Port of Las Palmas: strategic location for the offshore
The Spanish National Public broadcaster (Televisión Española – RTVE) shows in its programme “Port of Gran Canaria: strategic location for the offshore” the important role played by the Port of Las Palmas in the Oil & Gas and offshore energy sector, most remarkably during the global activity downfall caused by 2020’s synchronous oil and health crisis.
The Port of Las Palmas -situated on the north-eastern tip of Gran Canaria- is considered a strategic centre for the Oil & Gas sector and reports the highest connectivity rate of the region, as it serves as a connection point between Europe, Africa and the Americas. Port customers value its wide range of repair and supply services, but also the technical, legal and health auxiliary services embedded into the business value position of Gran Canaria. These factors have contributed to making Las Palmas Port a consistent base for a large number of global energy operators, which carry out maintenance, repair and commissioning operations within the port premises.
Gran Canaria is not only a reference for the O&G sector, but also for the assembly, repair and retrofitting of equipment for offshore wind energy, in addition to providing services to PSVs, seismic and scientific-vessels.
The largest bulk of these activities are carried out by the local business ecosystem: the demanding technical requirements and quality standards of both industries have led to the development of a highly skilled pool of local talent and companies that pursue the highest standards of excellence. There is thus a multiplier effect implied: the increased experience leads to larger and more complex projects steadily arriving to the island. The Port of Las Palmas is now among the
selected group of ports fully capable of catering to the needs of the Oil & Gas sector, readily positioned to attend the expected reactivation in 2021.
The Port Authority of Las Palmas, the Free Trade Zone of Gran Canaria and the Cabildo of Gran Canaria (Sociedad de Promoción Económica de Gran Canaria) work together through the ’Best in Gran Canaria’ initiative to promote the advantages associated with operating from a competitive & safe maritime hub.
Gran Canaria: on top of the national ranking for digital nomads
Gran Canaria has started 2021 strongly in the world of remote work, with the island being rated by professionals from the sector as the top Spanish destination on the leading portal for digital nomads, Nomad List.
In February 2021, Gran Canaria not only was the highest-ranked Spanish destination, it also occupied the sixth place in the global ranking (Tenerife ranked 10th while Barcelona was validated on the 15th position).
Gran Canaria showed the third-highest digital connectivity rate among the top destinations, ranked just behind Singapore and Berlin.
Nomad List (www.nomadlist.com) is a dynamic ranking with real-time updates that reflects the opinions and valuations of its vast network of users. In 2020, as many as 1 million digital nomads shared information on their favourite destinations. A total of 1,354 cities in 195 countries receive continuous evaluation of their quality as work and leisure destinations.
Gran Canaria performed remarkably well in the most valued attributes: cost of living, climate and connectivity. It also scored above average in other features such as security, diversity/LGBTQ+ friendliness and air quality.
Gran Canaria, and in particular the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, stands out due to the excellent climate, the range of coworking spaces, the quality of life and the healthcare system.
The Economic Development Agency of Gran Canaria (SPEGCm in its Spanish acronym) is a local agency that is firmly committed to raising awareness of the island and promote local economic performance through its ‘Best in Gran Canaria’ initiative. It also actively works to attract business projects and entrepreneurs, particularly those working in the field of technology and innovation.
The SPEGC participates this week in the first online version of Kidscreen Summit 2021
The Agency for Economic development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) through the Gran Canaria Film Commission (GCFC) participates this week in the first online version of Kidscreen Summit 2021, the most important event for the children's entertainment industry, with the aim of promoting “Gran Canaria, the Island for animation” and its advantages for the animation industry at an international level.
Kidscreen Summit 2021, is held for the first time entirely in online format and will run from February 8th to March 5th. The first week of February from the 8 th to the -12th will be the time when the children's entertainment industry has meetings between companies and professionals and in the remaining weeks events and conferences dedicated to the latest trends in the international animation industry will take place.
This summit will bring together nearly 2,000 attendees from more than 54 countries, including content creators, distributors, industry executives, professionals and producers from the animation industry from around the world. Gran Canaria attends this market again to continue promoting the opportunities that the Island offers for the animation industry.
This year the Gran Canaria Film Commission will have its own “meeting suite”, supporting the local studios Ánima, Birdland, Koyi and Futurum Kids, where each of them will have a meeting room. As usual, the GCCF also attends the summit under the umbrella of Canary Islands Film together with other Canary Islands entities dedicated to attracting investment. in professional meetings with different professionals in the sector.
