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Rafael Crecente Awards Information

The “Rafael Crecente” Awards are aimed at young graduates and seek to promote the development and practical application of innovative ideas related to rural development, environmental conservation, or improvements in territorial management in Galicia.

Established in 2017, the awards are announced annually by the University of Santiago de Compostela through the Institute of Biodiversity and Rural Development (IBADER) and the Land Lab (LaboraTe). They pay tribute to the work of Dr. Rafael Crecente Maseda, Associate Professor in the Department of Agroforestry Engineering at the Higher Polytechnic School of Lugo and regarded as one of Galicia’s leading experts in land management. He was the driving force and coordinator of the research group Territory – Biodiversity, which brought together a large number of professors and researchers from the Lugo Campus. He also launched the first technological platform for GIS and territorial information: the Territorial Information System (SIT).

The 9th Edition of the awards is currently open for submissions until 30 September 2026. The award ceremony is expected to take place in autumn in Lugo.

Two prizes are granted—a first and a second—each accompanied by an official certificate and a financial award of €2,000 and €1,000, respectively. Among other criteria, the evaluation considers practical feasibility and applicability, the potential impact on territorial sustainability and resource management in Galicia, and the inclusion of social innovation components, for example in the field of land ownership management.

Submission of applications 9th Edition

The submission period opened on the day following the publication of this call on the electronic notice board of the University of Santiago de Compostela (19 June 2026), accessible through the University’s Electronic Headquarters. The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 September 2026.

Only proposals submitted through the Electronic Registry of the University of Santiago de Compostela will be accepted. The steps are as follows:

  1. Download the documentation here, including the annexes to be full filed.
  2. Once the documentation has been prepared according to the terms and conditions, access the Electronic Register [Sede electrónica / Servizos persoais / Rexistro Electrónico].
  3. Submit a “General Application” addressed to the “Instituto de Biodiversidade Agraria e Desenvolvemento Rural”, indicating in the subject line: “Premios de Investigación Rafael Crecente 2026”, stating your intention to participate in the call and requesting admission.

Together with this application, you must upload the following documentation in electronic format (PDF) through the application itself. Please refer to the terms and conditions for details on each document:

  • Report (Memoria)
  • Annex I (Application Form and Declaration of Responsibility)
  • Annex II (Proposal Summary)
  • Standardized FECYT Curriculum Vitae (CV).

All information, including the Terms and Conditions of the 9th Edition of the Rafael Crecente Awards, can be consulted:

If doubts or questions, do not hesitate to contact us premio.rafaelcrecente@usc.es

If you would like to receive updates when new calls open, sign up here.

More information

Files from previous edition: