Working Groups

The Elcano Royal Institute’s Working Groups are one of its biggest assets. Their method of working allows them to canvas the views of a wide range of experts from different business, academic, professional and political backgrounds.

One of the biggest strengths of the Elcano Royal Institute’s Working Groups is the private space they provide to discuss issues. Members meet under the Chatham House Rule and receive a personal, non-transferable invitation from the Director of the Working Group.

The Elcano’s 2026 Action Plan includes the following Working Groups, led by members of the research team:

1

The future of Europe, directed by Ignacio Molina y Raquel García Llorente.

Ignacio Molina. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Lecturer at the Autonomus University of Madrid (UAM).
Raquel García Llorente. Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute.

2

Industrial policy, regulation and competitiveness, directed by Judith Arnal.

Judith Arnal. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and a member of its Scientific Council

3

The Ecosystem of Spain’s presence and influence in Brussels, directed by Luis Simón y Raquel García Llorente.

Luis Simon. Director of the Elcano Royal Institute’s Brussels Office and Senior Fellow.
Raquel García Llorente. Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute.

4

Trends in security, defence and space, directed by Félix Arteaga.

Félix Arteaga. Senior Fellow, Elcano Royal Institute.

5

Cyberpolitics, directed by Félix Arteaga y Javier Alonso Lecuit.

Félix Arteaga. Senior Fellow, Elcano Royal Institute.
Javier Alonso Lecuit. Senior Research Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute.

6

Climate and energy, directed by Lara Lázaro Touza y Gonzalo Escribano.

Lara Lázaro Touza. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Lecturer in Economic Theory at Cardenal Cisneros University College in Madrid.
Gonzalo Escribano. Senior Fellow and director of the Energy and Climate Programme at the Elcano Royal Institute. He is also Professor of Applied Economics at the UNED.

7

Geoeconomics, directed by Federico Steinberg y Miguel Otero Iglesias.

Federico Steinberg. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Lecturer in Political Economy at Madrid’s Universidad Autónoma.
Miguel Otero Iglesias. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Professor at the IE School of Global and Public Affairs.

8

Technology transformations, directed by Darío García de Viedma.

Darío García de Viedma. Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute.

9

Geopolitics of mobility, directed by Miguel Otero Iglesias.

Miguel Otero Iglesias. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Professor at the IE School of Global and Public Affairs.

10

Latin America, directed by Carlos Malamud y Ernesto Talvi.

Carlos Malamud. Senior Fellow for Latin America at the Elcano Royal Institute, and Professor of Latin American History at UNED.
Erensto Talvi. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute.

11

Mexico, directed by Carlos Malamud.

Carlos Malamud. Senior Fellow for Latin America at the Elcano Royal Institute, and Professor of Latin American History at UNED.

12

Brazil, directed by Carlos Malamud y Esther Solano.

Carlos Malamud. Senior Fellow for Latin America at the Elcano Royal Institute, and Professor of Latin American History at UNED.
Esther Solano Gallego. Adjunct Professor at the Federal University of São Paulo.

13

The China-US-EU strategic triangle, directed by Mario Esteban.

Mario Esteban. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Full Professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid.

14

Domestic and foreign policy of the United States, directed by Carlota García Encina.

Carlota García Encina. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute.

15

Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel, directed by José Vericat.

José Vericat. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and a Research Fellow at the Columbia University.

16

Disinformation, directed by Ángel Badillo.

Ángel Badillo. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute

17

Spanish Foreign Policy, directed by Ignacio Molina.

Ignacio Molina. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Lecturer at the Autonomus University of Madrid (UAM).

18

Migration and asylum policies, directed by Rut Bermejo Casado y Carmen González Enríquez.

Rut Bermejo Casado. Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute, and an Associate Professor at Rey Juan Carlos University.
Carmen González Enríquez. Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Full Professor in the Department of Political Science at UNED.

Companies on the Institute’s Corporate Members’ Programme can choose which groups to participate in, in line with their relation to the Institute and their specific interests.