University of Castilla-La Mancha Secures Research Grants and Expands Rural Internship Program

The University of Castilla‑La Mancha (UCLM) was awarded three Beatriz Galindo grants in the provisional resolution of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, achieving a 75 % success rate. The award includes a project in Physical Activity and Sports Science led by Italian researcher Andrea Pilotto, which received the maximum score of 100 / 100, as well as two additional grants in Law and Chemistry. The funding will finance four‑year contracts for the researchers, with the possibility of permanent integration.

Separately, the Castilla‑La Mancha regional government reported that 500 companies and entities are participating in the UCLM Rural internship programme. Since its launch in 2021, the scheme has benefited 252 university students – 189 of them during the current legislative term – and has been supported with €5 million. The initiative aims to address rural depopulation by placing students in local businesses, municipalities and associations, thereby boosting both employability and regional development.