Research centers and universities in the Canary Islands have secured 9.2 million euros from the 'Knowledge Generation Projects' call, one of Spain's most competitive. While the amount is slightly lower than last year, the 2025 edition stands out for its support of humanities and emerging researchers, with the incorporation of 19 predoctoral researchers – the highest figure in five years and with the best salary conditions to date.
The State Research Agency (AEI) has published the provisional resolution for this call, which this year had a budget of 697.6 million euros. Beneficiary entities in the Canary Islands include the University of La Laguna (19 projects), the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (16), the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (12), the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (3), the Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (2), the Atlantic University of the Middle (1), and the National Geographic Institute (1).
A notable innovation is the focus on new generations, with postdoctoral contracts accounting for 27% of the total project budget (2.5 million euros). However, the funding for the execution of the studies themselves amounts to 6.6 million euros, a decrease compared to previous calls.
The University of La Laguna (ULL) is the most benefited entity, receiving 3.1 million euros for 19 projects and the hiring of nine young researchers. The ULL's Vice-Rector for Research, Antonio Aparicio, highlighted the planned effort and support for previously evaluated but unfunded projects, as well as a special service to improve project proposals and assist researchers in optimizing their scores.
The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) has secured 2.3 million euros, of which 1.7 million are for research and 673,000 euros for hiring 5 predoctoral researchers. The ULPGC's Vice-Rector for Research, Juan Alberto Corbera, reaffirmed the evolution of ULPGC's national projects and the strong performance of its scientific community, mentioning a support service similar to ULL's to ensure continuity for positively evaluated proposals.
This year's call shows greater thematic diversity, with 50% of projects in pure sciences and engineering, one-third in Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts (20 projects), and the remainder in Life and Health Sciences. Vice-Rector Aparicio expressed satisfaction with the progress in humanities, highlighting projects in Law, Geography, and Psychology.
Astronomy, astrophysics, and space projects, primarily channeled through the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC), represent a quarter of the eligible studies, receiving 2 million euros for 12 projects and the inclusion of three predoctoral researchers.
Other beneficiary entities include the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC) with 752,230 euros for three projects, the Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation with 552,500 euros for two projects (one on cancer and another on biomedicine), and the National Geographic Institute (IGN) with 200,000 euros for a study on past volcanic eruptions in Tenerife.
Despite these efforts, 114 out of 167 projects submitted by the Canary Islands were not funded, resulting in a success rate of 32.34%, higher than the previous year's call.
