The Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), a 10 meter segmented-mirror telescope, now at an advanced stage of construction on La Palma (Spain), will shortly be entering its integration phase. First light is planned for the second half of 2003, with science operations scheduled for the end of 2004. This represents a small delay against the originally planned calendar. When the GTC enters its operational phase it will be provided with two Nasmyth focal stations, each supplied with a science instrument, as well as their corresponding rotator adaptors and acquisition and guiding boxes. On entering into operation, the GTC will offer exciting capabilities for astronomy, thanks to its complement of first generation instruments, namely OSIRIS, and CanariCam. In the following, the status of the projects and the plans for its scientific operation will be addressed.