The incorporation of qualified talent into companies and research centers in Canary Islands will receive a new boost with an investment of 2.25 million euros from the Government of the Canary Islands through a new edition of the Diginnova program.
The initiative will finance specialized training programs and paid internships aimed at responding to the new challenges of innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation, reinforcing the capacity of the productive sector to incorporate knowledge and generate new opportunities for economic development.
The call for applications, promoted by the Ministry of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture and managed by the Canary Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI), is co-financed by 85% by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and is aimed at non-profit entities that develop training programs aimed at facilitating the incorporation of talent into companies and research centers in the Archipelago.
The Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture, Migdalia Machín, highlighted that "innovation needs people's talent to become a true lever for transformation. With Diginnova, we continue to strengthen the connection between training and business so that the Canary Islands have professionals prepared to face the technological, environmental, and competitiveness challenges that will mark our future."
The subsidized projects will combine specialized theoretical training with paid non-work placements, allowing participants to gain experience in real work environments while companies incorporate new profiles capable of contributing knowledge, driving innovation, and accelerating their transformation processes. The funding includes both training and scholarships associated with the internship period, configuring pathways aimed at improving employability and business competitiveness.
The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and will assess aspects such as the number of people expected to be trained, the accreditation of training provided by higher education centers, and the territorial scope of the programs, prioritizing initiatives with the greatest capacity to extend their benefits to the entire Canary Islands. Projects may be developed for a maximum period of 18 months.
"We want knowledge to find opportunities to develop in the Canary Islands and for our companies to have the capabilities they need to innovate and grow," added Machín. "Investing in talent is investing in a more sustainable, more competitive economic model with a greater capacity to generate quality employment."
Applications can be submitted from September 15 to October 6, 2026, exclusively electronically through the website of the Government of the Canary Islands. The call has an initial allocation of 2.25 million euros, which may be increased if budgetary availability exists, and is part of the actions financed by the European Social Fund Plus to promote employment, professional qualification, and the development of capabilities aligned with European priorities in innovation and digital transformation.
With this fourth edition, Diginnova consolidates its trajectory as one of the main programs of the Government of the Canary Islands to promote the incorporation of talent into the productive sector. Since its launch, it has trained 1,609 people, of whom 324 have accessed employment after participating in the program, thanks to an accumulated investment of 5,705,026.78 euros. These results have made Diginnova a benchmark initiative for connecting training, innovation, and business, favoring the acquisition of skills in strategic areas such as sustainability and digital transformation and facilitating the incorporation of qualified profiles into the Canary Islands labor market.