View of the proyect

The Canary Research and Health Foundation (FUNCIS), which depends on the Public Health Department of the Canarian Regional Government, , is a foundation created under the protection of the Territorial Act 1/1990, 29th January, of the Canarian Foundations. In addition, it is a non-profit organization with indefinite duration, whose beneficiaries are all the institutions, associations and physical persons that will receive the goods and services that the research activities supply, especially concerning the health area.

In this sense, under the treble propeller framework “University-Enterprise-Administration”, and being aware of the tremendous socio-economic impact that biotechnology represents, FUNCIS has started the Canarian Bio-Region Project. This project is created with the aim to implant and promote actions in order to instigate the development of the biotechnology sector, not only in the health area, but also in the agroalimentary, bioinformatics, marine areas…, as an important motor of innovation, diversification, economic growth and social development in the Canarian Archipelago.

The Canary Islands, situated in a tricontinental enclave, 70 miles away from the West African coast and 700 miles approximately away from the Iberian Peninsula, enjoy a privileged strategic situation as well as an excellent economic situation and a quality of life. In addition, the islands are equipped with modern infrastructures, communications networks, and also with an important nucleus generating R+D with two Universities and several specialized research centres. These factors turn the Canary Islands into a key platform for the settlement of biotechnology companies, in a global way; even the smallest biotechnology company is a global competitor from the very beginning of its activity.

Biotechnology is a discipline that needs a strong and constant interrelation between organizations such as universities, public or private research centres, hospitals, companies, institutions and public authorities. In this sense, the Canary Bioregion Project aspires, in a concrete way, the following: to promote the development of the biotechnology market in the Canary Islands; to cooperate with the local, regional, national and European administrations in order to favour the innovation development; to promote the Scientifics Research and Technological Innovation in the biotechnology area, leaning and contributing to structure the public and private agents; to encourage the analysis and the permanent prospective of the sector as well as their tendencies in the local area; and finally, to promote the spreading of the scientific-technological advances of biotechnology and their benefits to society. For that purpose, this web, www.canariasbioregion.org shapes itself as a source of services as well as a link door and an instrument of distribution and promotion among the different agents, students, researches, doctors, businessmen/businesswomen, investors, politicians and general citizens involved in the biotechnology sector.

SOME KEY NOTES ABOUT THE CANARIAN R+D:
TOTAL SUPERFICIAL AREA: 7.447 km2
ANNUAL TEMPERATURE AVERAGE: Min: 15ºC - Max: 27ºC
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GROWTH (2006): 3,4%
Expenditure percent in R+D with the GDP relation (2006): 0,91% 
Expenditure percent in R+D carry out by the enterprises (2006): 45
POPULATION (2006): 1.972686
R+D personnel per 1000 of the active population (2006): 4,6
2 2 Universities and more than 40 specialized research centres.
More than 45.000 university students and 175 new doctors in 2005.
9 Research Results Transfers Organisms organized in the Canarian RedOTRI.