The Doñana region of Spain is embarking on an ambitious initiative to foster sustainable innovation, backed by nearly €1.5 million in funding from the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI). The ‘Doñana Terra Innova’ project, led by the Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA), aims to revitalize the socioeconomic landscape surrounding the Doñana Natural Space, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, while safeguarding its unique environmental resources.
Announced on , the project will operate for two years, focusing on identifying, diagnosing, and defining innovative initiatives. A key component will be the development of business plans and projects, with a particular emphasis on public procurement of innovation (CPI) within strategic sectors crucial to the region. These sectors include water management, sustainable agriculture, and improvements to employment conditions in the agricultural sector.
The initiative extends beyond simply identifying projects. It also includes the design and support for several key platforms: the Scientific-Technological Observatory Doñana 2030, a University-Business Chair at the University of Huelva (UHU) dedicated to Doñana, a ‘Living Lab Doñana 2030’ for real-world testing, a center for advanced experimentation in sustainable agriculture – Doñana Agricultura Sostenible – and an incubator and accelerator – Doñana Innovación Sostenible. These platforms are intended to create a collaborative ecosystem for innovation.
A Collaborative Effort
CTA is spearheading the project, having formally launched the initiative with consortium members including Asaja-Huelva, the Huelva Business Federation (FOE), the University of Huelva (UHU), and the agricultural cooperatives OnuCoop SCA and Seprocoop SCA. The project’s funding comes from the CDTI and is supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
The launch event, held in Almonte (Huelva), drew over one hundred attendees from the local area and featured remarks from Francisco Bella Galán, the mayor of Almonte. Elías Atienza, Director General of CTA; and José Rodríguez Quintero, Rector of the University of Huelva.
According to Elías Atienza, the project represents CTA’s first major undertaking in as a strategic partner to the CDTI in Andalusia. He emphasized CTA’s role as a public-private entity supporting public administrations in accelerating research, development, and innovation (R&D+i) processes. “CTA assumes this challenge with responsibility and enthusiasm,” Atienza stated, “convinced that cooperation, sustainable innovation and collaboration with the municipalities in the area will be essential to build a prosperous future for Doñana and for those who live and work in its area of influence.”
Representatives from CTA detailed the core elements of Doñana Terra Innova and the conneCTA Doñana Innovación open innovation platform. Participants from Asaja-Huelva, FOE, UHU, OnuCoop, and Seprocoop engaged in a discussion analyzing the potential of innovation to drive socioeconomic transformation in the Doñana region.
Local Support and Broader Context
Mayor Francisco Bella highlighted the project’s alignment with the potential and needs of the local territory. Rector José Rodríguez Quintero underscored the University of Huelva’s commitment to promoting innovation in the agricultural sector, a key component of the provincial economy. He noted the university’s existing research in areas relevant to the project, including species modification, agrivoltaics, and solutions for agricultural worker housing.
Pilar González Gotor, Head of Institutional Promotion and Territorial Cooperation at the CDTI, provided context on the Doñana Dynamization call for proposals that supports the project, and outlined potential future funding opportunities. The call has allocated a total of €3.6 million to five actions involving 21 entities representing the socioeconomic landscape of the Doñana area.
Reforestation Efforts Complement Innovation Drive
Alongside the launch of Doñana Terra Innova, a separate initiative focused on environmental restoration is underway. The Fundación Moeve participated in a tree-planting event with the President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, in the ‘Las Peñuelas’ area of Doñana Natural Space. This area was severely impacted by a fire in the summer of , which destroyed over 10,000 hectares.
The reforestation effort, coordinated by Plant for the Planet under the ‘Doñana Renace’ project, has seen the planting of 1.1 million trees in Moguer in recent years. This collaborative effort involves the Junta de Andalucía and various associations, including Fundación Moeve, which has contributed 152,300 trees since , including 85,000 this year.
The combined focus on sustainable innovation and environmental restoration signals a comprehensive approach to securing the long-term viability of the Doñana region. The Doñana Terra Innova project, with its emphasis on collaboration and practical application, aims to position the area as a benchmark for sustainable socioeconomic development and innovation, while preserving its invaluable natural resources.
