Free digital training for registered mining engineers: what it covers and how to access it

Key data

Registered mining engineers in Spain can access digital skills training funded by European funds, at no direct cost to the professional or to the companies where they work. The Resolution of 18 March 2026 from Red.es publishes the agreement that activates this programme in the field of mining engineering, within the broader framework of the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia (PRTR).

The grant was originally awarded to Unión Profesional through Real Decreto 876/2024, of 3 September, and is now channelled to the Consejo Superior de Colegios de Ingenieros de Minas through this agreement with Red.es. The objective is clear: to improve the digital skills of registered professionals in this sector.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the collaboration agreement between Red.es and the Consejo Superior de Colegios de Ingenieros de Minas. This agreement does not create the grant, but rather establishes the operational framework for its execution: how it is managed, how expenditure is justified and how its use is monitored.

The key elements of the agreement are as follows:

• Purpose: Development of a digital skills training programme aimed at registered professionals in mining engineering.
• Funding: PRTR funds linked to Next Generation EU, channelled through Red.es.
• Grant beneficiary: Unión Profesional, the entity that groups professional associations and received the grant through Real Decreto 876/2024.
• Sector manager: Consejo Superior de Colegios de Ingenieros de Minas, responsible for executing the programme within its scope.
• Control obligations: The agreement imposes monitoring, expenditure justification and accountability obligations before Red.es, on both the Consejo Superior and Unión Profesional.

This model is replicable: Unión Profesional has signed similar agreements with other professional associations within the same programme enabled by Real Decreto 876/2024.

Economic and operational impact

For registered mining engineers, the impact is direct and positive: access to digital skills training at no cost, funded by European funds. Digitalisation is one of the most frequently cited qualification gaps in traditional technical sectors, and this programme addresses that need without the professional or their employer having to bear the cost.

For the Consejo Superior de Colegios de Ingenieros de Minas, the impact is operational and compliance-related. The agreement activates formal obligations that must be managed rigorously:

• Design and execution of the training programme within the PRTR parameters.
• Documentary justification of expenditure before Red.es.
• Monitoring of compliance indicators linked to Next Generation EU funds.
• Joint accountability with Unión Profesional.

Failure to meet the justification obligations in PRTR programmes may result in the return of funds received, with the financial consequences this entails for the managing entity. This risk falls on the Consejo Superior and on Unión Profesional, not on the registered professional participating in the training.

Who is affected?

• Registered mining engineers: Direct recipients of the training programme. They can access digital skills training funded by European funds.
• Consejo Superior de Colegios de Ingenieros de Minas: Managing entity of the agreement. Assumes obligations for execution, justification and expenditure control before Red.es.
• Unión Profesional: Formal beneficiary of the grant. Jointly responsible for accountability before Red.es.
• Red.es: Supervisory entity. Monitors the correct execution of the agreement and the justification of PRTR funds.
• Companies in the mining and engineering sector: Indirectly benefit from having professionals with greater digital qualifications, without bearing the cost of that training.

Practical example

A registered mining engineer working at an extraction company or an engineering consultancy can access the digital training programme organised by their professional association. The training is fully covered by the PRTR grant, so neither the professional nor their employer pays anything to participate.

From the association's perspective, the process is as follows: the Consejo Superior de Colegios de Ingenieros de Minas organises the training activities, records the participation of registered members, documents the associated costs and justifies them before Red.es in accordance with the agreement's requirements. Unión Profesional acts as the overall interlocutor with Red.es for all associations enrolled in the programme.

If the Consejo Superior does not correctly justify the expenditure or fails to meet the monitoring indicators required by the PRTR, it could be required to return the funds received. This is why documentary management and agreement monitoring are critical for the managing entity.

What should companies do now?

1. If you are a registered mining engineer: Contact your professional association to find out the schedule and access conditions for the digital training programme. Participation is free and funded by European funds.
2. If you manage the association or are responsible for the agreement: Review the justification and monitoring obligations established in the agreement with Red.es. Make sure you have an adequate documentary system to record expenditure, participants and PRTR compliance indicators.
3. If you are an HR or training manager at a company with mining engineers: Identify which professionals on your staff are registered members and can benefit from the programme. Coordinate with them to facilitate their participation at no cost to the company.
4. If you represent Unión Profesional or the Consejo Superior: Verify that the joint accountability mechanisms before Red.es are operational from the agreement's entry into force date, 18 March 2026.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7188