Canary Global Foundation (CGF) hosted three visiting fellows through the ICEX Vives program of the Spanish government, supporting international collaboration between CGF, Light Bridges, and the University of San Francisco.
The ICEX Vives initiative is designed to promote the internationalization of Spanish talent by placing early-career professionals in global organizations. Through this program, CGF welcomed fellows contributing across communications, artificial intelligence, and astronomy.
The cohort included a one-year fellowship focused on communications and social media, supporting outreach, visibility, and engagement across CGF programs. Two additional six-month fellowships focused on AI and astronomy, contributing to ongoing technical and research- oriented initiatives in collaboration with external partners.
Fellows participated in projects connected to operational observatory infrastructure, including work related to AI-enabled data analysis, scientific workflows, and collaborative research environments. In parallel, they engaged in international coordination across institutions, gaining experience working at the intersection of research, technology, and global collaboration.
This initiative was carried out in coordination with Light Bridges, operator of the Two-Meter Twin Telescope (TTT) in Tenerife, and with academic collaboration from the University of San Francisco, reflecting CGF’s model of integrating research, education, and infrastructure.
Why this matters
Programs like ICEX Vives play an important role in developing talent across borders, enabling early-career professionals to gain experience in real scientific and technical environments. By connecting participants to active projects and international collaborators, these programs contribute to building capacity for future research, innovation, and leadership.
For CGF, this initiative demonstrates how talent development can be integrated directly into ongoing scientific and technological work, strengthening both project outcomes and long-term collaboration networks.
What’s next
CGF will continue exploring opportunities to host fellows and early-career researchers through international programs and partnerships, expanding pathways for participation in AI-enabled astronomy, scientific communication, and global research collaboration.
