CSIC and Cabildo of Tenerife: library of bioactive compounds from Canarian plants for pharma and industry

Key data

Pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agribusiness companies operating in the Canary Islands have a concrete opportunity on the table: the CSIC, through its Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA) in Tenerife, and the Island Council of Tenerife have signed an agreement to develop the «Library of Natural Products of Tenerife», published in the BOE on September 8, 2026 through Resolution of August 31, 2026.

This agreement is not a basic research project with no commercial outlet: its design explicitly includes the transfer of scientific knowledge to the Canarian productive sector and the identification of molecules with direct industrial and therapeutic applications.

What does this agreement establish?

The agreement formalizes collaboration between CSIC-IPNA and the Island Council of Tenerife to execute the project «Library of Natural Products of Tenerife». Its main axes are:

• Systematic cataloging of bioactive compounds derived from Canarian plant biodiversity.
• Taxonomic and genetic classification of plant species included in the library.
• Identification of candidate molecules for drugs and high-value products for industrial and therapeutic sectors.
• Transfer of scientific knowledge to the Canarian productive sector.
• Planned applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agribusiness industries.

This agreement expands and formalizes a previous collaboration initiated through nominative subsidy from the Cabildo to CSIC-IPNA in August 2024. The shift from subsidy to agreement represents a more solid legal framework, with defined obligations and rights for both parties, which facilitates medium-term planning and participation by third parties (companies, investors, technology partners).

Economic and operational impact

For private sector companies, this agreement has practical implications that should be evaluated now:

• Access to public R&D results: The library of bioactive compounds will generate scientific data on molecules with commercial potential. Companies that establish relationships with CSIC-IPNA will be able to access these results ahead of the competition.
• Reduction of prospecting costs: Identifying bioactive compounds on your own is enormously costly. A public-private library reduces that entry cost for SMEs in the sector.
• Licensing window: If the identified molecules are patentable, a technology licensing pathway opens between the CSIC and interested companies.
• Positioning in niche markets: Compounds derived from Canarian biodiversity—endemic and singular—have differential value in natural cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and phytopharmacy markets.

The fact that the framework shifts from subsidy to agreement indicates that the project has assured continuity and that the Cabildo assumes a firmer institutional commitment, which reduces the risk of interruption for any company that decides to link itself to the project.

Who does it affect?

• Pharmaceutical companies with activity or interest in the Canary Islands seeking new candidate molecules for drugs of natural origin.
• Cosmetic industry interested in differentiated active ingredients from Canarian endemic flora.
• Canarian agribusiness sector that can incorporate bioactive compounds into functional or nutraceutical products.
• Researchers and technology centers that want to collaborate with CSIC-IPNA on derivative projects.
• Investors and venture capital funds focused on biotechnology and life sciences in Spain.
• Island Council of Tenerife and Canarian public administrations interested in economic diversification based on R&D.

Practical example

A natural cosmetics company based in Tenerife that currently imports active ingredients from third countries could, through a collaboration agreement with CSIC-IPNA, access the results of the «Library of Natural Products of Tenerife» to identify extracts from Canarian endemic plant species with scientifically documented antioxidant or antimicrobial properties.

This would allow it to: (1) replace imported ingredients with local compounds with traceable scientific history; (2) differentiate its product range with the seal of Canarian biodiversity; and (3) jointly explore with CSIC-IPNA the possibility of patenting and licensing specific formulations, generating a competitive barrier difficult to replicate.

The same scheme applies to an agribusiness company that wants to develop functional foods with bioactive compounds from Canarian plants cataloged in the library, reducing the time and cost of the initial scientific prospecting phase.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if your sector fits: Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agribusiness, or biotechnology are the sectors with direct application. If you operate in any of them in the Canary Islands, this project is relevant to your R&D strategy.
2. Contact CSIC-IPNA in Tenerife: The Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology is the technical contact for the project. Exploring public-private collaboration pathways before the library is closed maximizes access to early results.
3. Review technology transfer calls: The CSIC has formal transfer mechanisms (R&D contracts, licenses, spin-offs). Check the CSIC knowledge transfer website to learn about available pathways.
4. Evaluate co-financing options: Projects linked to biodiversity and biotechnology can apply for European funds (Horizon Europe) or national funds (CDTI). Analyze whether your participation in this ecosystem can strengthen your own application.
5. Monitor IPNA publications: The scientific results of the project will be published progressively. Following IPNA publications allows you to anticipate which compounds have the greatest commercial potential before they become widely public knowledge.

Official source

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-18826