Elena Castro Martínez

Biography

Elena Castro-Martínez has a Degree in Chemistry from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and was awarded a PhD degree in Industrial Chemistry in 1983.  Moreover, she has taken part in three postgraduate programmes: Research Management in Public Administration (National Institute of Public Administration. Madrid, 1987); Business Management (EOI, Madrid, 1982); Environmental Engineering (EOI. Madrid, 1981). Between 1988 and 1993 she was Advisor to the Secretary General, and Deputy Director of the Technology Transfer Office, at the General Secretariat for the National R&D Plan (CICYT) (Research and Technology Interministerial Commission). She was responsible for starting-up the Technology Transfer Offices Network (OTRI network) of Spanish universities and public research centres bodies and for managing the science-industry cooperation programmes launched under National R&D Plan. In 1993-94 she was advisor to the Secretary of State of Universities and Research (Ministry of Education and Science), working on research and technology indicators and R&D budgets. In 1995 she was advisor to the Secretary General for the National R&D Plan, working on the definition of the 3rd R&D National Plan (1996-1999), and was a member of the Committee responsible for designing a programme to promote the cooperation between universities and enterprises (PACTI). She has also been in charge of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) Technology Transfer Office in the Valencian region (1995-2004). She participates in R&D projects, financed by national, regional and European funds and also in knowledge transfer contracts and consultancy activities with different Spanish and foreign entities and enterprises. She participates in the The “European Forum for Studies of Policies for Research and Innovation” (Eu-SPRI Forum). Elena is a member of the board of the Association GENET-Network for Gender Studies. Usually, she teaches master classes and organize courses and seminars on her speciality, not only in Spain but also in Latin American countries.

Research Interest

Regional and Sectoral Systems of Innovation; University-Industry relationships; Research and Innovation policies design, evaluation and management; Innovation in the cultural sector.