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project would principally a state venture. In late 1971 Empress Nacional del Urania, S.A (ENUSA) was established. ENUSA is interested in producing enriched uranium and is the Spanish member of EURODIF and ACE, which study the possibility of building uranium isotope separation plans in Europe. The uranium thus far has been provided by other countries. A considerable amount of plutonium will be produced in the Spanish nuclear power reactors, but all will be subject to safeguards limiting its use to peaceful purposes.
4. Electronics (C)
Spain has a limited capability for electronics research and development. Most of the research is directed toward improving the production capability of Spanish industry. The CSIC National Institute of Electronics (INE) at Madrid has engaged in a variety of minor research programs. One of the primary objectives has been to reduce the dependence on foreign technology, but only slight progress is being made, and Spain still ranks low compared with other European countries. The institute has developed components for infrared and visible light applications as well as communication and radar equipment. Under a 4-year economic development plan initiated in 1972, the Spanish Government earmarked electronics and telecommunications for priority consideration. The planned production growth of just under 25% predicates an annual increase of 23% in Spain's electronic markets. This would provide 2% for export and/or inventory development. Two other Spanish organizations that have engaged in electronic-related research are the observatory at Ebro, which has done ionospheric studies, and the Institute of Physics, Madrid, which has done some theoretical work related to semiconductor junctions.
Spain has no domestic computer industry, and it offers a rapidly growing market for US and Western European-produced computing systems. However, the local manufacture of peripheral equipment is being accomplished, and the government is encouraging industry to expand its facilities for further development and manufacture of such equipment.
5. Medical sciences (S)
Spain is limited by its modest financial resources to a minor role in medical research. While the quality of its senior medical research workers is excellent, the country suffers from a shortage of scientific and professional manpower and facilities for training. The medical schools emphasize teaching more than research. The country, nevertheless, is presently making a strong effort to expand research; judicious planning is exercised in the use of government subsidies to utilize wisely the very limited funds available. Laboratory work is efficiently and sensibly organized for its practical return. Pooling of research equipment is practiced to make it available not personnel with related interests. Support for medical-biological research is obtained from the US National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Agriculture, the World Health Organization, the National Fund for the Development of Scientific Research, and the Juan March Foundation.
Administration of fundamental research in medicine and biology is assigned to the Santiago Ramon y Cajal Foundation, which is an element of the Science Division of the Higher Council for Scientific Research. The Center for Biological Research of this foundation has an Institute of Histology, the Jaime Ferran Institute of Microbiology, the Gregorio Maranon Institute of Metabolism and Enzymology, and an Institute of Cell Biology. The Institute of Histology also bears the name Santiago Ramon y Cajal and has a department of biophysics, sections for cytology and comparative histology, electron microscopy, comparative neuroanatomy, neurobiology, and pathological anatomy of the nervous system, and laboratories of developmental genetic and histochemistry.
Competent microbiological research ranges in scope from studies of plant and animal viruses to bacterial genetics and the efficacy of bacterial and viral vaccines. A new Center for Virology has been constructed at the outskirts of Madrid. The Jaime Ferran Institute emphasizes the study of plant and animal pathogens. Substantial contributions are made in food hygiene and in the viral etiology of cancer. Key research personnel have spent time abroad in the United States or the United Kingdom to acquire an understanding of the approaches taken to microbiological research in other countries. World Health Organization support is given to epidemiological studies of virus disease of public health importance, to study of methods of control and prevention of enteric, respiratory, and other viral diseases, and to provision for training facilities.
Spain does not have a tradition of research in pharmaceuticals. Conducting research is a problem, since Spain lacks experience, maturity, and qualified indigenous personnel in the drug field. The government encourages and fosters research and development by Spanish companies and by the domestic subsidiaries of foreign-owned firms. This is,
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090015-0
