The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, has highlighted that the Government of Spain is strengthening the scientific and technological system of the territories to improve the lives of citizens and make Spain a country of future and well-being.
The Government will quadruple the annual investment to the Coastal Observation and Prediction System of the Balearic Islands
28/02/2023
The Government will quadruple the annual investment to the Coastal Observation and Prediction System of the Balearic Islands
The Council of Ministers approved on Tuesday the agreement by which the Ministry of Science and Innovation is going to allocate 46.5 M € to the Coastal Observation and Prediction System of the Balearic Islands (SOCIB) between 2024 and 2033, which means almost quadrupling the average annual contribution from 1.2 M € between 2007 and 2023 to 4.6 M € between 2024 and 2033.
The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, has highlighted that the Government of Spain is strengthening the scientific and technological system of the territories to improve the lives of citizens and make Spain a country of future and well-being.
SOCIB 2030: Mediterranean Digital Twin
This investment will contribute to the development of a new facility called SOCIB 2030: Digital Twin of the Mediterranean, a digital representation of the Mediterranean Sea that will simulate - with real-time data and historical data - possible future scenarios through prediction models.
This innovative and interactive tool will help protect the marine environment and the coast, provide answers to environmental crises in real time and deal with climate change. It will also bring knowledge closer to citizens, the public and private sector and improve decision-making.
In addition, the Ministry of Science and Innovation is allocating 7.5 million euros to cofinance, together with the Balearic Government, the new headquarters of SOCIB in the Marine Pole of the Balearic Islands.
The Ministry has also granted more than half a million euros to SOCIB thanks to European funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan for the improvement of its equipment.
The SOCIB
The SOCIB is a consortium 50% funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Balearic Government that is part of the Spanish map of Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS).
It is made up of a network of facilities and equipment dedicated to the observation and research of the marine environment and its activity focuses on the Western Mediterranean, including the Balearic Islands and adjacent areas.