The 'Talento Gran Canaria' network marks its 2nd anniversary reaching 1.000 members
The 'Talento Gran Canaria' network marks its 2ndanniversary this Summer celebrating the fact that it already has 1.000 members.
The network was started by the Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) in the Summer of 2016 to bring together professionals from Gran Canaria who work across all continents, and for this purpose it created a professional group on LinkedIn which is the way they stay connected.
Two years after its creation, the network includes professionals who work mainly in Europe (89%) and to a lesser extent in America (8%), Asia (1.6%), Africa (1.1%) and Oceania (0.3%). Most have been abroad for over 5 years and, although many are not even thinking of returning, many others have considered the possibility of returning to their native island, provided they are able to have similar professional opportunities to those they currently have outside Gran Canaria. For this reason, the SPEGC is creating a support programme for those 'Talents' who wish to return to the island, in respect of which we will soon be announcing new developments.
Although these professionals work in numerous and very varied areas, the industries with the greatest representation on the network are services, information technology, education, strategies and operations consultancy, telecommunications, marketing and advertising. The vast majority of them hold degrees and masters, although many members also hold doctorates.
As well as the LinkedIn group, 'Talento Gran Canaria' also has a blog where it publishes news about the many initiatives and projects in which our 'Talents' are involved and also interesting stories about projects that are being developed in Gran Canaria.
To celebrate our first 1,000 members on the network we have made this video. We hope you like it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4NfuecVTBc&frags=pl%2Cwn
Gran Canaria will have the world's first High-Tech Marine Incubator boosted by the 1.6 million Euro backing of the Cabildo and Incyde
Gran Canaria will have the world's first High-Tech Marine Incubator and the only one aimed specifically at the blue economy, out of the 12 incubators for different areas in Europe. The director of the Incyde Foundation, Javier Collado, confirmed this to the president of the Gran Canaria Island Council, Antonio Morales, on signing the agreement that will make it possible to hold this infrastructure in 2020 that will position Gran Canaria "on the world map for blue biotechnology".
Raúl García Brink, who heads the Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria, SPEGC, explained that there will be an investment of 1.6 million Euros:in addition to almost 500,000 Euros from the Cabildo, Incyde (the Chamber Institute for the Creation and Development of Business) will provide 1.1 million Euros and its director congratulated the Cabildofor the quality of the project it presented which achieved the financing.
The High-Tech Marine Incubator, promoted by the Economic Development of Gran Canaria, will be located within the Experimental Area of Arinaga which will cover a surface area in excess of 70,000 m2and, benefiting from a 4.1 million Euro investment (including the 1.6 million for the Incubator), will have a capacity to house 20 businesses and create 60 direct jobs. The object is for the technology to be transferable to any business anywhere in the world. In addition, once those that set up business in the incubator become consolidated, they can move to a different space in the Area.
“This incubator does not belong to the Canary Islands, it belongs to Europe and is open to all of Europe", highlighted Mr Collado who, stressing the importance of the centre there will be in Gran Canaria, pointed out that Incyde represents over 80 Chambers of Commerce in Spain and helps SMEs with large projects funded by the EU.
The most advance technology, in Gran Canaria
Building this High-Tech Incubator will allow SMEs to access the most advanced technology developed the world over in the field of blue economy, "to incorporate it into their daily work, grow and create jobs", explained Javier Collado, as the idea is that high-tech "is not only for large businesses".
The president stressed that the Cabildois working to convert Gran Canaria into a world centre of reference in the blue technology sphere, and so an initiative was launched, Bioasis, (Blue Biotechnology and Aquaculture Platform) to which must be added the work carried out by research centres such as the Canary Islands Technology Institute or Ecoaqua, within the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and that done by the Spanish Algae Bank located in Taliarte, Gran Canaria, as combining efforts is key in the work to achieve this objective.
ICEX-Invest in Spain opens the third edition of Rising Startup Spain
ICEX-Invest in Spain opens the period for applications to participate in the latest Rising Startup Spain, a programme aimed at entrepreneurs in Spain who have a minimum 10% foreign participation.
Through this programme, ICEX-Invest in Spain seeks to promote innovative projects developed by foreign nationals or non-resident Spanish nationals who are going to set up a business in Spain or have done so in the last year.
Rising Startup Spain is the first official programme designed to help attract international talent and innovative business models that will contribute to enriching the fabric of Spanish business while also positioning Spain as one of the main centres in Europe for technology and innovation.
