Spain and Portugal strengthen collaboration in science and innovation

During the meeting, Morant and Fortunato addressed the two countries' joint initiatives within the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation (PERTE) Aerospace, coordinated by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

In the framework of this PERTE, Spain and Portugal will promote the Atlantic Constellation, an Earth observation programme that will have a constellation of small satellites with high resolution and will involve a total investment of 60 million euros thanks to Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan funding.

This constellation, which will complement the European Union's (EU) European Copernicus satellites, will mainly focus on coastal zone observation to improve both environmental and maritime monitoring and the management of natural, marine and coastal resources.

Spain and Portugal also cooperate closely in R&D&I in areas like energy. The two countries are collaborating in the development of the Iberian Energy Storage Research Centre, which will be located in Cáceres and will be equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories to develop the entire energy storage cycle.

At the end of 2021, the Ministry of Science and Innovation signed an agreement with the Energy, Environmental and Technological Research Centre (CIEMAT), the Regional Government of Extremadura and the Fundecyt-Extremadura Science and Technology Park Foundation to carry out the necessary actions to create, equip and start-up the Iberian Energy Storage Research Centre.

The Government of Spain will allocate around 58 million euros until 2023 to promote its creation, thanks to European funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

Morant stressed that these investments will foster the creation of new economic and research staff opportunities, especially among young people, and will boost the attraction and retention of international talent.

Non official translation