The Technology Park reaches 100 companies employing 850 workers
The Gran Canaria Science and Technology Park is now home to 100 companies employing more than 850 professionals on the Tafira Campus and the fairground, the two spaces managed by the Science and Technology Park Foundation of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the Agency for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria respectively.
The faiground facilities provide employment for 294 professionals working in 35 companies, while the multi-purpose buildings located on the University Campus are home to 65 companies employing 558 workers.
Over the last four years, the Agency for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria and the Science and Technology Park Foundation of the ULPGC have welcomed a total of 79 companies onto the premises managed by these two entities.
These businesses have an innovative and technological profile and specialise in fields such as software development, advanced business services, engineering, digital animation, post-production services and digital marketing.
The majority of these companies are micro-SMEs employing highly qualified staff. In fact, 60% of the employees have university studies and another 25% have completed postgraduate studies.
Nomad City Gran Canaria consolidates its presence with the support of the SPEGC
Companies such as Microsoft, Basecamp, Automattic, Whereby, Future Lab Berlin, Doist and the Remote Work Association will be analysing the future of location-flexible work during the 4th edition of Nomad City Gran Canaria. This event sponsored by the SPEGC, the Tourism Board and the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council is now the leading event for the sector at a European level.
These workshops, conferences and work sessions for both individuals and teams or companies will allow the 300 participants from more than 25 countries to learn more about this worldwide trend which is increasingly popular and constantly growing.
Due to the event’s growth and popularity, the organisers have decided to introduce a new format: the Nomad City Summit, an invitation-only think-tank limited to 60 experts to engage in high-level debate regarding aspects of remote working.
Changes have also been made to the 16 workshops offered this year, which will consist of one-hour master classes with two different tracks: one intended for individuals and another for teams and companies. The participants will also be able to alternate between sessions and self-organise their agenda.
These personal and professional experiences at Nomad City Gran Canaria will give an insight into the current situation of remote working around the world, its evolution over the last few years and its future perspectives.
There will also be discussion of its limitations and advantages, offering tips for self-employed professionals and tools to improve collaboration projects. The participants will also consider how remote working is affecting the global economy, its social impact and how companies can benefit from digitalisation and flexibilisation of work models.
This year there will also be job opportunities for local talent and participants at the conference through the “Remote Work Fair”, whereby the organisers will facilitate contacts between candidates and companies offering remote work opportunities.
‘Pocoyo’ animated series to be produced in Gran Canaria
The new chapters of Pocoyo, the most internationally successful Spanish animated series, will be produced in Gran Canaria with an estimated investment of €3 million and participation by a team of 70 professionals.
The announcement was made today by the President of the Gran Canaria Island Council, Antonio Morales, and the management and co-producers of the series, Zinkia CEO Víctor López and co-founder of Koyi, Luis Armengol.
The production of this new season, consisting of 36 chapters of 7 minutes each and 20 musical video clips, will be carried out in the studios located in the facilities of the Agency for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) in the fairground.
As well as being the base for production of the new adventures of Pocoyo, Gran Canaria will also be hosting a pioneering project for the brand: the Pocoyo Forest, an initiative aimed at contributing to reforestation of the island, which was devastated by wildfires last August that destroyed 10,000 ha of woodland. In this way, it hopes to raise awareness among younger children of the importance of protecting the environment and preventing these types of disasters.
This plan will be implemented with funding by Zinkia and Koyi to plant the first 1,000 trees of the Pocoyo Forest. In addition, the project will be financed with the sales of a line of products that will include T-shirts, hats and backpacks with the Pocoyo Forest brand.
The management of the Company hope that the Pocoyo Forest will be the beginning of a much larger project, with the aim of reaching a total of 15,000 trees planted, the average number of children born each year in the Canary Islands.
Pocoyo, a leader in the animation sector
The new season of Pocoyo continues with its characteristic themes and language, combined with music that creates a unique world and has become the soundtrack for the early years of life of various generations. Values such as respect, tolerance, friendship, learning and the curiosity of the main character continue to be ever present in this new season.
Since it was first released in 2005 in the United Kingdom, the Pocoyo series has been screened on more than 150 TV channels around the world, making it one of the most well-known children’s series with 38 international awards, including the BAFTA Children’s Award.
It is currently one of the most successful children’s programmes on YouTube, with a total of over 16 million subscribers surpassing 16 billion views. Pocoyo is also present on another 40 VoD platforms, including Netflix, HBO and Amazon. It features in 50 apps that have accumulated more than 52 million downloads and millions of toys, books, clothing articles and countless other products have been marketed under its licence.
Gran Canaria promotes its seven animation studios before 1,000 attendees at the Cartoon Forum
The Gran Canaria Film Commission was present at the Cartoon Forum 2019, an event held in Toulouse (France) and attended by 1,000 agents representing producers and companies in the animation industry, along with 280 investors and television channels searching for new productions to incorporate into their schedules.
