Canary Islands and Basque Government Sign Protocol for Scientific Collaboration
The governments of the Canary Islands and the Basque Country have signed a protocol this Friday to promote shared scientific projects that will have a significant impact on business development. The Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, and the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, confirmed their commitment to science, technology, and innovation following a meeting with researchers in the field of Blue Economy at the Tenerife-Las Mantecas Science and Technology Park.
Atlantic Axis
Pradales, in statements to the media, emphasised the need to explore the natural opportunities that arise between the research teams from the Canary Islands and the Basque Country. “The protocol we have signed will clearly affect innovation policies, both basic and applied,” he stated, while highlighting the Atlantic axis as a driving force for scientific development in both regions.
Blue Economy
In his view, areas such as biotechnology, ocean energy, fishing, and beach sustainability are opportunities for joint projects. The Basque leader emphasised that there is “a tremendous opportunity” to invest in new technologies and in startups capable of growing and generating skilled employment and economic development in both territories.
Decisive Boost
Clavijo added that both the governments, universities, and researchers have been working on this cooperation for some time, although this protocol will provide “a decisive boost”. The Canary Islands President also noted that the Basque Country is an academic reference point in knowledge transfer.
Territorial Synergies
Juan José Martínez, the Innovation councillor of the Tenerife Cabildo, acknowledged the search for ways to leverage the synergies between the two territories. “We are two territories that complement each other well in different areas, particularly in the Blue Economy, but also in renewable energies,” he pointed out. Martínez added that there are opportunities in the aerospace sector as well, as Basque companies linked to this field have expressed interest in establishing operations in Tenerife.
