Just a few days ago it started Government of Spain the procedure to choose the autonomous community that will host the future Spanish Space Agency, a struggle to which the Canary Islands have already signed up.
Both Tenerife and Gran Canaria have expressed their interest in hosting this centre, with the support of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). Both islands, if they finally complete the procedures to officially apply for this center, will be measured against other regions that have also announced their candidacies, as is the case of cities such as Seville, Madrid, or Teruel and for which communities such as Castilla are also going to bid. -Leon and Castilla La Mancha.
Within a maximum period of one month, the Consultative Commission, chaired by the Minister of Territorial Policy, Isabel Rodríguez, will prepare a report with the criteria that will be assessed to determine the location of the headquarters.
After this step, the autonomous communities and the plenary bodies of the local entities may electronically submit the candidacy of one or several municipalities to host the physical headquarters of the Spanish Space Agency.
Additionally, the administrations that present candidatures can offer all or some of the following commitments: transfer of real estate, assumption of financial costs of the transfer or creation of the headquarters and support measures for transferred personnel.
After the deadline for submitting applications, the Commission will request a report from the affected entity and will prepare an opinion, which may include locations not nominated, which will be sent to the Council of Ministers, which will adopt the location agreement of the Spanish Space Agency.
As explained by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, with the launch of the Agency, Spain will be equal to the rest of the countries in our environment that have similar figures and organizations to guide and direct strategies and activities in the field of space.
The creation of the Spanish Space Agency is recognized in the reform of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation and in the National Security Strategy 2021. It is also included in the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) Aerospace , coordinated by the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
The Space Council, an interministerial group administratively integrated into the Ministry of Science and Innovation, through the Commissioner for the Aerospace PERTE, will be in charge of drawing up the Statute and the initial action plan of the Agency.
This public body, with a component dedicated to National Security, will make it possible to efficiently coordinate national space activities and policies, as well as Spain’s participation in international programs in this area.
The space sector provides essential services for our society in the field of communications, Earth observation, navigation, security, the fight against climate change or the monitoring of phenomena such as drought or fires.
These services and applications are of vital importance for the double digital and green transition, strategic objectives of the European Union, as well as to help mitigate the problems arising from major challenges such as climate change and to achieve the United Nations sustainability objectives.
In addition, space is an essential tool for the advancement of science and exploration, answering basic questions of humanity and providing a boost to innovation.
