Tenerife Renames ITER Visitor Center in Honor of Ricardo Melchior

The Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife) has officially decided to rename the visitor center at the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER) in honor of Ricardo Melchior. This move is more than a formal gesture; it serves as a tribute to the man who championed the island’s technological development. By renaming the center, the council aims to permanently link the facility to its founder and first president, who led the organization after its creation in 1990.

Melchior served as president of the Cabildo from 1999 to 2013, the longest tenure in the island’s democratic history. His leadership was central to Tenerife’s focus on renewable energy and scientific research. Under his guidance, the ITER grew from a small project into a leading scientific hub. The visitor center, which opened in 2004, now welcomes over 7,000 guests each year.

Current island president Rosa Dávila stated that the renaming honors the era when the administration first established its innovation strategy. The center—which includes exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, and a 200-seat auditorium—will feature Melchior’s name on all signage, official documents, and communication materials. Melchior passed away last January.

Beyond the symbolic value, the decision highlights the Cabildo’s commitment to maintaining Melchior’s legacy in scientific infrastructure. By adding his name to the visitor center and the Renewable Energy Walk, the council is emphasizing the importance of its history in shaping current sustainability policies. The administrative process to finalize the name change is already underway.