SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, January 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, met this Wednesday with the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, to establish the bases of action that will allow the Canary Islands to become an aerospace benchmark at the Spanish and European level.
Clavijo claimed, in this sense, that the Canary Islands be one of the key territories in the development of the aerospace industry, which plans to mobilize around 4,533 million euros in Spain.
This fact will imply the implementation of a series of measures that, among other issues, promote development, innovation and collaboration with the aerospace industry, such as promoting R&D linked to the aerospace activity of companies that plan to carry out carry out its activity on the islands, the promotion of collaboration with universities and research centers, both national and international, with the aim of becoming a pole of attraction for talent or the study of a regime of fiscal and financial incentives aimed at attracting aerospace companies. to establish its headquarters and operation centers in the Canary Islands.
Clavijo showed his confidence in this project that will provide a new boost to science done on the islands and did not doubt the suitability and preparation of both the Canarian public universities and the private sector linked to R&D based on the islands to make it happen.
“The Canary Islands is prepared to host and develop these strategic projects, which aim to position the aerospace industry as a key player in the face of new challenges and emerging opportunities derived from the major transformations planned in the sector,” he stated in a note sent by his Executive.
Clavijo announced that the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands plans to hold a forum next February to bring together all public and private companies that could be “key” in the development of aeronautical and aerospace projects.
The Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, has conveyed “the firm commitment of the Government of Spain to the Canary Islands, its talent and its scientific and technological development.”
Together, he said, “we face the challenges of the present and future through the agreement to offer solutions to society.”
Among the advantages that place the archipelago in one of the most attractive places in Europe for aerospace innovation are the high degree of development, airport and naval infrastructure.
Furthermore, the geographical uniqueness of the Canary Islands can make a difference in terms of promoting cutting-edge aeronautical technology, new uses of aviation and rural and urban mobility, as well as aerospace tourism and access to the stratosphere and space.
The Perte Aeroespacial also seeks to contribute to launching initiatives that take advantage of the aerospace differentiation of the archipelago, promoting economic development integrated into local environments, as well as environmental sustainability.
CANARY ISLANDS AND SPECIFIC PROJECTS
The archipelago already has different programs to join the Perte Aeroespacial with different levels of implementation.
The most advanced project is ‘Canarias Geo Innovation 2030’, in Fuerteventura, which will launch the largest Spanish platform for operating with unmanned aircraft in 2024.
Currently, they are developing projects financed with more than 50 million euros and in 2024 agreements will be signed with European and American multinationals valued at another 50 million.
Specifically, it is an innovation program of the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Fuerteventura for earth observation and communications, with the aim of developing innovative solutions based on the intelligent analysis of data received from sensors embarked on aeronautical and aerospace platforms. manned or remotely manned, with the aim of improving public services.
During the first half of 2024, the flight operations runway (stratoport) and the new multipurpose building will be inaugurated, while the first flights and missions are scheduled for the last four months of the year.
In the case of Gran Canaria, the company Singular Aircraft has won the tender for the pre-commercial public purchase of fire extinguishing to develop drones that serve to prevent, monitor and extinguish fires.
In Tenerife, the Cabildo and Arquimea reached an agreement of intentions in December 2023 for the creation in Tenerife of the first satellite control center at the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER) and a gateway or teleport, which will connect with Canalink, the neutral communications operator.
Another important actor in the Canary Islands that has specific projects to benefit from the Perte Aeroespacial is the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands.
