I am a Research Scientist at the Institute for Advanced Social Studies (IESA), an official centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).  I have a PhD in Sociology and Political Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid.

My main research interest lies in the intersection of the sociology of innovation and innovation policies, focusing mainly on the social conditions that influence knowledge transfer in several disciplines, both STEMs and the social sciences.

I study innovation as a social process that is shaped by both culture and social structure at different level of analysis. At the societal level I have worked on values and behaviors related to innovation, mainly using survey methodology targeting the general population. At organizational level I have studied science and innovation policies, several forms of knowledge transfer between science and industry, research training and collaboration dynamics of universities and research centers with other domains. Currently I’m working on the ”institutional quality” of innovation systems by looking empirically at key social processes inside institutions and their socioeconomic effects on the innovation system.  I’m also working on knowledge transfer and knowledge utilization with a special focus on the social sciences.

For several years I worked as an applied researcher and consultant.  I have conducted numerous extensive projects on public opinion polls, public policy analysis, social problems and program evaluation. I have also worked as evaluator and consultant for the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation, several regional governments and international organizations such as OECD and the EU. I have been a visiting fellow at Southbank University (UK), the University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University (Australia), Indiana University and the University of New Mexico (USA), among others.

My main recent publications in English are in European Planning Studies, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Regional Studies, Industry and Innovation and Higher Education, among others, and several book chapters with Edward Elgar, Routledge and Springer. My latest edited book is titled “Innovation in SMEs and Micro Firms: Culture, Entrepreneurial Dynamics and Regional Development” (Routledge, 2018, with van Oostrom and Pinto).  In Spanish I have written many articles in social science journals and several books with some of the main academic publishers in Spanish language.

I have editorial experience as director of Revista Española de Sociología/Spanish Journal of Sociology, editor or the new book series “Southern European Societies” (Edward Elgar) and guest editor of several special issues and books. Currently I’m serving as President of the Spanish Sociological Federation (FES) and Coordinator of the Research Network “Southern European Societies” of the European Sociological Association.