The budget proposal from Migdalia Machín's department for 2027, presented to the parliamentary commission, totals 448.13 million euros, representing an increase of 34.09 million compared to 2026 (8.24% more, excluding funds from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism). This rise is distributed across the Ministry's three areas, with a focus on funding public universities and fostering research and innovation talent.
The minister emphasized that the budget aims to provide more resources to public universities for planning stability and to expand opportunities for research and innovation talent to develop their careers in the Canary Islands. "These are investments that strengthen public services and the capabilities of the Canary Islands," stated Machín, highlighting that the budget focuses on opportunities for studying, researching, creating, and preserving the islands' identity.
The Universities area will receive 325.81 million euros (a 9.87% increase). Within this amount, the funding program for Canary Islands universities will have 311.58 million, a 10.53% rise, for the operations of the University of La Laguna (ULL) and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). An agreement has been reached with public universities for a four-year funding plan totaling approximately 1.35 billion euros, ensuring stability and greater guarantees.
A total of 11.06 million euros is maintained for study grants and travel assistance for students, with a commitment to supporting students and families in their educational journey. The established measure of compensating amounts with Ministry of Universities grants and increasing economic thresholds will continue to broaden the reach of these aids.
The Canary Agency for Research, Innovation, and Information Society (ACIISI) will be allocated 68.94 million euros (a 5.38% increase). The research and innovation human capital program sees a significant reinforcement, growing from 16.10 to 22.08 million euros (a 37.12% increase). This will enable the funding of 100 new pre-doctoral contracts, bringing the total financed contracts in 2027 to 284.
Funding for post-doctoral contracts remains at 1.1 million euros. Additionally, the "Women and Girls in Science" program is incorporated to encourage scientific and technological vocations among young girls and women. The budget for basic and applied research increases by 3.63%, reaching 28.16 million euros.
The Culture and Cultural Heritage area will receive 48.72 million euros (a 4.06% increase). The Cultural Heritage program is set to grow by 11.88%, reaching 12.75 million euros, to enhance the protection, conservation, and valorization of the Canary Islands' historical and cultural legacy.
Library and archival services will be allocated 6.58 million euros (a 9.97% increase) to improve access to knowledge and preserve documentary memory.
The minister concluded by stating that these budgets continue the established direction of expanding opportunities and strengthening the capabilities of the Canary Islands, recognizing that education, knowledge, and culture are vital for the islands' future.
