The Puerta de Hierro-Segovia Health Research Institute from Arana renews the European seal of excellence in human resources for research - Puerta de Hierro Health Research Institute

Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit

The renewal by the European Commission represents a recognition of the work and commitment of IDIPHISA to improve working conditions, the working environment and the professional development of research staff.

The Puerta de Hierro – Segovia Institute of Health Research (IDIPHISA) renewed its European Label of Excellence in Human Resources for Research (HR Excellence in Research – HRS4R) in July 2026. This accreditation, granted by the European Commission, recognizes institutions committed to creating an attractive, open, and sustainable working environment for research staff.

The process began in 2018, when IDIPHISA signed and sent to the European Commission the declaration of commitment to the principles of the Charter for European Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. As a result, the European Commission awarded the HRS4R seal to IDIPHISA in 2019, and it has now been renewed. Among these principles are aspects such as open science, gender equality, diversity, freedom of research, sustainability, job stability, continuous professional development, diversity of research careers, supervision and mentoring.

Strengths of IDIPHISA in its evaluation

During these years, the HRS4R Working Group has been working internally to continue advancing the management and development of research talent. This group, composed of research staff at the various recognized scales (R1-R4), as well as representatives from the management and innovation area, has developed and implemented an Action Plan with the aim of facilitating its implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

The report issued by the European Commission following the evaluation phase highlights certain strengths. Among them, it points out the recruitment of research personnel based on open, transparent and merit-based hiring, in accordance with the OTM-R principles. ( Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment of Researchers). A more structured, transparent and traceable recruitment procedure has been implemented, within the framework of which 23 contracts have been formalized.

The drive of the research career, its working conditions, the training and mentoring of the research staff are also highlighted. During this period, the collective agreement and the professional career framework have been approved, along with the adoption of measures for the reconciliation, accommodation, and support of the research staff. In addition, between 2023 and 2025, 172 training activities have been carried out, and the mentoring program has continued.

Another of the aspects that stand out are work equality, ethics and well-being. In this area, a new Equality Plan has been developed, good scientific practices have been updated, support channels have been created and the psychosocial risk assessment has been carried out. Finally, institutional involvement and the consolidation of stable structures have been specified to drive and monitor the human resources strategy for research.

Commitment to research

With this reaccreditation, IDIPHISA reaffirms its commitment to research talent and professional development, contributing to building an increasingly open and sustainable research environment, focused on the research staff and improving their working conditions.

Following the renewal of the seal, the HRS4R strategy will continue to be implemented with reviews every 36 months, with the next renewal scheduled for 2029. In the coming years, the HRS4R Working Group will continue to work on new actions to consolidate IDIPHISA as an attractive, open research environment that promotes equity and promotes scientific excellence and the well-being of research staff.

More information about HRS4R: https://investigacionpuertadehierro.com/hrs4r-en-el-idiphisa/