Tenerife Aims for the Stars with Ambitious Aerospace Strategy
The Tenerife Island Council presented its ‘Tenerife Space Horizon’ strategy on Thursday, the most ambitious aerospace initiative ever launched in the Canary Islands. The plan aims to establish the island as an international benchmark in space, technological innovation, and the knowledge economy.
Economic Diversification and Job Creation
Island president, Rosa Dávila, explained that the strategy is projected to create more than 500 direct jobs in the medium term and mobilise close to €79 million in investment over the next five years. It is designed to act as a new engine for economic diversification. “Tenerife has a historic opportunity to make a qualitative leap in its development model,” Dávila stated. “The aerospace sector is no longer the future, it is the present, and the island has the ideal conditions to lead this field from the Canaries to the world.”
Building on a Strong Scientific Foundation
‘Tenerife Space Horizon’ builds upon years of work in the island’s scientific and technological sphere. It leverages the international prestige of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, the ecosystem of IACTEC, and the advanced infrastructure of the ITER, such as its supercomputer and the D-ALiX platform. The strategy bets on transforming Tenerife into an Atlantic aerospace hub, capable of attracting talent, generating skilled employment, and fostering the establishment of tech firms linked to the space sector.
A Future for Young Talent on the Island
“We are talking about a real opportunity to diversify our economy, generate quality employment, and offer a professional future for our young people so they don’t have to leave,” President Dávila emphasised. The Councillor for Technological Innovation, Juan José Martínez, highlighted the strategy’s role as a lever to transform the island’s economic model towards high-value sectors. “‘Tenerife Space Horizon’ is a clear commitment to economic diversification and a more solid productive model, based on knowledge, innovation, and skilled employment,” Martínez said.
He added that the aerospace sector allows for the creation of stable, highly-skilled job opportunities, attracting and retaining young talent who previously had to seek opportunities elsewhere. This strategy demonstrates Tenerife’s capacity to lead top-tier technological projects, compete in international markets, and advance towards a more modern, sustainable, and resilient economy.
Strategic Objectives and Key Projects
The main objectives of ‘Tenerife Space Horizon’ include: developing technological infrastructure linked to the space sector; boosting research, innovation, and knowledge transfer; strengthening the business fabric and tech entrepreneurship; training and attracting specialised talent; and consolidating national and international alliances.
The strategy encompasses projects such as the ‘Islas Canarias’ constellation, a satellite teleport and tracking station, innovation programmes like DRAGO-Next and CELESTE, and bolstering the ESA BIC Canarias, among others.
A Clear Declaration of Intent
Concluding the presentation, Rosa Dávila stated, “‘Tenerife Space Horizon’ represents a firm commitment to the island’s future, to sustainable growth, innovation, and a more competitive economic model. We want Tenerife to be a protagonist in aerospace development, to generate opportunities, employment, and wellbeing. This strategy is a clear declaration of intent—Tenerife is ready to take the next step and lead the future through knowledge.”
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