"Today we have to be aware that many problems that affect us, such as environmental pollution or food quality safety, can be solved through the research", said at the University of Navarra Angelo Guerrini, advisor scientist of the Italian Embassy in Spain and director of research of the high school of Physics of the Atmosphere-CNR of Rome. "The research in the different branches of science has to be directed to the solution of these problems," he added.

The Italian expert had been invited by the department of Physics and Applied Mathematics of the University of Navarra to give a lecture lecture on "The research in Spain and Italy and their integration in the European framework ". According to Guerrini, "we are witnessing the construction of the common European space of the research. The various national plans must be integrated within the European Union's framework until we reach a point where we will have a single common program, but this change must be gradual and must take into account the different situations of the member countries".

The professor commented that the Spanish government's intention is similar to that of the Italian government: to substantially increase the money allocated to research. "Spain invests just over 1% in research, but the government intends to reach 2% within the next few years to reach the level of the most developed EU countries," he added.

Companies invest little in research

Angelo Guerrini pointed out that Spain and Italy have a similar percentage of investment in research and in scientific production. "Both countries enjoy an optimal level of scientific production. However, they have a very low level in patents and their companies invest little in research. This is what is needed; otherwise, there is no real transfer of technology and scientific knowledge from the laboratories of research, whether within universities or scientific organizations, to companies."