Publicado en Ph. Laredo y P. Mustar, comps., Research and innovation policies in the new global economy: an international comparative analysis, 359-397, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2001.Paper presented to the seminar Evolution des Systemes de Recherche et d'Innovation des Pays Industrialisés (Paris, November 12th 1998).The Spanish System of Research, including research and innovation aspects, is characterised by a lack of tradition in recognising the political and economical relevance of science and technology and for the absence of efficient patterns of action for the management of a science and innovation system. The efforts to reorganise the Research System were carried out, at critical opportunities, through the influence of individual actors that at given times of their careers assumed the governance of the System and attempted to reform the organisation and institutions to correct for the flaws that were hampering the effective operation of the Research System. These "window opportunities" to introduce science and technology in the political agenda were given positive, but partial, outcomes yielding benefices to a specific area or sector of the Research System but failing to obtain a global positive outcome.Author’s work has been supported by grants from CICYT (SEC-93-0688) and the European Commission (TSER Project Nº SOE1-CT96-1036).Peer reviewed