The Xunta's Council has authorized the signing of agreements to transfer €13 million to the University of A Coruña (UDC) for the construction of this new facility, which aims to become an innovation hub in industrial and naval engineering. Additionally, an injection of €7.2 million was approved to provide the UDC, the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), and the University of Vigo (UVigo) with new scientific resources and materials.
The contributions for the new EI3, located at the Esteiro University Campus, will come from the Ministry of Education, Science, Universities, and Vocational Training's Infrastructure Plan and European FEDER funds. The total project budget exceeds €13.1 million. The center's objective is to lead initiatives in areas such as naval and offshore engineering, robotics, industrial process management, and green hydrogen applied to the maritime sector.
The EI3 building will feature flexible and multifunctional spaces for research, teaching, and knowledge transfer, fostering interaction between the university, businesses, and society. It incorporates criteria for sustainability, energy efficiency, and universal accessibility. The UDC plans to tender the construction work in the last quarter of 2026, with completion expected in 2029.
Furthermore, the regional government will allocate €7.2 million in 2026 to enhance the research equipment of Galician universities. USC will receive €3 million, UVigo €2.3 million, and UDC €1.8 million. These funds will be used to acquire scientific equipment, advanced instrumentation, digitize educational spaces, and access digital resources and knowledge platforms.
A second set of agreements will improve the infrastructure of the universities' central services and consolidate the equipment of the centers within the CIGUS Network (Research Centers of the Galician University System), including highly specialized equipment such as quantum computers or robotic arms. The CIGUS Network website provides information on acquired equipment.
