for the final year is conditional upon the accreditation of obtaining the doctoral degree.

Additionally, an additional amount of 12,000 euros will be assigned to each file charged to the 2027 fiscal year, intended for stays abroad and tuition fees, executable throughout the duration of the grant. Applicants must assign their project to one of the scientific-technological areas and sub-areas in the annex of the call order.

Universities, IMDEA and IMIDRA foundations

Beneficiary entities may be those that comply with article 5 of Order 1956/2026 and belong to any of these categories:

• Public and private universities registered in the Registry of Universities, Centers and Degrees created by Royal Decree 1509/2008.
• Madrid Institutes for Advanced Studies foundations (IMDEA foundations).
• Public research organizations under Chapter III of Title IV of Law 14/2011, of June 1.
• Biomedical research foundations of healthcare institutions attached to the Madrid Health Service.
• The Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA).
• Public and private healthcare entities linked or contracted with the National Health System with research activity.
• Other public and private non-profit entities with R&D&I as the primary activity in their statutes.

One month deadline and independent experts

Applicant entities will have one month from the day following the publication of the extract in the BOCM, that is, until December 3, 2026. The evaluation will be the responsibility of the instructing body and will be carried out through scientific-technical reports issued by independent experts appointed by said body, according to the criteria of article 20.4 of Order 1956/2026. The extracts bear the reference numbers 03/17.490/26 and 03/17.491/26 and appear on pages 7 to 10 of the bulletin.

The call arrives with the dual objective of strengthening the research career in the region and retaining young talent in Madrid’s universities and public centers, in a context of increasing competition for predoctoral researchers. The weight of the budget is concentrated in 2027, the first year with effective hires, and in 2030, when the highest salary bracket is paid and doctoral accreditation is required for those who have completed the program.

Source: OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE COMMUNITY OF MADRID (BOCM), no. 263, November 2, 2026, section I.C, pp. 7-10 (official reference: BOCM-20261102-3 and BOCM-20261102-4).