Ramón y Cajal Program (RYC)
Funds long-term postdoctoral research contracts in Spain under a competitive talent program.
Programa Ramón y Cajal 2026 (RYC2026), operated by Spain's Agencia Estatal de Investigación and co-financed by the European Union, is the country's flagship postdoctoral talent attraction programme. Since its first call in 2001, it has been the primary mechanism for bringing outstanding postdoctoral researchers of any nationality and discipline into the Spanish research system on a path toward permanent employment. The 2026 cycle nearly doubles in budget from the 2025 edition, with €240 million allocated versus €132 million the prior year.
The programme funds five-year employment contracts hosted by Spanish public or non-profit private research entities. The 2026 cycle introduces five major novelties relative to prior editions. First, each award now includes dedicated own-project funding, sized to support at least one four-year predoctoral hire. Second, an evaluation interview is added to the assessment process, focusing on the researcher's independence, leadership capacity, and project viability. Third, ERC participation incentives provide beneficiaries who compete for ERC grants with up to a 30% increase in salary co-financing and access to the Europa Excelencia programme. Fourth, host institutions are required to commit to creating a permanent post in the beneficiary's area — a provision now backed by financial incentives for the host. Fifth, the discontinued Consolidación Investigadora (CNS) programme is absorbed into RYC 2026, consolidating both early and mid-career postdoctoral support into a single scheme. The 2026 call is expected to open in November 2026 and close in December 2026, per the AEI convocatorias calendar.
Host organisations must formally commit to a stabilisation post as part of their application, making institutional buy-in a prerequisite. Researchers most competitive for RYC awards combine a strong publication record, evidence of independent research leadership, and an ambitious yet feasible project plan. The ERC incentives make the programme particularly attractive to researchers considering or actively pursuing European Research Council grants.
Funds five-year postdoctoral employment contracts at Spanish research entities for outstanding researchers of any nationality and discipline, with mandatory host stabilisation commitment and own research project funding.
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