Abstract
Detection of objects with masses close to that of Jupiter in various astrophysical contexts will be feasible with GTC first light instruments. The mid-infrared camera, CANARICAM, will contribute to the detection and characterization of these objects orbiting around F-M stars and brown dwarfs. It will allow us to explore a domain of orbital radii complementary to that of current radial velocity searches. The imaging and spectroscopic capabilities of OSIRIS are very well suited to the study of free-floating protojupiters in low extinction young star forming regions. Both types of studies are crucial to our understanding of the processes that originate giant planets.
