The 25 centres and 16 entities of the Severo de Ochoa y María de Maeztu (SOMMa) alliance, among which IGFAE is included, required yesterday, 12th March, from the Ministry of Research, Development and Innovation to consider science as economic activity of common public interest. SOMMa made three main demands: VAT deduction of the acquisition of goods and services and VAT release of public subsidies or at least the introduction of a uniform criterion which doesn’t depend on the auditor; a new law for public contracts that enforces a public selection process for contracts above 15 000 euros; flexibility of the downsizing cap to allow the increase of personnel whenever the institutes have funds for it.