In the third edition that has just been opened, the services offered by the programme are: speeding up the process for obtaining a visa, free work space in Madrid or Barcelona, personal advice tailored to the needs of the project, a €10,000 grant per business, visibility in specialised media to advertise the business in Spain, attendance at events held in Spain and meetings with Spanish multinationals.
The deadline for entrepreneurs who wish to enter their applications for this third edition is 4thAugust 2018.
Further information and registration.
Meetings to make known the tax advantages in Gran Canaria to expatriates
Within the framework of the Best in Gran Canaria initiative, we held a gathering with expatriates who live on the island, and with those who had just arrived, to tell them about the tax advantages available in Gran Canaria.
This was the first of a series of gatherings that came about due to many expatriates and remote workers saying that they knew little about about the tax system in Spain and the Canary Islands.
During the event, Eduardo Sánchez Iglesias addressed the following points:
- Introduction to the special tax system in the Canary Island: ZEC and others.
- Establish your activity in Gran Canaria: should you start as a freelancer or company?
- Working from Gran Canaria with your company registered in another country: What should you know?
- The cost of being an Autonomo (freelancer) in Gran Canaria.
- Invoicing correctly. IGIC for clients in the Canary Island, Europe and other countries.
- Expenses you can write o as an Autonomo (freelancer).
- Diference between corporate taxes and personal taxes.
The Agency for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) provides financial and consulting support to entrepreneurs and investors based in Gran Canaria.
Talento Gran Canaria gathers in Barcelona 60 professionals "proud" of the level of qualification of people from Gran Canaria
The initiative Talento Gran Canaria brought together in Barcelona 60 people from Gran Canaria who reside in the city and who were able to get to know each other and connect professionally in a relaxed environment at the 4th Afterwork gathering organised by the Gran Canaria Island Council (Cabildo) through the Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC).
Though many people from Gran Canaria work in Barcelona, most of those who attended had never met but many were "proud" of the fact that "there is so much talent from the island" in this city, where people such as Raúl Cabrera, in charge of the VIP areas and special clients of FC Barcelona, among others, works.
For Raúl it is "fabulous" to meet people who have moved away from the island and from such a wide variety of industries: A/V, telecommunications, law, banking, renewable energy and even health, represented by professionals such as Raúl himself, or Pedro Padrón, who has been in Barcelona for just over two years, and who is currently working as purchasing engineer for SEAT.
“When you meet other people from Gran Canaria you feel quite a strong bond”, according to Pedro, who was also able to meet, among those from Gran Canaria, possible future suppliers for the automotive company for which he works.
In this sense, the gathering, which had high female representation, met the expectations of the Cabildo and managed to connect very diverse profiles opening up the possibility for establishing future professional relationships.
Most of the professionals who attended the event in Barcelona left the island years ago to study or to work. Many hold positions and do work that cannot be easily found on the island, which means that despite "itching to return" they are not considering doing so in the short term.
This is the case with Taida Martínez, producer for Gestmusic Endemol, who after 18 years in Barcelona and having worked on programmes such as Boom, Tu cara me suena and Ahora caigo, is currently deeply involved in preparing the next edition of the programme Operación Triunfo. Despite the temptation, on various occasions, to look for professional opportunities in Gran Canaria, Taida says she will not make that move until she finds something "creatively and financially" similar to what she is presently doing in Barcelona.
Of the same opinion is María José Rodríguez, who has been living in the Catalan capital since 2010 and has been working in the communications and public relations department at Atrápalo since 2015: "I still want to continue growing professionally and the island for the moment does not offer this possibility", she explained, although convinced that "in a few years" she would again be able to "enjoy" Canteras beach.
Regardless of whether or not they want to return to the island, rendezvous such as this afterwork gathering do not just give rise to professional opportunities among the members of the network; they also bring about business opportunities in Gran Canaria, which also gives meaning to such events, aiming to encourage the exchange of experiences, contacts and synergies among people from Gran Canaria.
Rendezvous such as this are linked to the Uvas de Talento gatherings, which the SPEGC holds at its facilities in December, when people from Gran Canaria return to the island for Christmas, the purpose of which is to make known the view that professionals who work outside Gran Canaria have of the island.
The capital of Gran Canaria will host the Canary Islands Digital Laboratory of the Future
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will host the Canary Islands Digital Laboratory of the Future, thanks to a 200,000 Euro grant awarded to the London School of Economics Enterprise by the Government of the Canary Islands, and to the support of the Gran Canaria Island Council (Cabildo) through the Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) and the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council.
The main mission of this Laboratory will be to identify, pilot and put into practice intelligent solutions in the digital domain for the islands, in cooperation with partners and local and international suppliers.
