[The academies: remembering the past, programming the future]

Since the foundation of the first Academy by Plato the year 338 b.C. until now, Academies have gone through different periods. The first covered the centuries between Plato and the Renaissance. During this time, Academies were understood as centers for the culture of Humanities. At the beginning of the 17th Century a new period began, with Academies of a new style, aimed at either to the promotion of experimental scientific research (British model) or to the advisory of States in scientific questions (French model). The Spanish Academies founded in the 18th century followed the French model, neglecting at some extent the first goal, i.e. the leadership and promotion of scientific research. Looking to the future, Spanish Academies should increase their role as the main national centers for promotion and discussion of scientific research and developments.