The Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), which coordinates the European project, presented progress made by this initiative at the S3 CoP Annual Conference 2026, highlighting its objective to establish Atlantic hubs for land-based aquaculture and algae biotechnology, supported by infrastructure in the Canary Islands and Portugal

The Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), as coordinator of this European initiative to promote the blue economy across the Atlantic area, presented progress made by the ATL.A.HUB project during the session on thematic partnerships held as part of the annual conference of the Smart Specialisation Community of Practice (S3 CoP). The event took place in Brussels on 23 and 24 June under the title ‘Regions Driving European Innovation and Competitiveness’. Marianna Venuleo, marine biotechnology researcher at ITC and coordinator of ATL.A.HUB, outlined the project’s strategy to establish specialised hubs for land-based aquaculture and marine biotechnology at sites in the Canary Islands and Portugal. These hubs will serve as platforms to promote productive activity linked to the cultivation and valorisation of native algae species.

The event, organised by the European Commission through the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), brought together representatives of regional, national and European authorities, development agencies, research centres and organisations involved in innovation ecosystems. Discussions focused on the future of smart specialisation strategies and their contribution to Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and innovation capacity, with particular attention paid to integrating innovation and industrial policies, improving governance and strengthening interregional cooperation.

Smart specialisation applied to the blue economy

ITC’s presentation took place on 24 June during the Forum for Sustainable Blue Economy Partnerships, along with the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, as part of the parallel sessions devoted to smart specialisation platforms and thematic partnerships. At the invitation of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), the coordinating organisations of ATL.A.HUB and MED-Hubs presented the strategic areas of action of both projects, which focus on innovation and the sustainable blue economy. Both initiatives are funded under the European call ‘Maritime regional cooperation fostering Smart Specialisation and Innovation in the Sustainable Blue Economy’ through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

The Canary Islands and Portugal: Atlantic platforms driving the blue economy

During the session, ITC presented the main features of ATL.A.HUB, a project based on shared priorities for developing the blue economy in the Canary Islands and the Lisbon region, as set out in their respective regional smart specialisation strategies. Its collaborative model seeks to overcome some of the main barriers limiting the development of the European algae value chain by providing businesses and innovation stakeholders with access to infrastructure, equipment, technical knowledge, specialised services and information on regulatory frameworks. The initiative therefore aims to accelerate the validation and scaling-up of new algae-derived biotechnology products and support their market uptake.

The project also includes the development of commercialisation strategies tailored to different business models, the demonstration of investment-ready product cases and the design of a plan to replicate the hubs in other regions of the European Atlantic area. In this way, ATL.A.HUB connects scientific, technological and business capabilities across different territories to turn the potential of algae aquaculture and biotechnology into new opportunities for sustainable economic activity.

ATL.A.HUB is supported by two of Europe’s largest facilities dedicated to algae cultivation and processing, located in Pozo Izquierdo on the island of Gran Canaria and in Vila Franca de Xira in the Lisbon region. These facilities act as launch platforms for developing, validating and scaling up new products, providing the sector with advanced technological capabilities and experimental environments that closely reflect real production conditions.

The Canary Islands facility is ITC’s Experimental Area for Blue Biotechnology and Aquaculture, which brings together decades of experience in cultivating microalgae and other marine organisms, as well as in developing biotechnology processes and applications. Its role as one of the project’s two core hubs strengthens the Canary Islands’ position as a leading territory for applied research, technology demonstration and the creation of business activity in the blue bioeconomy.

The ATL.A.HUB consortium comprises seven organisations from Spain, Portugal, Latvia and France. Under ITC’s coordination, the consortium includes the University of La Laguna (ULL) and the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI); Algae for Future (A4F) and the Portuguese Association of Aquaculture Producers; the Latvian company LCA Dynamics; and the French company Edonia. The Canary Islands companies Macrocarbon and Fresh Frutas Canarias also participate as associated organisations.

With €1.58 million in European funding and a duration of 36 months, running until September 2028, ATL.A.HUB contributes to strengthening cooperation between knowledge institutions, public authorities and businesses.

ATL.A.HUB’s participation, through ITC, in this European forum provides an opportunity to showcase the capabilities developed within this framework of Atlantic cooperation and to connect with European smart specialisation networks working to promote a more innovative, competitive and sustainable blue economy.