Responsible Metrics and their Application in Spain

This presentation, entitled Responsible Metrics and their Application in Spain, was delivered at the European Summer School for Scientometrics (Granada, 2025). It provides a historical overview of research evaluation in Spain, beginning with the Organic Law of Universities (2001) and the introduction of habilitation and accreditation for access to academic positions, and continuing with the establishment of the six-year research evaluation system (sexenios). The presentation examines the evolution of evaluation criteria over time, their systemic effects, and the criticisms they have received. It then addresses the recent regulatory changes introduced by the Organic Law of the University System (2023) and Royal Decree 678/2023 on accreditations, along with the first calls for sexenios (2023–2024), in which ANECA has incorporated narrative approaches, open science practices, and social impact considerations. These transformations are framed within the international context, highlighting the influence of DORA, the Leiden Manifesto, and especially CoARA, as well as the participatory process launched in Spain. The presentation concludes with reflections on how the academic community is receiving these reforms and their implications for the future of research assessment.