The CSIC or Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) is the largest public research institution in Spain. The former institution was the Council for Extension of Studies and Scientific Research (JAE) founded in 1907. In 2007 the CSIC has become State Agency CSIC, belonging to the Ministry for Science and Innovation. It is nationwide in scope, with almost 130 Research Centres and Institutes, located in various regions of Spain, playing an active role in national and regional scientific policies. Some of the CSIC Institutes (more than 50) are "joint centres" operating in conjunction with other institutions (mostly Universities). As a multidisciplinary body, the CSIC covers all field of knowledge, from basic research through advanced technological development. The CSIC performs multidisciplinary scientific and technological research, scientific and technical assessments, training of scientific and technical personnel and management of large...