SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Nov. 21 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, conveyed her aspiration this Thursday for the commencement of the construction of the underwater cable that will link the island with Tarfaya (Morocco) to begin in 2025, contingent upon the Canalink company securing 7.5 million Euros in funding to advance the project.
Dávila made these remarks following a meeting with the Minister of Science, Universities and Culture of the Canary Islands Government, Migdalia Machín, to assess the collaborative initiatives of both administrations at the Tenerife Scientific and Technological Park situated in Las Mantecas.
Dávila and Machín were joined by the Minister of Innovation, Research and Development of the Cabildo, Juan José Martínez, and the general director of Cultural Innovation for the Canary Islands Government, Cristóbal de la Rosa.
The president emphasised that the initiatives underscore a commitment to the development of strategic sectors, which will not only diversify the economy but also generate “skilled employment and opportunities” for young people.
“The constellation of Alisios satellites, the teleport and the satellite control centre, alongside the expansion of the ITER supercomputer and the technological facilities at Cuevas Blancas and Las Mantecas, establish Tenerife as a hub of excellence in research and technology on an international scale,” she remarked.
Migdalia Machín pointed out that they wished to evaluate ‘in situ’ the initiatives being undertaken in Tenerife, which are significant for the Canary Islands and also enhance the archipelago’s international standing.
“We should feel immensely proud as the scientists and researchers from various companies or universities established here are undertaking globally leading projects, such as the expansion of the supercomputer at ITER or the satellite constellation, which is a project designed to assist in emergency detection,” she stated.
According to the councillor, “technology and science present an opportunity to reshape our productive framework, while these companies contribute significantly to Canarian society.”
SUPPORT IN FIRE PREVENTION
In this vein, he commented that “the aim of this ecosystem of technological and innovation enterprises is to address potential challenges that impact the entire society, such as the wildfires that have plagued the archipelago in recent years.”
In the upcoming year, the Cabildo will also engage in a project to establish a satellite teleport in Tenerife, which will accompany the satellite constellation intended for promotion through an investment of 21 million Euros.
“There would be six satellites, with the plan to manufacture them on the island, aimed at providing capabilities to assist emergency management related to forest fires, water crises, and even to analyse the urban condition of the islands to enhance decision-making processes,” he stressed.
Rosa Dávila further underlined the significance of CEDEI, an initiative focused on specialised training in the fields of technology and R&D&I, involving an investment of 5 million Euros which is expected to support the recruitment of 950 highly skilled professionals, tailoring the training offerings to meet the actual demands of the labour market.