Canary Islands allocates 800,000 euros to social innovation projects

The Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC no. 174, of August 31, 2026) publishes the extract of the Order of August 19, 2026, by which the Ministry of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture announces, on a competitive basis, grants destined for social innovation projects for the 2027 and 2028 fiscal years, under early processing. The call, identified in the National Grants Database with number 925816, mobilizes a total expenditure of 800,000 euros.

The order, signed by Minister Migdalia María Machín Tavío, is framed within the regulatory bases approved by Order no. 395/2021, of September 7 (BOC no. 193, of 20.9.2021). The expenditure is charged to budget application 17.05.467B.770.02, within the investment project 237G0343 “Social Innovation”, and is subject to the existence of adequate and sufficient credit.

Beneficiaries and object

Beneficiaries may be companies, freelancers, or social economy entities contemplated in Law 5/2011, of March 29, on Social Economy, validly constituted at the time of submitting the application and intending to develop a social innovation project. Companies operating in the sectors and activities listed in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) no. 2023/2831, regarding de minimis aid, are excluded.

Social innovation is understood as the development, implementation, and/or validation of innovative methodologies or technologies aimed at solving social problems and improving the living conditions of citizens.

Amount and distribution

The allocation is divided into two annual procedures, with an aid intensity of 100% of the total eligible expenditure:

• First procedure (2027): maximum amount of 400,000 euros.
• Second procedure (2028): maximum amount of 400,000 euros.
• Grant per entity: between 50,000 and 100,000 euros.
• Maximum of one eligible project per entity, although up to three applications may be submitted per procedure.

The aid is considered de minimis, therefore the total amount received by a single company may not exceed 300,000 euros during the three previous fiscal years. If the allocation is not exhausted by the close of the first procedure, the remainder may be transferred to the subsequent procedure.

Deadlines and processing

Applications must be submitted through the computer application enabled on the electronic headquarters of the Government of the Canary Islands:

• First procedure (2027): from October 15, 2026 (9:00 AM) to November 6, 2026 (2:00 PM).
• Second procedure (2028): from October 15, 2027 (9:00 AM) to November 8, 2027 (2:00 PM).

The grant payment will be made in advance, and beneficiary entities are exempt from providing guarantees. The maximum period for resolution and notification will be six months from the publication of the call, and the award resolutions will be notified through their publication on the electronic headquarters’ notice board.

Relevance for the third sector

The call opens a window of opportunity for the Canarian third sector, which will be able to 100% finance projects aimed at solving social problems using innovative technologies and methodologies. Advance processing allows entities to plan their initiatives for 2027 and 2028 in advance, with a fixed application calendar and a de minimis regime that simplifies the competitive process.

Source: Official Gazette of the Canary Islands, no. 174, August 31, 2026, V. Announcements, Other announcements, pp. 33695-33697 (official reference: extract of the Order of August 19, 2026, BDNS Identif. 925816).