The Minister for Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, and the President of the Andalusian Government, Juanma Moreno, attended the act of transfer of land to the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT) to install the particle accelerator IFMIF-Dones in Escúzar, Granada. This is one of the greatest scientific and technological contributions of the 21st century: “achieving 'domestication' of nuclear fusion to use it as a new source of universal, affordable and non-polluting energy, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the fight against climate change," Moreno explained.
The construction project of the Scientific-Technical Infrastructure 'International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility - Demo Oriented Neutron Source' (IFMIF - DONES) has Spain as the only candidate. It consists of the creation of a large particle accelerator to study the materials that could make up future nuclear fusion reactors. According to data from the Board, it will create 30,000 jobs and will have an economic impact of 4 billion euros on the Andalusian economy.
Spanish Capital of Artificial Intelligence
In the second half of 2022, the first buildings of the IFMIF-DONES accelerator will begin to be built, which will make Granada one of the largest centers of scientific and technological innovation in Spain. Granada aspires to host this strategic project for the European Union and to be the Spanish capital of Artificial Intelligence.
Currently, the Government of Spain and the Ministry of Science and Innovation are studying the proposal of the university and the Granada City Council for this city to be declared the national capital of artificial intelligence. This appointment would mean the installation in Granada of the agency and the national center for Artificial Intelligence.
It should be remembered that on December 27, the Andalusian Government granted the University of Granada a grant of 2.5 million to buy the 'BioRegión' building in the Health Technology Park, located in Granada. This building will be the headquarters of the 'AI Lab Granada' project, an initiative promoted by said University and by the multinational companies Google and Indra. It is a laboratory dedicated to Artificial Intelligence that is called to be a European benchmark in this field.
This 2022 could be a double milestone for Granada and the rest of Andalucia: being at the forefront in two strategic processes for the advancement of humanity: nuclear fusion as a new source of energy and the development of Artificial Intelligence.
Andalucia was the Spanish autonomous community in which spending on R&D increased the most in 2020, with 1,627 million euros invested, 5.8% more.
Escúzar Metropolitan Park, in expansion
The Escúzar business park is booming thanks to the particle accelerator that acts as a hub for industrial development. In addition, other international companies from different sectors are setting up here.
The supermarket chain Lidl will establish its logistics platform in Escúzar. IFFCO, a food giant from Dubai, begins its journey in the national oil market with a millionaire investment in its headquarters in this technological park. The Grupo Cuerva will implement a building with adjoining warehouses and offices to promote its activity as an electricity distributor in the area. And the pharmaceutical company Rovi completes its new factory in the estate with an investment of 24 million euros.
