Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, made an announcement this Friday stating that the island will be the base for the very first satellite center in the Canary Islands, with the potential to attract investments totalling approximately 300 million euros.
During the ‘State of the Island’ debate, it was revealed that this hub will be responsible for producing, deploying, and managing a fleet of 66 telecommunications satellites bearing the distinct “Tenerfese seal”.
It was also disclosed that the Cabildo will set aside one million euros over the next two years – with the possibility of extension – for procuring scientific equipment for the Public Biomedical and Health Research Organisations in Tenerife.
Dávila has highlighted the increment in the budget dedicated to innovation and future ventures for the island, emphasizing the Council’s dedication to Research, Development, and Innovation (R+D+i) and endorsing support for upcoming generations in this field as well.
The overall allocation for R&D&I has risen by 20%, paving the way for the diversification and enhancement of Tenerife’s economy, as stated by Dávila.
Specifically, the funding for the University of La Laguna, the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, and the Higher Council for Scientific Research has been doubled.
“We aim to attract more young researchers to build their careers in Tenerife and showcase that conducting cutting-edge science from the Atlantic is indeed plausible,” he remarked.
The president has also advocated for an increase in the budget dedicated to youth policies by 70%, escalating from 1.8 million to over 3 million euros.
This enhancement is intended to foster the involvement of younger generations in crucial decisions on the island. “Young individuals must have the opportunity to make their mark on the global stage right from here,” he emphasized.
Thanks to these investments, 20 innovative and technological firms have established themselves in Tenerife this year, thereby creating 400 new skilled positions in R&D&I.
Furthermore, according to the INE, in 2022, approximately 1,500 individuals were actively engaged in R&D activities on the island.
In connection with this, Dávila recollected that on December 1, the inaugural satellite of the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics, ALISIO-2, was launched into space, providing vital insights into climate variation to avert and manage disasters.
