CRUMA STATEMENT ON THE MEETING HELD WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY OF MADRID

In relation to the meeting held today with the President, the Minister of the Presidency, the Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment and the Minister of Education, Science and Universities, the Rector and the Rectors of the Public Universities of Madrid, we acknowledge:

• The efforts of the Autonomous Community of Madrid to improve the financing of its Public Universities in 2025, with an overall increase in university funding in line with the budget increase of the Ministry of Education, Science and Universities.
• The President's commitment to develop a multiannual financing model in the short term, in the first quarter of 2025, that includes baseline, individual and target-based financing. The first meeting on this financing model will take place in the first half of January.
• The Community of Madrid's willingness to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities to participate in the Program for the Incorporation of Teaching and Research Talent, confirming its willingness to co-finance 40% of said program.

However, although these budgetary contributions are essential and welcome, they are still insufficient to guarantee the sustainability of Madrid's Public Universities, ensure the quality of our institutions, remedy their chronic underfunding after fifteen years without any real increase, and address the necessary investments in infrastructure.

Following this first step, we express our full willingness to continue working with the Community of Madrid to develop broader and more structural solutions to benefit higher education, research and innovation, which are fundamental pillars for the development of our region and the country.