Andorra Approves €125,000 for Four Pyrenean Cross-Border Research Projects

The Govern approved €125,000 in complementary aid for four cross-border research projects under the 2026 European POCTEFA call at its ministerial council meeting on Wednesday, a 25% increase on the 2023 allocation. The funding covers initiatives addressing shared Pyrenean challenges in biodiversity, natural resources and the energy transition.

PYRISENTINEL 2.0, led by Andorra Recerca i Innovació (AR+I), will examine the ecological condition of high-mountain Pyrenean lakes by analysing the organisms that live in them, with the aim of tracking the effects of global change and supporting conservation strategies. BOSPIR-3D, also an AR+I project, uses laser scanning and three-dimensional modelling to gather more precise data on the structure and health of Pyrenean forests, improving planning and management and their capacity to adapt to climate change. PIROS, likewise attributed to AR+I, will assess the geothermal potential of the Pyrenees and explore how this renewable source can support decarbonisation and diversify energy supply in mountain areas.

The Fundació Privada Marcel Chevalier will receive support for SOLPYR II, which continues research into Pyrenean soils, focusing on their vulnerability to climate change and on tools to conserve and manage them.

The aid falls within the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra POCTEFA 2021-2027 programme. Because Andorran entities cannot access European FEDER funding directly, the Govern provides a complementary contribution so they can take part in international research networks.

In a separate decision, the executive approved €20,000 in grants under the fifth edition of the Programa de beques per a joves talents. Five candidates aged between 12 and 25 were selected to help them continue their artistic training or take part in international competitions and events.

The largest award, €7,000, goes to Paula González, who is studying for a higher degree in music specialising in cello at the Musikene centre in San Sebastián. Martí Tomàs will receive €6,500 for advanced classical dance studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, while Pere González receives €2,500 to continue artistic baccalaureate and saxophone studies at IEA Oriol Martorell.

Joel Andrés Wang will receive €2,000 towards costs linked to international competitions and training activities such as the Pirineos Classic International Music Course, and Carla Iglesias will also receive €2,000 for the higher degree in musical theatre performance she is studying at the Eòlia CSAD drama school.