ARAID celebrates two decades as a scientific powerhouse in Aragon
The Aragonese Foundation for Research and Development (ARAID) commemorated its 20th anniversary on October 29, 2025 with an institutional event that brought together more than a hundred researchers, institutional representatives, and members of the Aragonese scientific community. The event was attended by Claudia Pérez Forniés, Minister of Employment, Science, and Universities, and the General Director of Science and Research of the Government of Aragon.
In two decades of activity, ARAID has incorporated more than 130 researchers who develop their work in more than twenty research centers and universities throughout Aragon. Currently, the Foundation has 50 active researchers, a number that is expected to increase in the coming months with new hires resulting from the 2025 call.
The Government of Aragon has increased ARAID’s budget by 28%, reaching 4.5 million euros. This investment has allowed for the addition of 20 new researchers in the last 20 months, representing a 36% increase in staff and placing the program at its highest number of active researchers since its founding.
The program has generated over a thousand scientific publications, financed more than 700 projects in regional, national, and European calls, registered over 20 patents, and promoted dozens of awards and doctoral theses. In 2025, projects involving ARAID researchers secured 13.9 million euros in competitive funding, of which 9.5 million corresponds to ARAID researchers as the main responsible parties. Additionally, participation in up to 4 new technology-based spin-off companies is anticipated.
Founded in 2005, ARAID has been recognized as an excellence program by the Spanish Research Agency and the European Commission, receiving the HRS4R label for excellence in human resources management in research. The Foundation operates from centers such as the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon (INMA), the Institute of Materials Science of Aragon (ICMA), the Research Center in Agro-Food (IA2), and the Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology (BIFI), among others.