The differential factor is stated by the solid relationship between Kidscreen and Gran Canaria: after several years participating in the event, Gran Canaria once again attends the star forum of the American market with a prominent position, with its own Suite and delegation and with the will to give learn about new fiscal and production opportunities. This strategy of linking with the main animation design and production markets has been particularly satisfactory for the local industry: up to 7 studios and 150 professionals have chosen the island as their base of operations, from where they produce content of international scope.
Without a doubt, Kidscreen Summit is a perfect showcase for the promotion of “Gran Canaria the island for animation”.
Link with further information about Kidscreen 2021 online edition:
https://summit.kidscreen.com/2021/
FuturumKids plans to establish its global HQ in Gran Canaria
State-of-the art animation and media company FuturumKids has announced plans to establish a global HQ for its growing list of future productions. From 1 October FuturumKids will be based in Gran Canaria where its new HQ will house both the company’s main offices and a full animation studio.
FuturumKids is a specialist producer of children’s and family media content targeting the global TV market. While production on the first series of Paddles, its delightful new CGI animated show for four-to-seven-year-olds, has been continuing in London and Dublin, the company has been looking to establish a single global HQ to meet its future needs. This was planned as a long-term move, enabling the company to develop and produce a number of projects in one place over an extended period.
With this in mind, FuturumKids has been carrying out regular meetings with representatives of local government and film commissions in Dublin, London, Belfast, Brussels and other animation hubs. The eventual choice of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was based on a number of factors including tax breaks, incentives, labour availability and support on the ground.
Gran Canaria made a strong showing in all these fields; tax incentives, which covered 50 per cent of production costs, proved a particularly important consideration for FuturumKids in its plans for addressing what is a very competitive market.
The first production at the new FuturumKids HQ will be Ling Ling, a 52 x 11 CGI series recently showcased at Cartoon Forum. This charming and funny new show tells the story of a lively little girl panda recently arrived in Ireland from Shanghai and how she adjusts to life at her new school.
Paddles series two will be another project undertaken at the Las Palmas HQ. Paddles is the story of a polar bear cub accidentally delivered by the Stork to a frozen River Shannon in Ireland – and brought up by a pack of Irish wolfhounds. Through the adventures, mistakes and discoveries of its funny and huggable star, and his friends Bracken, Bridie and Fagan, Paddles shows its young audience that being different is something to be celebrated and enjoyed. Series one of Paddles will be broadcast on Cartoonito UK from the autumn of this year. More broadcast and distribution deals involving Paddles are imminent.
FuturumKids’ founding principals include not only members of the team behind the Emmy award-winning Jakers!, but also senior figures from HIT Entertainment and its global franchises Bob the Builder, Barney and Thomas and Friends.
Francis Fitzpatrick, CEO FuturumKids, says: “This was a very tough decision as London and Dublin, where we have worked in the past, are both great places to produce animation. However, a strong package involving not only labour availability and local support but also tax breaks and attractive incentives made Gran Canaria the strongest contender. We are looking forward enormously to working there.”
Cosme García , Managing-Director of SPEGC, the Agency to promote foreign investment in Gran Canaria, and responsible of the Gran Canaria Film Commission, adds: “We are delighted that a global company with an outstanding complement of UK and Irish talent such as FuturumKids has decided to come to Gran Canaria and produce its delightful new series Ling Ling here. This is a strong endorsement of the animation strategy we have developed alongside our government.”
The Canary Islands: one of the world’s most advantageous tax regimes for R&D and innovation activities
The latest annual report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) places Spain in third place behind France and Portugal in terms of tax support for innovation in Europe. Spain is also sixth in the worldwide ranking for companies with tax benefits and fourth for start-ups and companies without tax charges.
The model applied in Spain offers tax benefits for R&D and technological innovation projects, as well as a whole range of tax savings that include reduction of taxable income deriving from licensing of intellectual property (Patent Box regime); reduction of the impact of Social Security contributions; and finally the most well-known instrument, deduction of expenses for Technological Innovation (12%) and R&D (up to 42%). It therefore comprises a hybrid model as it is both volume-based and incremental in various circumstances (17% for R&D staff salaries, 8% for investment in equipment), up to a maximum of 50% of the gross tax due and with the possibility of carry-over for 18 tax years.
This high-potential regulatory tax instrument includes ex-ante evaluation of each project and may be monetised and duly combined with other sources of public financing such as the funding offered by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) and other private sources.
In addition, the application of the Canary Islands Economic and Tax Regime allows the Islands to offer an even more beneficial tax regime than the rest of Spain. The main differences are as follows:
- Deduction for Technological Innovation: 12% on the Peninsula and 45% in the Canary Islands.
- Deduction for R&D activities: up to 42% on the Peninsula and up to 75.6% in the Canary Islands.
- Research staff: up to 17% for salaries on the Peninsula and 37% in the Canary Islands.
