A Landmark Decision for Volcanic Science
The Canary Islands have taken a decisive step towards hosting Spain’s future National Volcanology Center (CNV) by submitting the only official bid in the national selection process. The proposal, a shared venture with the main administrative headquarters on La Palma and a scientific subsite on Tenerife, faced no competing bids. Its establishment now hinges solely on formal validation by the corresponding state commission.
The Selection Process
The official procedure was set in motion on September 23, 2025, with the publication of order TMD/1052/2025 in the State Official Gazette (BOE), which made public the report from the commission overseeing the CNV headquarters selection. According to the regulations of Royal Decree 209/2022, the selection process for state public sector entities must consider criteria such as public service effectiveness, accessibility, territorial coherence, and requires the bid to have regional government backing. The Council of Ministers initiated the procedure on September 2, 2025, and the corresponding commission issued its report on September 16.
The Canary Islands Proposal
On October 16, 2025, the Government of the Canary Islands, together with the island councils of La Palma and Tenerife, announced the submission of their joint candidacy. The proposal designates La Palma as the administrative base and Tenerife as the scientific hub. The Canary Islands Government Council formally approved its institutional support for this bid on October 22, 2025. The proposal was then officially registered with the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory on October 23, 2025. To date, no other candidacy has been officially registered on the Ministry’s public portal, making the Canary Islands proposal the only option on the table.
What a Single Candidacy Means
The fact that the Canary Islands presented the sole proposal significantly streamlines the path forward. The technical commission at the Ministry is currently reviewing the submitted documentation. Once they issue a favorable report, the Ministry can proceed with the official resolution, formally awarding the CNV to the Canary Islands. While no specific official deadline for the decision has been published, the fact that it is a single, regulation-compliant bid suggests the ruling could be delivered swiftly.
Next Steps and Funding
In parallel with the final approval, the creation of the consortium that will manage the CNV is expected within the current quarter. This will be coupled with the mobilization of the state’s allocated budget of 5 million euros to launch the center’s operations.
A Strategic Opportunity for the Archipelago
Locating the National Volcanology Center in the Canary Islands represents a major commitment to science, prevention, and volcanic territory. The archipelago possesses several distinctive factors: it is an area of active volcanic risk, has recent firsthand experience with eruptions (as demonstrated by the La Palma event), boasts established scientific institutions, and proposes an innovative shared-headquarters model between islands, reinforcing its pioneering and decentralized character.
The agreement between La Palma and Tenerife masterfully combines profound symbolism—La Palma was the island affected by the Tajogaite volcano eruption in 2021—with robust operational capacity, leveraging Tenerife’s existing scientific infrastructure.
On the Threshold of a New Era
Being the only registered bid to host the National Volcanology Center places the Canary Islands on the verge of a definitive decision. Only the technical ratification from the Ministry is now required for La Palma, as the main headquarters, and Tenerife, as the scientific subsite, to take on this national project. Once confirmed, the archipelago will have solidified its position with a new, highly relevant research center, carrying significant implications for science, regional development, and the crucial management of volcanic risk.
