In a landmark announcement during the ‘Debate on the State of the Island’, Rosa Dávila, President of the Island Council of Tenerife, revealed that the island will host the first satellite centre in the Canary Islands. This centre will be responsible for the manufacture, deployment, and operation of a fleet of 66 telecommunications satellites, each carrying a “Tenerife stamp”, and is expected to attract around 300 million euros in investment.
Dávila also announced that the Island Council will allocate one million euros over the next two years, renewable, for acquiring scientific equipment for public biomedical and health research bodies in Tenerife. Emphasizing the island’s commitment to Research, Development, and Innovation (R+D+i), Dávila highlighted that the budget for these areas has increased by 20%, diversifying and enriching Tenerife’s economy.
Significant budget increases were noted for key institutions, including the University of La Laguna, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, with allocations being doubled. This financial boost aims to support young researchers in establishing their careers on the island, promoting the idea that world-class science can be conducted from the Atlantic.
Furthermore, the Island Council has increased its budget for youth policies by 70%, from 1.8 million to over 3 million euros, to enhance youth participation in important island decisions. This investment has already attracted 20 innovative and technological companies to Tenerife this year, generating 400 new skilled jobs in R&D&I, and supporting 200 individuals conducting top-level science globally under the Tenerife banner.
Dávila also highlighted the successful launch of ALISIO-2, the first satellite from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, on 1 December 2022. This satellite will provide critical data on climate change to aid in disaster prevention and management, underscoring Tenerife’s growing role in global scientific research and innovation.
