Pedro Sánchez reaffirms the Government's commitment to science and innovation as a decisive factor in the strong economic period Spain is experiencing

Moguer (Huelva)

Pedro Sánchez travelled to the Andalusian town of Moguer, in Huelva, to attend the official opening of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Centre (CEUS), where he reaffirmed his government's commitment to investment in science and technological innovation as a decisive factor in the extraordinary economic period Spain is experiencing.

"Spain's strategic approach is working, as affirmed by the leading national and international economic organisations; the OECD certifies that Spain has become the great engine of economic growth and job creation in Europe," said the head of the Executive, who was accompanied on his visit by the Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles; the Secretary General for Innovation, Teresa Riesgo; and the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla.

The President of the Government of Spain described the CEUS facilities as "the best example of what it means to invest in science and innovation". Sánchez stressed the Executive's desire to reindustrialise Spain under a twofold premise: a commitment to knowledge and innovation as drivers of employment; and the strengthening of territorial cohesion to guarantee equal opportunities in all territories. In this regard, the president underscored "the tractive power that the Ministry of Defence has for territorial cohesion and the progress of all".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, visits the exhibition of unmanned aerial vehicles at the CEUS facilities | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

The launch of this Test Centre also complies with one of the priority lines of the Framework of Actions for Doñana which has a significant impact on the territory through industrial development to stimulate the ecological transition, reduce dependence on agriculture and create quality employment. In total, the Government is making a commitment to Doñana with a strategic investment of more than 700 million euros aimed at recovering a natural treasure that is unique in Europe.

Likewise, the head of the Executive highlighted the Government's investment effort in the field of science. In the last six years, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities has doubled its R&D&I budget and, moreover, has already mobilised almost 100% of the nearly 2.8 billion euros of the Strategic Project (PERTE) Aerospace and has reinforced the scholarship and vocational training policy with a historic allocation.

Non official translation