More than 3.6 million euros from La Caixa Foundation to promote scientific studies on social issues

The Social Observatory of the "la Caixa" Foundation promotes research to deeply understand key social phenomena in Spain and Portugal. In total, the entity will promote the development of 47 new social research studies, to which it will allocate more than 3.6 million euros. These studies are scientific projects with a social base that stand out for their excellence and will be based on quantitative data that provide, through an original and innovative approach, robust and solid information to deeply understand current social challenges.

The Social Observatory promotes three competitive calls each year: Flash, Conecta, and Social Research. On the one hand, the Flash call aims to support social science research projects based on new quantitative surveys with the aim of studying society as a whole, as well as the social impacts of a given phenomenon.

For the eighteenth edition of the Flash call, 301 proposals from social science academics expert in quantitative methodologies have been submitted between Spain and Portugal. Finally, 15 research projects have been selected, to which an investment of almost 500,000 euros will be allocated. 

Among the institutions leading these projects are Catalan research centers, such as the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and the University of Lleida. In the rest of Spain, projects from the State Agency of the Higher Council for Scientific Research, and the universities of Salamanca, the Basque Country, and Zaragoza have also been selected; as well as studies in Portugal led by the University of Minho, the University of Lisbon, the New University of Lisbon, and the University of Porto. On the other hand, the Conecta call aims to support research projects carried out jointly between research entities and social sector entities. For the fourth edition, 206 academic proposals have been submitted, of which 13 have been selected.  Each of the projects, with a maximum duration of 24 months, can receive up to 90,000 euros to promote research. In total, the "la Caixa" Foundation has invested more than 1.1 million euros in the Conecta 2025 call. 

Among the university centers and other entities that will promote these 13 research projects are the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, alongside other centers such as the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, the University of Burgos, the University of the Basque Country, the University of Seville and the University of Granada, as well as the Politècnica de València.

On the other hand, among the promoting entities from the public social and research sector, Catalan organizations such as the Barcelona City Council, the Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau or the Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca stand out. Other entities such as the Ministry of Health, the Fundación Mutualidad Abogacía or the Spanish Red Cross also collaborate.

Pedestrians walking in Barcelona. © Isaac Planella

The seventh edition of the competitive Social Research call allows for the promotion of research projects that stand out for their excellence, innovative character, and social orientation. The proposals must generate new knowledge that helps understand the most relevant social challenges of todayfrom quantitative methodologies. In this case, the call is open to researchers who hold a doctorate awarded more than 2 years prior to the call's deadline. The objective is none other than to support proposals led by researchers of all nationalities who carry out their research in a non-profit institution: public or private universities or research centers based in Spain or Portugal.

For the 2025 edition, 547 proposals were submitted, of which 19 have been selected. Each of the projects, with a maximum duration of 24 months, can receive up to 115,000 euros to boost research. To promote these scientific studies, "la Caixa" Foundation will allocate more than 2 million euros. 

Among the organizations that will promote the 19 research projects, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona stands out again, in addition to the Complutense University of Madrid, the Polytechnic University of Madrid, the European University Foundation, the Private Institute of Economics Foundation, the University of Minho and the Portuguese Catholic University, among others. Projects from the University Institute of Lisbon - Iscte, the Center for Monetary and Financial Studies and the ProChild CoLAB Against Poverty and Social Exclusion association, among other organizations, have also been funded. This call also has the support of the Foundation for Science and Technology to promote scientific research in Portugal.