SOIVRE Scholarships 2026: training in foreign trade quality control laboratories

Key data

University graduates interested in physical-chemical analysis of foreign trade products have had a new regulatory framework since 26 June 2026 to access practical training scholarships in SOIVRE laboratories. The Order ECM/646/2026 establishes the regulatory bases that will govern these scholarships, replacing the previous 2022 regulations and strengthening legal certainty and transparency of the process.

For companies in the foreign trade sector, this regulation is relevant in terms of talent: scholarship holders are trained in the same techniques that are later applied by inspection and certification bodies that control their products at the border.

What does this regulation establish?

Order ECM/646/2026 sets the rules for granting practical training scholarships in SOIVRE laboratories, which depend on the State Secretariat for Trade. These laboratories conduct control tests on products subject to foreign trade, and the scholarships allow university graduates to gain direct experience in their work techniques.

The key aspects regulated by the regulation are as follows:

• Type of training: physical-chemical analysis techniques applied to foreign trade products.
• Duration: maximum of 2 years per scholarship holder.
• Employment status: registration in the General Social Security Scheme, but without employment or civil service relationship with the Administration.
• Selection process: competitive selection, entirely electronic processing.
• Transparency: mechanisms for transparency and legal certainty in scholarship selection and management are strengthened.
• Strategic framework: scholarships are aligned with the Ministry's Strategic Subsidies Plan, aimed at improving the employability of graduates and strengthening foreign trade inspection and certification functions.

Comparison with previous regulation (2022)

Economic and operational impact

This regulation does not generate direct costs for companies. Its impact is mainly one of opportunity and sectoral context:

• For university graduates: access to paid practical training (with Social Security registration) in laboratories specialized in foreign trade quality control, with a duration of up to 2 years.
• For the foreign trade sector: the regulation strengthens the technical capacity of SOIVRE laboratories, which are the bodies that conduct control tests on products imported and exported by Spanish companies. Greater technical capacity can translate into more agile and rigorous inspection processes.
• For companies with technical profile needs: scholarship holders trained at SOIVRE acquire very specific competencies in physical-chemical analysis of foreign trade products, a scarce profile in the market and of high value for importing, exporting companies and private laboratories.

Registration in the General Social Security Scheme—without employment or civil service relationship—is a relevant element: scholarship holders have social coverage during their training, making these scholarships more attractive than other unpaid internship modalities.

Who does it affect?

• University graduates with training in sciences, chemistry, biology, food technology or other disciplines related to physical-chemical analysis.
• Companies in the foreign trade sector (importers, exporters) that operate with products subject to quality controls at the border.
• Private laboratories for analysis and quality control that may be interested in recruiting profiles trained in SOIVRE laboratories.
• Foreign trade advisors and consultants who advise clients on inspection and certification processes.
• HR departments of companies in the sector, as a source for recruiting specialized technical talent.

Practical example

A graduate in Chemistry or Food Science and Technology who accesses one of these SOIVRE scholarships will be able to train for up to 2 years in the facilities of a laboratory of the State Secretariat for Trade, conducting physical-chemical analysis tests on real foreign trade products (food, materials, industrial products, etc.).

During this period, they will be registered in the General Social Security Scheme—with the coverage that this implies in terms of benefits—but without generating an employment or civil service relationship with the Administration. After the 2 years, they will have acquired a very specific and valued technical profile both in the public sector (inspection and certification bodies) and in the private sector (laboratories, importing/exporting companies).

For a food product importing company, for example, having a technician trained in the SOIVRE laboratories themselves means having someone who knows exactly what controls are applied to their products at the border and how to optimize documentation and processes to streamline import procedures.

What should interested parties do now?

1. Consult the specific call: the regulatory bases are already in force as of 26 June 2026, but the specific scholarship call will be published separately. Keep an eye on the BOE and the State Secretariat for Trade website.
2. Verify qualification requirements: scholarships are aimed at university graduates; it is advisable to review which qualifications are eligible in the specific call.
3. Prepare documentation in electronic format: processing is entirely electronic, so it is necessary to have a digital certificate or Cl@ve to submit the application.
4. Understand the selection process: selection is carried out on a competitive basis, which means candidates are ranked according to objective criteria. Knowing these criteria in advance allows you to better prepare your candidacy.
5. For companies in the sector: identify whether among their talent needs a profile trained in physical-chemical analysis of foreign trade products fits, and establish contact channels with SOIVRE laboratories to learn about the profile of graduate scholarship holders.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13938