Doñana Terra Innova project, funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) and supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, held a presentation event in Almonte (Huelva) with over a hundred attendees from the natural park area. The event was inaugurated by the Mayor of Almonte, Francisco Bella Galán; the Director General of CTA (Andalusian Technological Corporation), Elías Atienza; and the Rector of the University of Huelva (UHU), José Rodríguez Quintero.
The Mayor of Almonte, Francisco Bella, highlighted the Doñana Terra Innova initiative, emphasizing that it is “a project aligned with the potential and needs of our territory.” Bella reiterated the municipal commitment to proposals that promote innovation, strengthen the business fabric, and generate employment opportunities linked to sustainability and the Doñana Natural Area.
The Director General of CTA, Elías Atienza, stated that “this initiative is CTA’s first action in 2026 as the strategic ally of CDTI in Andalusia and reinforces the role of this foundation as a public-private entity supporting public administrations to accelerate R&D&i processes.” In addition, Atienza emphasized that “CTA takes on this challenge with responsibility and enthusiasm, convinced that cooperation, sustainable innovation, and collaboration with local municipalities will be essential to build a prosperous future for Doñana and for those living and working in its area of influence.”
For his part, the Rector of the University of Huelva (UHU), José Rodríguez Quintero, noted that “for the University of Huelva, it is very important to participate in a project like this, which aims to promote innovation in such an important sector for the province as agriculture and in an area of influence such as Doñana.” He pointed out that “UHU has many research groups and researchers working on these topics: from species modification to agrivoltaics and worker housing, all of which can contribute greatly to the various activities of the project.”
CTA, as the project leader, publicly signed the launch of this initiative, funded by CDTI to drive sustainable innovation in the Doñana Natural Area, together with the other consortium members: Asaja-Huelva, the Huelva Business Federation (FOE), UHU, and the second-level cooperatives OnuCoop and Seprocoop.
The Head of Institutional Promotion and Territorial Cooperation at CDTI, Pilar González Gotor, explained the context and objectives of the Doñana activation call supporting this project, as well as future related funding opportunities.
CTA representatives detailed the key aspects of the Doñana Terra Innova initiative and the open innovation platform conneCTA Doñana Innovación, while representatives from Asaja-Huelva, FOE, UHU, OnuCoop, and Seprocoop took part in a debate analyzing innovation as a driver of socio-economic transformation in the Doñana area.
Key instrument to make Doñana a reference in sustainable innovation
Doñana Terra Innova project, funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) and supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, will carry out actions to promote sustainable innovation in the municipalities within the Doñana Natural Area’s area of influence, recognized as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.
The goal is to position the project as a key instrument to make the Doñana area a reference for socio-economic development and sustainable innovation, while protecting and leveraging its natural and territorial resources.
Doñana Terra Innova has established the following email address as the common and sole channel for receiving ideas and proposals for future R&D&i projects:
donanainnovacion@corporaciontecnologica.com
During the two-year project implementation, Doñana Terra Innova will focus on the identification, diagnosis, and definition of innovative initiatives, as well as the design of business plans, entrepreneurial projects, and Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) actions, with special attention to strategic areas for the territory such as water management, sustainable agriculture, and the improvement of agricultural employment conditions.
Additionally, the project will carry out design and support actions for the deployment of the Doñana 2030 Scientific-Technological Observatory, the UHU Doñana University-Business Chair, the Doñana 2030 Living Lab, the Doñana Sustainable Agriculture Advanced Experimentation and Testing Center, and the Doñana Sustainable Innovation incubator and accelerator.