This very successful event gives projects in the pre-production phase the opportunity to present their work to financers, distributors and licensors with a view to securing their support for the post-production phase.
The Gran Canaria Film Commission offered information on the seven animation studios currently based on the Island, inviting the participants to cooperate with them on productions currently being developed or in the pipeline.
The Film Commission also presented Gran Canaria as the perfect ecosystem for developing projects still in the production or planning phase, not only due to the existence of the studios already established on the island, but also the tax advantages and administrative support available.
Ghanaian authorities and entrepreneurs discover the opportunities offered by Gran Canaria
The SPEGC, via the ‘Best in Gran Canaria’ initiative, participated during the 1st Spain-Ghana Tourism and Trade Forum. This event was organised by the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, Canary Consulting & Trading and the Africa Mentoring Development Consortium (UAMDC), with the support of the SPEGC and the Tourism Board. Its aim is to reinforce institutional relations and promote the Canary Islands as a business platform.
During the Forum, around 30 authorities, senior officials, diplomats and entrepreneurs from Ghana, headed by the Minister Darko-Mensah, got a first-hand look at the lines of work and objectives of the Best in Gran Canaria initiative, the umbrella brand used by a range of public institutions and universities to attract investment on the island and achieve internationalisation of the local economy.
The inauguration of the Forum, which was also attended by the President of the Gran Canaria Island Council, Antonio Morales, highlighted the importance of links between the island and the African continent and Ghana in particular. The model for tourism success in Gran Canaria was also presented as a catalyst for business opportunities and social development.
The event concluded with a specific presentation of the ‘Best in Gran Canaria’ initiative by the SPEGC, with contributions by the Canary Islands Special Zone. Both institutions presented an overview of Gran Canaria’s economy and the business end investment opportunities offered by the island.
The presentation was followed by a series of B2B meetings with the participating companies.
The delegation of Ghanaian companies, from a range of sectors although mainly focused on the tourism, construction and associated service industry, was particularly interested in the local tax regime, Gran Canaria’s safety and the possibility of using the island as a base for transformation of Ghanaian products and a hub for auxiliary communication services and development of apps for the African market.
Agricultural R&D multinational KWS makes a definitive commitment to Gran Canaria with its second seed research centre in Spain
German multinational KWS SAAT has been growing a range of vegetable species for temperate climates for more than 160 years now. Today, it is one of the world’s leading seed producers and is present in more than 70 countries with nearly 4,700 employees.
The commitment by KWS to Gran Canaria through its division KWS Semillas Ibérica consists of the creation of a corn seed research centre with a development horizon in various phases culminating in 2022. This will involve occupation of 9 hectares of land, a major direct investment of various millions of euros and the creation of 10 qualified jobs and around 60 part-time jobs.
The KWS research centre in Gran Canaria will be the company’s third facility in Spain. Arguments in favour of Gran Canaria’s selection include its major environmental and ecological attractions, its capability of generating business opportunities and the optimum conditions for business dealings, particularly in the field of agricultural R&D.
Thanks to the soft landing advice and support by the Agency for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC), the south-east region of Gran Canaria and more specifically the municipality of Agüimes was preferred above other potential locations in the Canary Islands and Andalusia.
This project will also help to foster agricultural business networks and professionalisation in the Canary Islands, favouring labour market integration for qualified staff in the sector (agricultural engineers and technicians).
This landmark project is directly linked with the strategy of the Government of Gran Canaria of recuperating cropland and other land devoted to agricultural production and research activities, with a special emphasis on agricultural development and R&D on the island.
Bbooster Week begins: €100,000 for start-ups
Bbooster Week, an event sponsored by the SPEGC, has now begun. From today until 9 May, the CDTIC will be hosting a week of activities promoted by Bbooster Ventures together with Sodecan to foster the entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem of Gran Canaria.
During Bbooster Week, an investment of €100,000 will be made via a convertible loan in one or various of the start-ups registered for the event. This will streamline the cash-in process and ensure traction a matter of days after selection of the target company. The loan will be capitalised when the investment round is closed and the rest of the investors assume shares in the company.
During the days of the event, Bbooster Ventures will also be organising 1:1 meetings between the start-ups invited and national and international investors. Meetings will also be held with the different members of the Bbooster team to discuss specific matters such as business areas, finance, marketing, technology, etc.
The event is intended for technological start-ups with a net monthly turnover of between €5,000 and €20,000 and major growth potential. These criteria will be adapted to each particular case, according to the business model applied and the assessment of the start-up’s potential by the Bbooster ventures team.
Best in Gran Canaria outlines the advantages of choosing Gran Canaria as a base during the Mid Atlantic Ship Repair & Supply Summit
Best in Gran Canaria was present at the Mid Atlantic Ship Repair & Supply Summit, which is attended by more than 300 representatives of European, American and African port authorities, to highlight the tax and other benefits that make Gran Canaria the ideal destination for companies and projects relating to the port industry.
