Industry

The ZEC wishes to attract businesses for the regional productive system diversification, hence the industry is a reference sector in the islands.

The Canarian territory special features help the development of industries closely linked to the knowledge economy whose profile fits into the context of the ZEC.

Under the broad business record related to the industrial sector,  thanks to the ZEC several companies of industrial innovation operate in the archipelago.

Optics and  Astrophysics

Canary Islands Astrophysical Institute (IAC), a Spanish research centre which is fully internationalised, and is also responsible for the operation of the Observatories of Mount Teide (Izaña, Tenerife) and of Roque of the Muchachos (Garafía, La Palma). These observatories have telescopes and instruments from 70 scientific institutions from 19 countries.

One project which is current on development y is the largest and most advanced telescope for optical-infra-red astrophysics: the Great Canarian Telescope (GTC). With this project, furthermore, the preparation of Spanish companies in these technologies has reached its highest level. With its installation at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory the Canarian observatories have held their place in the first position internationally.

Regarding space technology, the Canary Islands Space Centre is located in the south of the island of Gran Canaria, belonging to the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA).

Its geographical location is, according to experts in the matter, ideal both for the support in the launching of satellites, remote command of satellites, acquisition of data from satellites for the observation of the Earth, the detection and location of emergency alerts by Cospas-Sarsat satellites for saving human lives, and for communications with geo-stationary satellites.