In compliance with Article 59 of Law 9/2022 of 21 December on science, the Board of Trustees of the CERCA Institution approved, in August 2025, the procedure for the fourth CERCA Assessment cycle, which will run from 2025 to 2028.
This new cycle builds on the well‑established assessment model of previous cycles, while introducing relevant adjustments to align it with the most recent international standards in research assessment.
Commitment to responsible and transparent assessment
The procedure for the fourth cycle adapts the model applied in the two previous cycles and incorporates the commitments assumed by the CERCA Institution through leading international initiatives in research assessment:
These commitments support a more qualitative, responsible and transparent assessment approach, aligned with good practices that focus on the real value of research, its scientific and societal impact, and the responsible use of information and indicators.
Consolidating excellence within the CERCA system
Through the fourth assessment cycle, the CERCA Institution reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the quality, excellence and international recognition of CERCA centres, and to continuing to advance towards an assessment model that fosters continuous improvement and maximises the impact of publicly funded research.
