Research actors and the state: research evaluation and evaluation of science and technology policies in Spain

This paper describes the development of research evaluation in Spain. It assumes that research evaluation, and R&D policy and programme evaluation are embedded in the development of an R&D system and are characterised by general Spanish policy-making. Research evaluation in a context of delegation and as a self-organising system for research actors guaranteed by the state, has been strongly developed in the last few years; R&D policy and programme evaluation is less institutionalised The explanation is linked to the sequence of reforms of the R&D system and to the set up of the first Spanish science and technology policy.