The Government of the Canary Islands and Morocco have launched the first joint call for proposals in science and innovation between the two territories. The regional president, Fernando Clavijo, presented the initiative on Wednesday at an institutional event that marks a milestone in scientific cooperation between a Spanish autonomous community and an African country.
The agreement was signed by the rectors of the two Canary Islands public universities - Francisco García (ULL) and Luis Serra Majem (ULPGC) - and by the president of the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Hicham El Habti. Also in attendance were the Councillor for Universities, Science and Innovation, Migdalia Machín, and representatives of Emerge, the Archipelago's startup association.
The call, scheduled for the end of the year, will be co-funded by the Canarian government and UM6P. It will focus on joint projects in areas such as energy, water, health and food security. The grants will be aimed at researchers, entrepreneurs and companies on both sides of the Atlantic.
Clavijo defended this alliance as an opportunity to "create an area of shared prosperity" in the Atlantic, stressing that "Africa is a priority for the Canary Islands". Scientific collaboration, he said, will be key to tackling global challenges with shared solutions.
The agreement also includes academic exchanges and access to funding instruments such as CDTI programmes. In addition, it will give continuity to previous initiatives such as the 'Africa Canarias Challenge', which has already connected more than 50 researchers and entrepreneurs from both territories.
During the event, an internship programme was announced with the Canary Islands Institute of Technology, which will host Moroccan students this summer. Clavijo closed his speech by thanking the joint effort and calling for continuity: "Working together brings us closer, generates talent, creates jobs and builds the future".
Source: gobiernodecanarias.org