The Ministry of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture (CUCIC) headed by Migdalia Machín, through the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and the Information Society (ACIISI), has awarded a total of 2,306,000 euros to finance new predoctoral contracts and stays for research staff at the universities of La Laguna and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, as well as the Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
With this investment, the regional Executive reaches a total of 90 predoctoral contracts, specifically, 41 contracts will be subsidized at the University of La Laguna (ULL), 41 at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), four at the Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC) and another four at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
The Minister of Universities, Migdalia Machín, points out that "the Government of the Canary Islands is committed to consolidating research as an engine of development and progress for the Canary Islands." "These contracts not only offer real opportunities to those who are starting their academic career, but also strengthen our universities and scientific centers, which are essential to face future challenges," she says.
Migdalia Machín recalled that this funding responds to the commitment of the Government of the Canary Islands to strengthen the R&D&I system, as well as to the objective of promoting the academic aspect as a professional outlet, giving continuity to the predoctoral program and improving the procedures to make it more agile and effective.
Each grant order contemplates the hiring of research personnel and complementary actions to enrich the training. All four institutions will also include short stays in national and international faculties or research organizations so that the beneficiaries can acquire and share knowledge with other experts, improving their training and promoting the development of their doctoral thesis.
The University of La Laguna and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will each receive 1,100,767 euros, intended for people enrolled in official doctoral programs in the islands. For its part, the FIISC will receive a subsidy of 104,466 euros to reinforce research training in the field of health, in line with the Canary Islands' Smart Specialization Strategy. Although the CSIC subsidy is still being processed, it will have the same funding as the FIISC.
The contracts, on a full-time basis, must be formalized in the 2025 financial year, will have a maximum duration of four years and will be adjusted to the provisions of Law 14/2011, on Science, Technology and Innovation.