New grants from the Séneca Foundation to hire doctors, technologists, and young people with vocational training

The Regional Ministry of Environment, Industry, Universities, Research and Mar Menor has approved an Order establishing the regulatory bases for the grants from the Séneca Foundation-Science and Technology Agency of the Region of Murcia for the hiring of early-career doctors, technologists, and R&D&i managers, as well as young people with Higher Vocational Training qualifications. The grants are co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) within the Region of Murcia ESF+ Program 2021-2027. The regulation is published in the Official Gazette of the Region of Murcia number 208, dated September 9, 2026, with reference NPE A-090926-4306.

The Order, signed in Murcia on September 2, 2026, by the Regional Minister Juan María Vázquez Rojas, responds to the exclusive competence of the Autonomous Community regarding the promotion of scientific research. The Séneca Foundation, a regional public sector entity, was generically authorized to grant subsidies through the Order of July 15, 2016, and is functionally dependent on this Ministry. The bases have been developed under the special non-competitive concurrence regime provided for in Article 22 of Law 7/2005, of November 18, on Subsidies of the Region of Murcia, and are integrated into the Strategic Plan of the Region of Murcia 2022-2027.

Three hiring modalities

The bases regulate three grant programs, each with its own subsidy modality:

• Modality A (measure 1.A.7.1): employment contracting of unemployed early-career doctors, including the long-term unemployed.
• Modality B (measure 1.A.7.2): hiring of unemployed early-career technologists and R&D&i managers.
• Modality C (measure 1.A.8.3): hiring of unemployed young people, up to 35 years of age, with a Higher Vocational Training qualification.

Personnel are considered “early-career” if they have not previously performed the same functions at the destination center that they will develop under these bases, a fact that must be certified by the requesting organization.

Beneficiaries and financing

Beneficiaries may include companies, technology centers, private R&D entities, universities, and public research organizations and centers based in the Region of Murcia. Companies must have an R&D&i department or a research track record. The grants may have co-financing of 60% from the ESF+, and the subsidy will finance 85% of the unit cost for the hiring of men and 90% for women, in full-time contracts. The maximum completion date for the hirings is December 31, 2028.

Processing and deadlines

The procedure will be initiated ex officio through a call for applications approved by the Presidency of the Séneca Foundation, which will be published in full in the National Grants Database (BDNS) and in summary in the BORM. Applications shall be submitted electronically via the Foundation’s electronic office (www.fseneca.es), within a period of no less than 15 business days from its publication in the BDNS, and will be processed in order of receipt.

Source: Official Gazette of the Region of Murcia, number 208, September 9, 2026, I. Autonomous Community, page 20539 (official reference: NPE A-090926-4306).