PLOCAN Joins the R&D Network of the Tenerife Science and Technology Park
PLOCAN Opens Offices at Tenerife’s Scientific and Technological Park The Tenerife Council has welcomed the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) to its Scientific and Technological Park, with new offices now established in Barranco Grande. This initiative aims to support various research, development, and innovation projects in response to the island’s growing scientific activity. […]
PLOCAN Opens Offices at Tenerife’s Scientific and Technological ParkThe Tenerife Council has welcomed the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) to its Scientific and Technological Park, with new offices now established in Barranco Grande. This initiative aims to support various research, development, and innovation projects in response to the island’s growing scientific activity. PLOCAN’s presence strengthens collaboration within the local research ecosystem and enhances its capacity to launch new technical activities linked to marine science and technology. The inauguration event featured key figures including Juan José Martínez Díaz, the Tenerife Council’s innovation advisor, and PLOCAN’s director, José Joaquín Hernández Brito. Martínez described PLOCAN’s integration into the park as a significant boost to the island’s research and innovation landscape. He expressed confidence that PLOCAN would enhance coordination with local institutions, companies, and research centres, reinforcing Tenerife’s position as a hub for science and technology. Highlighting PLOCAN’s expertise, Hernández Brito noted the organisation’s capabilities in ocean observation and marine technology. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector to advance real projects in the blue economy, utilising advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics. Current Projects Worth €6. 3 MillionPLOCAN is currently involved in three international projects in Tenerife totaling a budget of €6. 3 million. These include the “Atlantic Whale Deal,” which focuses on preventing ship-whale collisions, “Oceansentinel,” aimed at real-time monitoring of marine life, and “UPWELLING,” which enhances collaboration in the Atlantic blue economy. The Atlantic Whale Deal will trial innovative technologies to mitigate vessel collisions, develop detection methods, and assess whale ecosystems sustainably. Meanwhile, Oceansentinel will implement high-resolution coastal cameras and AI algorithms to monitor cetaceans and support environmental management. UPWELLING, funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area programme, unites teams from Spain, Portugal, France, and Ireland to tackle challenges facing the maritime sector, such as the lack of skilled professionals and the need for better collaboration among research and public institutions. This integration of PLOCAN into the Scientific and Technological Park is set to bolster the connection between science and business, accelerating innovative projects and solidifying Tenerife’s reputation in the blue economy and marine innovation.