SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Dec. 13 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute (IAC) will receive an additional 4 million euros from the General State Budgets (PGE) next year, going from the 19.2 million it received in 2021 to the 23.2 million with which will count next year, which will allow to reinforce the research carried out by the center and increase its facilities.
This has been announced by the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, who has appeared at a press conference together with the director of the IAC, Francisco Rebolo, and the Minister of Economy, Employment and Knowledge of the Government of the Canary Islands, Elena Máñez, after chairing the Annual meeting of the Governing Council of the Institute.
In her speech, Diana Morant highlighted that, for the second consecutive year, the Ministry of Science and Innovation has improved the budget dedicated to the IAC, since in 2021 the contribution of the State Budgets almost doubled, going from 10.1 to 19, 2 million euros, and in 2022 23.2 million will be allocated.
The minister advanced that this contribution will allow, among other things, to build new avant-garde laboratories to contribute to the improvement and expansion of the capabilities of the Institute of Astrophysics and, also, to serve as an engine of attraction for other companies in the environment of the Science and Technology Park of Tenerife, where the IAC is based through the IACTech.
One of these new laboratories will be a center for advanced optical systems, which aims to provide the Institute with the production capabilities of large optical systems, such as mirrors that can be used for ground-based and space-based telescopes and very diverse optical components that can be used. would manufacture for the first time in our country.
There will also be a laboratory for optical communications with space, which involves cutting-edge technology for the transport of information between satellites and the ground, using laser systems. In addition, improvements can be made in all laboratories of the Institute.
On the other hand, the minister stressed that the IAC is “in full health” and is experiencing “one of its best moments.” Not surprisingly, he affirmed that 2020 has been a year of much scientific production for the Institute, with a high degree of visits, consultations and publication of high-quality articles, hence his congratulations to the IAC for its daily work, performed by some 700 persons.
He also added that during the Governing Council “ambitious” projects that are underway have been put on the table and that, as he assured, they will continue to have the support of the Government of Spain.
Diana Morant also took advantage of her intervention to announce that in the Council of Ministers next Friday it will be approved to extend the Plocan budget increase until 2028, which in 2021 went from receiving 750,000 euros to having 1.5 million. The minister reported that, of this contribution, the Government of Spain will invest 10.5 million and the Government of the Canary Islands, another 10.5 million.
MAIN CHALLENGES.
For his part, the director of the IAC, Francisco Rebolo, indicated that the main challenges for the future are to continue promoting the large scientific facilities to be installed in the Canary Islands, such as the Cherenkov telescopes, the European Solar Telescope or the 30-inch Telescope. meters, some of them under construction and others under development.
Francisco Rebolo stressed that these infrastructures involve dozens of countries and force “to join forces” so that the IAC observatories continue to be the international vanguard in space science research. On the other hand, he pointed out that the Governing Council has approved a strategic plan with “ambitious” objectives for the next four years.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Economy, Knowledge and Employment, Elena Máñez, dedicated her first words to the island of La Palma, because “there are many reasons why we hope that the volcano will end as soon as possible, first for the people but also for the observatories can return to normality “, since only those who could carry it out without risk to their infrastructures have been able to maintain their activity.
Elena Máñez added that the support of the Government of the Canary Islands for observation and the IAC is part of the scope of action within the Canary Islands Progreso 2030 Strategy, where we want to continue growing in a knowledge economy in the Canary Islands, since we not only have great capacities in the tourist field, but also in the scientific one, to generate economic activity.