In that regard, the grant is aimed at funding part of its creation and launch, within the framework of the Operating Strategy for Internationalisation of the Canary Economy, the main objectives of which are attracting investment to the Canary Islands in the digital sphere, cooperation in the creation of a Canary digital agenda and promoting internationally the "Canary Islands" brand within digital innovation.
Through this grant, the London School of Economics, one of the world's most prestigious centres for business, applied research and personalised programmes, will incentivise the creation of skilled jobs and economic activity.
Although the headquarters of this Canary Islands Digital Laboratory of the Future will be established in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the activities of this strategic project will cover the entire archipelago.
Those attending ‘Cartoon Business’ will learn about the opportunities Gran Canaria offers the animation sector
Gran Canaria is committed to the audiovisual industry and, if proof of this were needed, it is the opening of 'Cartoon Business' today, an international event of reference in the animation business taking place on the island for the first time, and which will give the 130 persons registered the chance to learn about the opportunities Gran Canaria offers the animation sector.
The pleasant climate, tax incentives, equipment and infrastructure, are just some of the conditions that enable Gran Canaria to keep its firm commitment to film and animation as a way of diversifying the island's economy.
The event will address, over the course of 16 sessions, topics such as the new funding models that have emerged as a result of the changes in the distribution and production markets for the animation sector, and it will do so under the guidance of companies such as Youtube, Technicolor, the BBC, Radio Televisión Española, Lightbox Animation Studios and the publisher de Agostini.
The fact that 130 participants have attended is proof "that European producers are interested in coming here", said the training director at Cartoon, Yolanda Alonso.
This was the case with Ánima, one of the companies that participated in the eventand which has been developing projects from the facilities of the Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) for the last two years with the aim of staying in the island "for a long time to come", according to the company's international sales and co-productions director, Miguel Aldasoro.
‘Cartoon Business’ is currently being held in Gran Canaria as part of the strategy to create a powerful audiovisual industry on the island and turn it into a European benchmark. The event brings the entire animation industry together, from buyers to producers and animators, and therefore becomes a high-level meeting point which this year will focus on licenses, goods and derived products.
Gran Canaria hosts the ‘Cartoon Business’ with 120 persons from 23 countries registered
Over 120 animation professionals from 23 countries have already registered to participate in ‘Cartoon Business’, an international event for the animation industry which has been held in the past in Ireland and the Netherlands and which will take place in Gran Canaria from 7th to 9th May.
‘Cartoon Business’ is a high profile seminar of great interest for attracting production companies who are involved in animation work and where the advantages of working in Gran Canaria can be explained.
Hosting this event in Gran Canaria is important both for the number persons registered as well as for the quality of the speakers, who represent companies such as Youtube, Technicolor, the BBC, Radio Televisión Española, Lightbox Animation Studios and the publisher, Agostini, among others.
The event, which this year focuses on licenses, goods and derived products, will address over 16 sessions subjects such as the new funding models that have emerged due to changes in the distribution and production markets in the animation industry.
Over the 3-day event at Cicca (Caja de Canarias Centre for Initiatives) professionals will be able to share their experiences to help animation companies incorporate new sources of revenue and develop new business models.
Investors, production companies for small and large businesses working with content aimed at children, specialists in funding and "new" partners in animation such as toymakers or book publishers, will participate in lectures, debates and presentations about successful cases which will help in managing budgets and improving the implementation of projects.
New web portal with research from the ULPGC: ULPGC Research
For the research being carried out at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), a new web portal now exists, research.ulpgc.es, the aim of which is to concentrate all the information generated as far as Research, Innovation and Transfer are concerned, with a two-fold objective:
• to promote the research and innovation work carried out on a daily basis at the ULPGC, providing students, lecturers and research staff with information concerning the resources at their disposal
• informing society about the knowledge generated at the ULPGC, so that any person with an interest can have access to the information and contacts needed for a real transfer of the knowledge generated every day at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
This new portal was set in motion by the Vice-Rector's Office for Research, Innovation and Transfer, run by the Vice Rector, José Pablo Suárez Rivero, in the interest of institutional transparency and dissemination of the scientific culture, but also as a meeting point for researchers and a benchmark for those involved and interested in research by the ULPGC.
This portal has information about research figures, action plans, current projects, regulations, public notices, news and scientific culture, among others, and also has a YouTube video channel in which highly respected researchers who visit the ULPGC and research groups from the university itself explain what they do, in a language aimed at a broad audience. It also has a Twitter account, @ulpgcresearch, and a Facebook page.