SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 28th June (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, revealed on Friday that the island has been selected as the site for the first satellite hub in the Canary Islands. This initiative is expected to attract investments totalling approximately 300 million euros.
During the ‘State of the Island Debate’, it was disclosed that this hub will be responsible for manufacturing, deploying, and operating a fleet of 66 telecommunications satellites bearing the distinctive “Tenerife” mark.
Additionally, it was announced that the Cabildo will designate one million euros over the next two years – with the possibility of extension – for the procurement of scientific equipment from the Public Biomedical and Health Research Organizations of Tenerife.
Dávila highlighted the increase in the budget for innovation and upcoming projects for the island, emphasising the Cabildo’s dedication to Research, Development, and Innovation (R&D&I) and its backing for new generations in this field.
The overall budget allocated to R&D&I has seen a 20% rise, facilitating the diversification and enhancement of Tenerife’s economy, as mentioned by Dávila.
Specifically, the funds allocated to the University of La Laguna, the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, and the Higher Council for Scientific Research have been doubled.
“We aim to inspire more young researchers to build their careers in Tenerife and demonstrate that conducting top-notch science from the Atlantic is absolutely viable,” he remarked.
The president also defended the Cabildo’s decision to boost the budget dedicated to youth policies by 70%, escalating from 1.8 million to over 3 million euros.
This escalation seeks to stimulate the involvement of younger generations in significant decisions on the island. “Young individuals should have the ability to impact the world from here,” he asserted.
Thanks to these investments, 20 innovative and technological enterprises have been established in Tenerife this year, creating 400 new skilled positions in R&D&I.
Moreover, 200 individuals are representing Tenerife globally, engaging in cutting-edge scientific endeavours, he disclosed.
As per the National Statistics Institute (INE), approximately 1,500 individuals were engaged in R&D activities on the island in 2022.
Addressing this, Dávila recalled that on December 1, the first satellite of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, ALISIO-2, was launched into space. This satellite will provide valuable insights on climate change to mitigate and manage disasters.
