Would you consider boosting your pre-commercial Ports 4.0 project in the most competitive business environment?
If yes and your focus area is Gran Canaria, just keep reading.
Since the first Ports 4.0 call of Puertos del Estado, Gran Canaria has been a favourite place to perform tests of concept and validation of innovative solutions to improve efficiency, safety, energy transition and digitisation.
After the success of local companies in the first call, and the high interest and volume of applications in the second call, which closed a few months ago (Ideas and Commercial projects), Puertos del Estado is launching the Second Call for Pre-commercial Projects (TRL3-6), open until June 13th. In addition to advisory support, the Ports 4.0 Tradetech Fund provides grants of up to 60% of the innovation-related eligible costs (maximum aid of EUR1.000.000 per project). Total budget for this specific call amounts EUR11.25 mio.
On top of the national funding, Gran Canaria launches a complementary 'Support Program' to help companies that are committed to running their proof of concept and project validation on the island and/or working with locally based companies.
The Ports 4.0 Support Program, of a national nature, has been created to promote innovative pre-commercial projects in the marine-port field and for the development of disruptive solutions aimed at benefiting the logistics-port community. As an addition and a mechanism for improving the quality of applications and thus its eligibility, Gran Canaria and its port community are firmly embarked on a strategy to attract leaders and companies with disruptive projects that want to collaborate with industry agents from the Canary Islands. To meet this end, SPEGC (Economic Promotion Agency of Gran Canaria), the Port Authority of Las Palmas Port Authority and the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster, all of them members of ‘Best in Gran Canaria’, are jointly launching a tailor-made program that combines individualized training and mentoring for nearly two months, plus dedicated support in the search for industrial partners in the Port of Las Palmas and possible facilitating agents of the port environment of Gran Canaria.
Why Gran Canaria?
There are several reasons why Gran Canaria is the ideal base to execute your idea/project:
- Headquarters of the Ports 4.0 Incubator: Gran Canaria is the Canary Islands’ base for the Ports4.0 Tradetech Fund. All the other 13 bases are located in mainland Spain.
- It is home to the National High Technology Incubator in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence applied to the marine-maritime environment, which includes specialized programs and mentoring.
- Locational advantages: The Port of Las Palmas is an EU port located in the heart of Atlantic traffics, right at the gateway to West Africa and immersed in the zone of expansion of offshore energies. Thanks to its climate, activity throughout the year is guaranteed without restrictions on tests/operations.
- Size and scope of the port: Welcome to an updated service centre covering all types of maritime cargoes and activity (transhipment hub, fuel supply, repairs, supplies...). No other port in West Africa covers as many services as Las Palmas.
- A varied infrastructure with a thriving port community: A central port facility with global reach (Port of Las Palmas), a multi-cargo port oriented to bulk and offshore cargoes (Arinaga), a liquid bulk port (Salinetas) and eleven other smaller port facilities; an offshore research centre (PLOCAN), including shipyards, workshops, suppliers and large port terminals with global reach that are ready to enter into partnership agreements.
- Tax advantages: Up to 75% deduction on R&D expenses (as opposed to 45% in mainland Spain) and reimbursement available. 4% corporate tax rate for companies operating under the Canary Islands Special Zone regime.
- Other sources of support are available to help you during the project cycle, including financing.
When you choose Gran Canaria (Port of Las Palmas), you choose not only a consolidated maritime centre but also a leading environment for the development and operation of innovative solutions for the port and maritime industries.
Gran Canaria leads european interest in offshore wind energy
Best in Gran Canaria attends Wind Europe for introducing Gran Canaria to the European offshore industry
Gran Canaria takes part in this year's edition of Wind Europe, one of the most important exhibitions of the wind sector worldwide, which is taking place from 5 - 7 April in Bilbao, 'Best in Gran Canaria' represents the island – as the investment attraction initiative, that brings together the Economic Promotion Society of Gran Canaria (SPEGC in its Spanish acronym, Port Authority of Las Palmas, PLOCAN and the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands, among other regional institutions.
