The socialist Diana Morant, who has been Minister of Science and Innovation since July 2021, repeats her position and expands her powers to Universities, which until now had an independent ministry led by Joan Subirats, from Sumar.
Morant’s most important contribution during the 28 months that he has been at the head of the ministry has been the approval of the Science, Technology and Innovation Law, which reinforces the competitiveness of the Spanish R&D system. Although it was found that the The bill was advanced when he replaced astronaut Pedro Duque as head of the ministry, introducing multiple modifications in response to the demands of the scientific community, innovative companies and unions.
Other notable contributions by Morant have been a personnel policy that encourages the attraction and retention of young researchers; the management of European Perte funds (Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation) in innovation sectors; and the creation of the Spanish Space Agency, a long-standing demand of the aerospace sector to reinforce the Spanish space industry. The boost to the space sector has been reflected with the selection of Pablo Álvarez and Sara García as new astronauts of the European Space Agency and with the launch of Miura 1, the first Spanish rocket.
Before being appointed minister, Morant was mayor of Gandía between 2015 and 2021 and had the endorsement of Ximo Puig, then president of the Valencian Community. A telecommunications engineer by training, she practiced her profession in the private sector before entering politics in 2011 as a councilor for the Gandía city council. In an interview with La Vanguardia two years ago she vindicated the school of local politics because “we look face to face with our neighbors, we internalize the great responsibility of responding to their desires and desires; In the ministry I continue to have this way of doing politics.”
Although it is rare for a person who works as an engineer to reorient their career towards politics, Morant defends that “engineers work to solve problems” and “citizens’ problems also need people who delve into all the parameters that have to do with with the final solution.”
Her motivation for entering politics, as she herself declared, was “a public vocation” to “work for others” to “feel useful.” And a rebellious spirit of wanting to change things that seemed unfair. “My life,” she explained, “has been a permanent rebellion against what was intended for women.”
