Sources: Ikerbasque
Ikerbasque Call for proposals: Close to 900 researchers from across the world want to work in Euskadi
Our greatest expectations were surpassed when we received applications from highly qualified research staff across the globe, wishing to join the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation System under this year's call for proposals. The deadline for this call passed in September and a total of 883 applications have been received from researchers located in all five continents.
The applications received by IKERBASQUE will now be submitted to a rigorous selection procedure involving 86 evaluators from various countries collaborating with the Basque foundation. This work is coordinated by a 6-person committee of National Research Prize holders. Only one out of every 44 candidates will be incorporated in R&D centres at Basque Universities, ensuring an extremely highly qualified profile.
According to data compiled by IKERBASQUE, the applicant profile is predominantly male (68% candidates) with an average age of 41 years old. 73% of all applicants come from European countries (27% from Spain), with 14% working in America and 9% in Asia. Applications from Africa (3%) and Oceania (1%) are in the minority.
Countries of origin
Within Europe, the number of applications from Italy (10%), the United Kingdom (6%) and Germany (6%) is notable. Both the United States and Russia represent 5% of all applications while all the other source countries (46 countries across the five continents) fail to reach the 4% mark.
The fact that a large proportion of applicants are currently working at renowned Universities or research centres must also be highlighted. Applications have been received from British Universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, King's College, Queen's University, Sheffield University, etc.) Germany (Berne, Technical University of Dresden), Sweden (Uppsala University), the United States (Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Berkeley, etc.) Canada (McGill University), Japan, (Osaka and Tokyo City University) or Taiwan (Tamkang University of Taipei), among others. In addition to the applications received from Universities, IKERBASQUE has also received applications from research centres such as the French CNRS, the Max Planck Institute, Germany, the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, (USA) or Boeing, the aeronautical company.
At the end of 2010, the payroll of scientists recruited by IKERBASQUE to work in the Basque Country included 77 senior permanent researchers and 22 visitors hired to develop a fixed-term project. A large majority (53) of the host centres where these researchers are working are associated with the various faculties of the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea. The others are divided between the CIC Nanogune, the CIC BioGUNE, the BC3 Centre for Climate Change Research, the BCAM Centre for Applied Mathematics, the University of Deusto, the BCBL Neuroscientific Research Centre, Neiker, the Bilbao office of the European Spallation Source, CEIT-IK4 or Mondragon Unibertsitatea.