- Investments for R&D activities: 8% on the Peninsula and 28% in the Canary Islands.
- Reduction of the annual tax base: up to 50% on the Peninsula and up to 90% in the Canary Islands.
As can be seen, the Canary Islands offer one of the world’s most generous tax regimes for R&D. Gran Canaria in particular also offers a series of features which make it the ideal destination to take advantage of these benefits: infrastructure, connectivity, public and private resources devoted to R&D (the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with more than 150 research groups including the Canary Islands Oceanic Platform, Canary Islands Technological Institute, Spanish Bank of Algae, etc.) and outstanding research talent.
These incentives offered at a national and regional level may be combined with direct credit facilities for R&D and optimised during the project life cycle, or even in subsequent operational phases of the resulting technology.
The purpose of the initiative ‘Best in Gran Canaria’ spearheaded by the Agency for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria is to raise awareness and provide advice regarding the application of these tax instruments and the financing available for R&D activities. This agency under the auspices of the Gran Canaria Island Council offers a ‘Support Service for Companies’ (SAE) and advice provided by certified experts regarding tax incentives for innovation available to start-ups, companies and innovative entrepreneurs, whether at a local or international level.
Without a doubt, all these reasons make the Canary Islands and Gran Canaria in particular an absolute must for R&D projects and the ideal place to make the most of all the tax support available for R&D and Technological Innovation.
‘Ports of Spain Tradetech Fund’ (#Ports4.0) is now open and Gran Canaria is the BEST location to benefit from it. Find out why!
The Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (MITMA) has given the green light for the Ports 4.0 Fund, which has already opened the application period for ideas and projects. For the current year 2020, the aids to be granted within the framework of this call amount to €12 million.
The Ports 4.0 Fund is an initiative by the 28 Spanish State Port Authorities, including the Port Authority of Las Palmas. It is the most important disruptive project for the adaptation of the Spanish logistic-port sector to the 4.0 economy and has emerged as a model of open innovation for companies and professionals from any background and origin, whether already operating in the maritime industry or not.
This call is looking for market-oriented innovative solutions (products, services or processes) which benefit the logistics-port community in any part of its value chain.
Eligibility, financial support and submission period:
- Open to companies or entrepreneurs of any nationality, regardless of its nature (public and private).
- The Fund covers three lines depending on TRL: IDEAS (TRL 1 -2), PROJECTS IN PRE-COMMERCIAL PHASE (TRL 3 to 6), PROJECT IN COMMERCIAL PHASE (TRL 7 to 9).
- In addition to the financing (non-refundable), a unique program is offered, including technical support to support in the application process and the possibility of accessing the services of incubation/acceleration by consultants and national experts.
- In the case of Ideas, the aid will consist of a fixed and invariable amount of €15,000
- For Projects in the pre-commercial phase, support will consist of a maximum amount of 60% of the budget directly associated to innovation, capped at €1 million. Minimum project size is €50,000 in innovation-related expenditure.
- For Projects in the commercial phase, support will consist of a maximum amount of 80% of the budget directly associated to innovation, capped at €2 million. Minimum project size is €100,000 in innovation-related expenditure.
- The applications for ideas and projects shall be submitted within two and three months, respectively, from the day following the publication of the call (27/07/2020)
Read the terms and conditions and register your submission at https://ports40.es/.
National call, local delivery
Whereas the call is open on a national scale, there are several reasons that explain why Gran Canaria is the ideal base to run your idea/project:
- ‘Ports 4.0 Incubator’ HQ: Gran Canaria is home to ‘Ports4.0 Fund’ HQ in the Canary Islands. All other 13 bases are located in mainland Spain. SPEGC supports in the soft-landing process.
- Location: The ‘Port of Las Palmas’ is a well-known EU-port located at the heart of Atlantic traffics, right at the gateway of West Africa and the 'Deepwater's Golden Triangle'. Thanks to its weather, year-round activity is guaranteed with no testing/ops. restrictions.
- Port Size & Scope: Welcome to an upgraded service-centre covering all sort of traffics and maritime activity (Transhipment node, Bunkering, Repairs, Supplies, O&G). No other port in West Africa covers as many services as Las Palmas.
- Maritime Cluster: 1xFull-range deepsea port + 10xSmaller port facilities + 1xOffshore Reasearch Centre (PLOCAN), including sizable shipyards, workshops, suppliers and port terminals with global reach that are ready to enter into partnership agreements.
- Tax advantages: Up to 75% deduction on R&D-related costs (vs. 45% ib mainland Spain), cashback available.
- Soft finance: Other streams of aid are readily available to support you through the project cycle.