Gran Canaria and La Luz Port have a very advantageous ecosystem for both large companies and start-ups in industrial and technological sectors with applications for the maritime and ship repair industry, with an increasing focus on the offshore market.
In addition, the Port of Las Palmas has for decades now been a hub for both the Atlantic region and Africa. Unlike other Spanish ports which focus more on container traffic or passenger transport, La Luz Port is unique in that it offers a complete portfolio of services and is a leader in various categories (supplies, repairs) as well as occupying relevant rankings in practically all the remaining categories of port services.
In addition, it is the only base port for oil & gas operations from Scotland through to South Africa due to its strategic location in the eastern vertex of the Deepwater Golden Triangle (Gulf of Guinea, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil).
In this respect, an international conference such as the Mid Atlantic Ship Repair & Supply Summit which constitutes a forum for the experts of the world port industry to discuss the present and future of the sector is an unparalleled opportunity to showcase the capabilities and experience of companies directly or indirectly linked with the island’s ports, particularly La Luz Port, thereby attracting companies potentially interested in using our infrastructure in the Atlantic region and Africa.
That is why Best in Gran Canaria participates at this event, attended by leading national and international companies in key areas of this sector such as repairs and supplies, with the clear aim of boosting B2B meetings and networking to foster joint business opportunities.
The multinational technology company Atos is coming to Gran Canaria and will create 180 jobs
The international high tech company, Atos, will create 180 jobs to provide services to customers such as Disney and Siemens out of the new Global Service Centre it is setting up in Gran Canaria. The arrival of this firm in Gran Canaria brings enormous benefit not just because of the jobs it will create but because of the economic impact expected, amounting to 27 million Euros over five years.
This centre, located in the Gran Canaria Technology Park, specifically at the facilities of the Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria, SPEGC, is a centre of excellence with a marked innovative approach where Atos will provide services mainly to Europe and America and Africa in the future. The major lines of service will be aimed at subcontracting IT support and system integration and software development. For this purpose, Atos expects to train 180 graduates in technology and in languages, and also students in the technology modules of vocational training with the purpose of hiring them in three stages of 60 employees each.
The establishment of this firm in the island will not just provide a professional opportunity for talent from Gran Canaria, but will also make it possible to delve into the economic diversification to which the Gran Canaria Island Council, the Cabildo, is committed.
With European capital, mainly from France, Atos works with over 70 countries through its alliances with major groups such as Siemens, Oracle and Microsoft. It has been operating in the islands since the late 90s as a consultancy firm for both Canary capitals to provide services to the public sector and around 100 multinationals, and is therefore now making the leap with the establishment of this important technology centre for three continents.
The SPEGC collaborates with the Archipelago Challenge and will select a digital disruptive project to receive investment
The Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria, SPEGC, will collaborate this Friday with the Archipelago Challenge initiative, an open call to select digital disruptive projects that will provide global solutions for large scale markets.
The call was launched by Archipelago Next, a 100% Canary investment fund specifically devoted to digital businesses, which is intended as a co-investment tool for businesses within this industry that are in the growth stage.
The fund is driven by Canary business groups which are leading their respective fields and which provide all those participating in it with access to expert business knowledge in the fields of travel and tourism, food and retail, aircraft maintenance, ports and logistics, energy, the automotive industry and mobility and cybersecurity.
After taking part in meetings with the eight businesses chosen in this call, to inform them of the benefits of setting up business in Gran Canaria and the fiscal advantages the island offers, the SPEGC will also participate this Friday during a day when the eight finalists are to be revealed, from among whom just one winner will be selected.
Before the winner is announced, three talks will be given, by Inbal Orpaz, founder of We Work Israel, José Pacheco, digital business expert at The Valley, and Concepción Galdón, Innovation expert at the Business Institute, and there will be a round table moderated by the director of Archipelago Next, Miguel Quintanilla, in which the managing director of the SPEGC, Cosme García, director of Wayra España, Andrés Saborido, and Project Manager at Lanzadera, Víctor Rahona, will take part.
A 100% Canary investment fund
The Archipelago Challenge selects the projects in which Archipelago Next invests, searching mainly for digital disruptive projects with drive that provide global solutions for large scale markets that have a dedicated team, with talent and an international focus.
The fund invests in these projects as convertible loans, and offers these businesses access to expert business knowledge from the partners as well as a link to other funds for the following rounds and the possibility of relocating to Gran Canaria, a low taxation location with one of the world's best climates.
Following a period of receipt of investment proposals, Archipelago Next will analyse the projects submitted and will preselect 20 of them, out of which eight will go through to the third and last stage. The Archipelago Next Investment Committee will select, this coming Friday, the winner of this call from these eight finalists.