This Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS) for research, development and innovation in the field of marine science and technology thereby reinforces its aim of expanding ties with Tenerife’s R&D&I community and enabling the Consortium to grow its workforce on the island, so as to continue developing the technical and scientific activities linked to its projects. Its location in northern Tenerife offers the advantage of proximity to centers of scientific and technological activity.
The offices were inaugurated by the Councillor for Innovation, Research and Development of the Tenerife Island Council, Juan José Martínez Díaz, accompanied by the Managing Director of the Tenerife Science and Technology Park, Olga Martín Pascual, together with the Director of PLOCAN, José Joaquín Hernández Brito, and its Manager, Carlos Medina Santana.
The Councillor for Innovation, Research and Development of the Tenerife Island Council, Juan José Martínez Díaz, stated that “PLOCAN’s establishment at the Tenerife Science and Technology Park represents a significant boost to the island’s research, development and innovation ecosystem. Its arrival responds to the growth of scientific and technological activity in Tenerife and reinforces our shared commitment to driving innovative projects and strengthening collaboration between institutions, companies and research centres. From the Tenerife Science and Technology Park we welcome PLOCAN, confident that its presence will help strengthen coordination across the R&D&I ecosystem as a whole, fostering the development of joint initiatives and consolidating Tenerife as a benchmark in science, technology and innovation.”
For his part, the Director of PLOCAN, José Joaquín Hernández Brito, highlighted PLOCAN’s capabilities in ocean observation, marine technology testing and the development of technological solutions, as well as its connection to the leading international marine and maritime research and innovation networks. “Cooperation between government, academia, business and society—the quadruple helix—is a guiding principle of PLOCAN across all the islands: reaching the territory with real blue economy projects, riding the wave of artificial intelligence, the internet of things, sensor technology and robotics,” he said.
PLOCAN is currently developing three international projects in Tenerife alongside other partners, with a combined budget of €6.3 million: the “Atlantic Whale Deal: mitigating ship strikes and enhancing carbon sequestration in the Atlantic” project, “Watching whales, protecting waters–Real-time monitoring of cetaceans and recreational vessels to support scientific research and government surveillance” (Oceansentinel), and the “Boosting talent and innovation in the Atlantic Blue Economy” (UPWELLING) project.
The Atlantic Whale Deal will test innovative technologies to mitigate collisions between vessels and whales, promoting transnational cooperation. It will develop detection techniques, collision risk and noise pollution maps, and will assess the ecosystem services provided by whales. The project seeks to protect biodiversity and strengthen ocean ecosystems through a sustainable long-term plan.
The project will produce detection and localization techniques (acoustic, visual and thermal), create collision risk and noise pollution maps integrated into interactive tools, assess the ecosystem services provided by whales, and propose a sustainable long-term plan.
PLOCAN also coordinates Oceansentinel for the development and implementation of a real-time cetacean monitoring system in the Teno-Rasca Marine Strip Special Area of Conservation (SAC). In this project, high-resolution coastal cameras will be installed and operated, artificial intelligence algorithms for detecting cetaceans and vessels will be developed and validated, data on cetaceans and recreational maritime traffic will be studied, and useful information will be generated for environmental surveillance, management of the SAC and support to the competent authorities, among other objectives.
Boosting talent and innovation in the Atlantic Blue Economy (UPWELLING) is the third European project underway. Funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area 2021–2027 programme, it brings together organizations from Spain, Portugal, France and Ireland with the aim of strengthening the blue economy by enhancing human capabilities, technological innovation and transnational collaboration.
The project was created to address some of the main challenges facing the maritime and marine sector in the Atlantic Area: the shortage of specialized professionals, the difficulties companies face in accessing testing and demonstration infrastructure, and the need to strengthen cooperation between research centers, marine infrastructures, companies and public administrations.
The Tenerife Science and Technology Park promotes the blue economy as one of the strategic sectors of its Innovation Master Plan (PDI), fostering an environment that favors innovation, knowledge transfer and the development of high-value-added projects. In this context, PLOCAN’s incorporation into the PCTT innovation ecosystem represents a decisive boost to strengthening collaboration between science and business, accelerating new R&D&I initiatives and consolidating Tenerife as a national and international benchmark in the blue economy and marine innovation.