The experts claim that wind will become the major source of energy in Europe during this decade, so Wind Europe Bilbao 2022 represents an opportunity to highlight the strengths of ports and companies of the island, as global suppliers within the international framework. More than 8,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors, 300 speakers will participate in this year's edition, and around 70 work sessions are expected to take place.
Focusing on onshore wind energy, Spain is the country with the best figures in Europe, with 27 GW of installed capacity, more than €3bn to Spain’s GDP and provides 28,000 jobs. Additionally, an Offshore Wind Roadmap has been designed - targeting up to 3 GW of offshore wind by 2030. The Canaries will be the spearhead of this strategy. As every strategy demands a well-planned installation process, Gran Canaria is positioned - thanks to its resources and talent -, as the main regional centre of offshore wind power.
In addition to the above, the Port of Las Palmas configures Gran Canaria as the only hub port in all of southern Europe and West Africa for this industry – being a global hotspot thanks to its development, logistics and 24/7 service capabilities, and also the perfect place for the deployment of wind offshore commercial projects.
To promote the Canary Islands potential in the offshore wind energy sector and under the new brand Canary Trade Winds (CTW), companies from the Canary Islands, the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands and FEDEPORT, are present as exhibitors together with ‘Best in Gran Canaria’, the Port Authority of Las Palmas, PLOCAN, ZEC and PROEXCA, among others.
The objective of ‘Best In Gran Canaria’ and SPEGC in this year’s edition of Wind Europe aims to introduce the advantages present on the island for the companies within this sector. Some of the outstanding services provided to support wind projects in their installation process on the island are: information on the Canary Islands tax system, advice on fiscal issues, information on the different sources available for financing R&D projects, the availability of qualified talent and where to find it or access to specialized and tailored training.
Gran Canaria meets Norwegian maritime industries at Nor-Shipping
‘Best in Gran Canaria’ attends one of its major events, in order to reinforce connections in the nordic marine-maritime sector
5 local companies attend the yearly call and profit from a dedicated 'Best in Gran Canaria' stand, therefore contributing to the reinforcement of a historic and long-running partnership between Norway and Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is currently attending Nor-Shipping 2022, Scandinavia’s prime fair for the maritime transport, logistics and marine energy industries, thanks to the support of Sociedad de Promoción Económica de Gran Canaria (‘Gran Canaria Economic Development Public Agency’, SPEGC in its Spanish acronym) and its landmark investment promotion initiative, 'Best in Gran Canaria'.
After an almost three-year wait due to COVID-related restrictions, the most awaited maritime transport fair in the shipping world opens its doors in the Norwegian capital from April 4th to 7th. With the slogan 'Your Arena for Ocean Solutions', Nor-Shipping once again creates an industry hotspot that welcomes high profile international leaders, top experts and recognised marine/maritime industry players as well as Norwegian maritime giants.
A highly strategic meeting for ‘Best In Gran Canaria’, which is attending this year alongside 5 local companies. Along with SPEGC/Cabildo de Gran Canaria (Gov. body of Gran Canaria), other ‘Best in Gran Canaria’ members have duly joined the delegation, including ZEC (Canary Islands Special Zone) and CMC – Canary Islands Suppliers (Canary Islands Maritime Cluster). Gran Canaria aims at exploring new business opportunities and touching base with its current nordic clients, while also promoting and offering the island´s capabilities in terms of maritime and port services in and around the Port of Las Palmas. All current actions related to turning Las Palmas into a stronghold for Smart Port and digital technologies will also be present in Oslo.
The long-established relationship between Gran Canaria and Norway involves several maritime subsectors, including ship repairs, bunkering, ship supplies and marine renewable energies. Gran Canaria is truly Norway's natural base in the Mid Atlantic, both for businesses and for the research and testing of maritime innovative solutions.