Blue economy boost as Plocan sets up shop in Tenerife
The Canary Islands Oceanic Platform (Plocan) has opened new offices in the Barranco Grande enclave of Tenerife’s Science and Technology Park. The facility strengthens the presence of this scientific infrastructure on the island and adds a new piece to the goal of turning Tenerife into a major innovation centre for the Mid-Atlantic, with the blue economy as one of its main areas of specialisation.
A hub for ocean research and technology
Plocan’s arrival will allow for the expansion of teams, the coordination of projects, and closer ties with universities, businesses, research centres, and government bodies that already form part of the island’s R&D&I ecosystem. The location, close to other scientific and technology hubs, will also facilitate the development of activities linked to ocean observation, marine technology testing, and the creation of solutions applied to the maritime environment.
Plocan is a singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure dedicated to research and experimentation in the ocean. Its work connects the Canary Islands with international networks of marine and maritime innovation, combining science, technology and knowledge transfer.
Three international projects worth €6.3 million
The opening of the office coincides with the development in Tenerife of three international projects in which Plocan is participating, with a combined budget of €6.3 million. The initiatives focus on cetacean protection, maritime traffic surveillance, and talent development for the blue economy.
One of these is Atlantic Whale Deal, which will test technologies aimed at reducing collisions between ships and whales. The project will develop acoustic, visual and thermal detection systems, risk maps, and tools for analysing noise pollution and the role of cetaceans in ocean ecosystems.
Plocan is also coordinating Oceansentinel, an initiative designed to monitor cetaceans and recreational vessels in real time within the Franja Marina Teno-Rasca Special Area of Conservation. The project plans to install high-resolution coastal cameras and develop artificial intelligence algorithms capable of detecting animals and boats. The data obtained will support scientific research, improve environmental surveillance, and facilitate the management of one of Tenerife’s most valuable marine areas.
The third project is Upwelling, funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area programme and developed by entities from Spain, Portugal, France and Ireland. Its aim is to strengthen talent and innovation in the blue economy, give businesses access to testing infrastructure, and improve cooperation between scientific centres, companies and government bodies.
Building a technology hub beyond tourism
Tenerife’s Councillor for Innovation, Research and Development, Juan José Martínez, said the arrival of Plocan reflects the growth of scientific and technological activity on the island and will help drive joint projects between institutions, businesses and research centres.
Plocan’s director, José Joaquín Hernández Brito, highlighted that the organisation works in ocean observation, marine technology testing, and the development of solutions linked to artificial intelligence, the internet of things, sensing and robotics.
Plocan’s arrival comes at a time when Tenerife is seeking to broaden its profile beyond its status as a tourist destination. The Science and Technology Park has positioned the blue economy among the strategic sectors of its Innovation Master Plan, alongside other high-value-added activities. The new office does not by itself turn the island into a major technology hub, but it does strengthen a network that already includes scientific infrastructure, European projects, specialised knowledge, and the capacity to attract talent. The challenge will be to turn that concentration of resources into skilled jobs, innovative businesses, and solutions that can be developed in the Canary Islands and exported to other Atlantic territories.
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