The Ministry of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, headed by Migdalia Machín, has resolved the call for research infrastructures and scientific-technical equipment of 2026 with the award of 2.97 million euros for six projects promoted by PLOCAN, the Technological Institute of Canarias (ITC), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Canary Foundation Science and Technology Park of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The actions will allow the incorporation of new capabilities in areas with particularly relevant application for the archipelago: from the observation of the ocean and the testing of technologies for the blue economy to the transformation of waste from tourism into biofuels, proteomics and advanced cell analysis, or the development of infrastructures for microelectronics and semiconductors.
The Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture, Migdalia Machín, highlighted that "behind each of these infrastructures there are new possibilities to investigate problems and opportunities that directly affect the Canary Islands. We are talking about better understanding our marine environment, advancing in more sustainable energy solutions, having higher precision scientific tools, or developing capabilities in strategic technologies such as microelectronics".
Machín also stressed that "having advanced scientific equipment not only improves what we can research from the islands, but also our ability to collaborate, compete and participate in larger-scale projects outside the Archipelago. The Canary Islands need to generate their own knowledge and, at the same time, be connected to the scientific and technological networks working on major international challenges".
The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) will develop two of the selected actions. On the one hand, Harshlab Offshore, an open-sea testing infrastructure to test materials, structures, and technologies in real ocean conditions, will receive 592,800 euros. On the other hand, it will receive 443,040 euros for an autonomous dual infrastructure for ocean observation capable of collecting data from the marine environment autonomously and providing new scientific-technical services.
The Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC) will develop TOURISM2FUEL, a scientific-technological platform for the conversion of waste from tourism into biofuels (fuels of renewable origin obtained from organic matter), with funding of 511,338.68 euros. The initiative connects research, sustainability, and one of the main economic sectors of the Canary Islands.
For its part, the ULPGC's Canary Foundation Science and Technology Park will receive 504,132.38 euros to complete the equipping, adaptation, commissioning, and certification of an ISO 7/ISO 5 Clean Room, a highly controlled environment space necessary for certain microelectronics and semiconductor work.
The CSIC will carry out two other actions. The CALIMA project will incorporate advanced sorting cytometry (a technology that allows the analysis and separation of different types of cells) for multidisciplinary research, with 553,440 euros. A second action, endowed with 363,807.48 euros, will provide a high-throughput proteomics platform (simultaneous analysis of a large number of proteins) associated with high-resolution mass spectrometry (a technique for identifying and analyzing molecules with great precision).
These actions expand the possibilities of researching and developing solutions from the Canary Islands in areas closely linked to the islands: the knowledge and sustainable use of the ocean, waste reuse, advanced cell and protein analysis, and the development of technologies linked to semiconductors. These new capabilities can foster more competitive research, open opportunities for training and skilled employment, and facilitate the translation of knowledge generated in the Archipelago into applications in economic and social sectors.
For the minister, this set of projects "also shows the diversity of science carried out in the Canary Islands and its capacity to respond to very different needs. Marine research, energy, advanced technologies, and scientific analysis tools are part of the same strategy: generating knowledge that can be transformed into solutions, opportunities, and greater technological capacity for the islands."
The call was initially launched with 2 million euros, intended to finance the construction, improvement, and renovation of scientific infrastructures and the acquisition of advanced equipment. During its processing, the allocation was increased by 1,246,710.37 euros, reaching a total budget of 3,246,710.37 euros, of which 2,968,558.54 euros are finally granted to the six selected projects.
The grants are managed by the Canary Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI) and are part of the FEDER Canarias 2021-2027 Program, within the European objective of developing and improving research and innovation capabilities and promoting the incorporation of advanced technologies. They have a European co-financing rate of 85%.
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