When you choose Gran Canaria (Port of Las Palmas), you choose not only a consolidated maritime hub but also a growth partner for your idea/project.
Sodecan launches new credit facilities for innovative SMEs
The Canary Islands Economic Development Company (Sodecan) announced the new credit facilities for SMEs under the ‘Canarias Financia 1’ Fund to promote creation and development of innovative SMEs in the Canary Islands today.
The fund has a budget of €2.5 million for financing of projects during 2020, with private investors expected to contribute an amount equivalent to 20% of the total contribution by the ERDF.
The main features of the equity loans announced today are as follows:
1. Credit line for creation of innovative micro-businesses and SMEs
- Beneficiaries: micro-businesses or SMEs with their registered office or permanent base in the Canary Islands.
- Amount: Between €25,000 and €200,000 per project, with a maximum of 85% of the total eligible expenses of the project. The promoter must contribute the remaining 15% as a minimum from its own funds.
- Maximum grace period: 5 years
- Maximum term of the loan: 10 years
- No commissions.
- Interest rate:
- Fixed portion: 1-year Euribor + 3.35% (maximum rate 1-year Euribor + 8%)
- Variable portion depending on the evolution of the company activity.
2. Development line for innovative SMEs
- Beneficiaries: SMEs with their registered office or permanent base in the Canary Islands.
- Amount: Between €25,000 and €500,000 per project, with a maximum of 40% of the total eligible expenses of the project.
- Maximum grace period: 5 years
- Maximum term of the loan: 10 years
- No commissions.
- Interest rate:
- Fixed portion: 1-year Euribor + 3.35% (maximum rate 1-year Euribor + 8%)
- Variable portion depending on the evolution of the company activity.
Refer to the full announcement for more information on these products.
And if you prefer, keep informed with our Support Service for Companies! We can help you to prepare your application.
We keep working for you
Both the members of 'Best in Gran Canaria' and the whole team at SPEGC/Department of Economic Development keep working to adjust our services to the temporary situation caused by COVID-19.
Gran Canaria remains as a preferential destination for investments and business operations, an ideal environment to implement your growth plans. Business, professional and personal projects can equally be accelerated from Gran Canaria. We will be pleased to provide information, support and local intel.
You may reach us via the following channels:
- bestingrancanaria@spegc.org
- gquintana@spegc.org
- +34 696 17 01 94
Please remember that we are also available via Linkedin:
Also, we will shortly deploy a new functionality, allowing you to directly book videocalls with any of our team members at 'Best in Gran Canaria'/SPEGC.
Thanks for your understanding!
The Gran Canaria Island Council and the CDTI present in Madrid the consultation for procurement of innovations in water desalination
This morning, the CDTI and the Gran Canaria Island Council presented in Madrid the Preliminary Market Consultation carried out to determine the degree of development of technology in the field of saltwater desalination.
The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), a public business entity under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the Gran Canaria Island Council have launched this public consultation to foster pre-commercial public procurement of innovations in the field of water desalination.
The results of the public consultation will be used by the CDTI to gather the necessary information to define the technical specifications of possible future projects offered for tender.
The consultation is open to the public and is intended for public and/or private physical or legal persons, whether individuals or constituted as joint ventures. Various proposals may by presented by the same party, whether individually or jointly with other parties.
This initiative, one of 7 selected from among more than 270 proposals, will involve participation by the Agency for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria, the Gran Canaria Water Council and the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC).
The CDTI launches a public consultation on innovative technological solutions in the field of water desalination
The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), a public business entity under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the Gran Canaria Island Council have launched a public consultation to foster pre-commercial public procurement of innovations in the field of water desalination.
More specifically, it aims to promote participation by businesses currently active in the market in the presentation of innovative saltwater desalination proposals with a specific energy consumption of less than 2.0 kWh/m3, minimal environmental impact and integration of initiatives to foster a circular economy.
The results of the public consultation will be used by the CDTI to gather the necessary information to define the technical specifications of possible future projects offered for tender.
The consultation is open to the public and is intended for public and/or private physical or legal persons, whether individuals or constituted as joint ventures. Various proposals may by presented by the same party, whether individually or jointly with other parties.
The deadline for presentation of proposals is 45 calendar days from the date of publication of the Resolution on the Public Sector Procurement Platform and on the CDTI website.
This initiative, one of 7 selected from among more than 270 proposals, will involve participation by the Agency for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria, the Gran Canaria Water Council and the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC).
This coming 6 February, the Event Hall of the CDTIC located in calle Cid No. 4 will be hosting a joint event with the Gran Canaria Island Council to present the Preliminary Market Consultation carried out to determine the degree of development of technology in the field of saltwater desalination.
Click the following link to see the programme for this event and the registration details: