The La Caixa Foundation is allocating €250 million to social investment this year, according to an agreement signed this Monday between the foundation's president, Isidre Fainé, and the president of the Generalitat (the Catalan government), Salvador Illa. The previous agreement was for €225 million, representing an increase of approximately 11%. Of the total amount, €99 million will be allocated to the foundation's social programs, especially those aimed at the most vulnerable groups. Funding is also included for cultural and research initiatives, as well as scholarships. The amount agreed upon with the Generalitat is part of the €655 million that La Caixa is allocating to social projects this year, the highest amount in its history. After signing the agreement, Fainé explained that the objective is "to strengthen the most transformative projects, dedicated to promoting equal opportunities." "Another strategic priority is the creation of the CaixaResearch Institute, whose building will be inaugurated in 2026. All these projects are focused on contributing to the progress of Catalonia and the well-being of Catalans in the short, medium, and long term," he stated.

The 2025 edition of the "la Caixa" Foundation's Health Research Call has selected 34 new cutting-edge biomedical research projects, each with up to one million euros in funding. This eighth edition of the call, which received 714 proposals for basic, clinical, and translational research, is specifically aimed at addressing health challenges in various fields: neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, oncology, infectious diseases, and enabling technologies in any of these areas. Among this year's selected projects at Catalan institutions are those focused on improving beta cell maturation for diabetes treatment, creating a reliable system for testing drugs for spinal cord injuries without the need for animal testing, and targeting the tumor microenvironment to unlock the immune system.

The Department of Justice and Democratic Quality of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), through the Center for Legal Studies and Specialized Training (CEJFE), is maintaining open applications for 50 scholarships to prepare for the competitive examinations for the judiciary, prosecutorial, and judicial administration careers, with a total award of approximately €3-2 million. The deadline for submitting applications is May 21, and all applications must be submitted online through the website. Gencat Procedures.

This school year, families in Barcelona who want to access a lunch scholarship They will have to do it by means of an electronic signatureOn paper, eliminating red tape is intended to make the process easier, but in practice, it can become a new barrier for many vulnerable families.

This March, students will be able to apply for aid from the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports, which this year has reached a record allocation of €2.544 billion. Although the exact date for applications is still unknown, the investment amount and the areas of support are known. Specifically, the Spanish government intends to provide aid to up to 101,000 young people, make educational entry requirements more flexible, and meet the needs of new student profiles, such as those pursuing university degrees in the arts.