The project Stimuli-Responsive Materials for the monitoring of emerging contaminants in aquifers of the Canary Islands: Environmental risk assessment (MaRE-IC) will investigate the development of advanced materials capable of detecting the presence of polluting substances in the archipelago's groundwater and assessing their possible effects on the environment.
This initiative will be developed by the University of La Laguna (ULL) between 2026 and 2028 and is a beneficiary of the call for grants for applied R&D projects promoted by the Ministry of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture (CUCIC) of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Canary Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI). The project seeks to generate new tools to improve the surveillance and protection of Canary Islands aquifers, considered strategic resources for water supply and the maintenance of island ecosystems.
Emerging contaminants represent one of the major current challenges for sustainable water management. These are compounds whose presence in the environment has increased in recent decades and whose effects can compromise the quality of water resources.
In this context, MaRE-IC will explore the potential of smart materials capable of responding to specific stimuli related to the presence of these substances, facilitating more precise and efficient monitoring systems. The research will also incorporate the assessment of associated environmental risks to provide key scientific knowledge in water conservation on the islands.
With a score of 84 points in the scientific and technical evaluation process, MaRE-IC obtained the highest grade in the call and has an approved budget of 80,250 euros.
This initiative is one of the 17 selected in this line of applied R&D aid, which mobilizes more than 2.5 million euros to support research previously co-financed by the State Research Agency. The call is part of the priority areas of the Canary Islands Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3 extended) and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the ERDF Canary Islands Program 2021-2027.
The selected projects will contribute to strengthening the scientific and technological capacities of the Canary Islands, promoting the transfer of knowledge to productive sectors, and consolidating specialized research employment in key areas for the sustainable development of the archipelago.