The Balearic Islands are the main science hub linked to the Mediterranean Sea in Europe.

The Vice President and Minister of Economy, Finance and Innovation of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Antoni Costa, has presented to the Ministry the desire to turn the Balearic Islands into the Mediterranean centre of marine science, stressing the need to invest in technology and innovation.

The Vice President and Minister of Economy, Finance and Innovation of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Antoni Costa, accompanied by the Regional Secretary for Innovation and Digital Society, Antoni Carmona, met with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities, Juan Cruz, and the Secretary General for Research, Eva Ortega-Paíno, to have a first contact, and to put on the table the main demands and claims of the Government in the field of science and innovation. 

In this regard, Costa expressed his desire for the Balearic Islands to become the main science hub linked to the Mediterranean Sea in Europe. "We have to make the Balearic Islands a pole of attraction for talent, a pole of excellence in marine research in the whole of the Mediterranean," explained the vice-president.

Both the Minister and the Secretary of State emphasized that it was a fruitful first meeting to find areas of collaboration that will place the Balearic Islands in a better position in terms of innovation. "We want the intense collaboration to continue to produce good results over the coming years, aligning the policies of the Ministry and the Balearic Islands Government," said the minister. "We show the Ministry's support for any scientific development that takes place in the territories," added the Secretary of State. In this sense, one of the points was to collaborate more closely with the state CDTI and the innovative business fabric of the Balearic Islands, to facilitate access to innovative project qualification instruments.

Both Vice-President Costa and the regional secretary explained the need to extend the deadlines for implementing the European funds relating to the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, linked to the areas of Science and Innovation, and particularly the evolution and continuity of the three complementary plans that exist in the Balearic Islands, those relating to biodiversity, marine science and physical progress.

On the other hand, different actions linked to tax incentives have been called for, within the framework of the Special Regime of the Balearic Islands (REIB), to establish rebates in article 35 of corporate tax, with a specific deduction for the Balearic Islands that would help to promote innovative business activity. This measure would be along the lines of providing mechanisms to facilitate the retention and attraction of research talent of excellence, always taking into account the singularities of the islands.

The strengthening and improvement of the Autonomous Community's research centers was also discussed, as well as the possibility of creating new ones. The IMEDEA and the IFISC, with two María de Maeztu awards, and the IdisBA with the Carlos III award, should be highlighted for their share of excellence. Here, the will to establish a plan for the promotion and growth of SOCIB was expressed.

Finally, the minister and the regional secretary expressed the demand for an investment framework on the part of the Ministry, in collaboration with the Government, to create new driving infrastructures, giving as a great example the Supercomputing Centre that will be launched this year, and extending it to residences for researchers, innovation poles or business R&D&I units.