The Atlantic-WestMED Conference 2026 brought together institutional representatives, researchers, companies and organisations from 22 countries in Gran Canaria to advance cooperation between the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins and promote a sustainable blue economy

The Canary Islands Institute of Technology played an active role in the programme as a key technology driver of the blue economy in the Canary Islands, showcasing projects, infrastructure and R&D&I capabilities in areas including marine biotechnology, algae aquaculture, water technologies and green hydrogen

The Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC) played a prominent role in the Atlantic-WestMED Conference 2026, held on 15 and 16 September at the institutional headquarters of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). Conceived as a platform for cooperation between blue economy communities from the Atlantic and Western Mediterranean, the international forum was supported by the European Commission and held under the theme “Building synergies for a sustainable ocean”. It brought together 250 participants from 22 countries to promote knowledge exchange and identify shared solutions to the sector’s future challenges. Over the two-day event, representatives from public administrations and institutions, universities, research centres, companies and other blue economy stakeholders addressed topics including ocean knowledge, maritime innovation, professional skills, coastal community resilience, the sustainable use of marine resources, offshore renewable energy and the decarbonisation of fleets and ports.

ITC’s participation began on Tuesday, 15 September, with the Interreg event “Building Synergies amongst Interreg Programs”, which brought together representatives from Interreg Atlantic Area, Interreg MAC, Interreg NEXT MED and Interreg Euro-MED. ITC’s Director of R&D&I, Gonzalo Piernavieja, presented IDIWATER as one of four selected success stories, one from each programme. Led by ITC and co-funded through Interreg MAC, IDIWATER brings together organisations from the Canary Islands, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Mauritania and Senegal to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the industrial water cycle. MARINNONET, GREENMEDPORTS and BLUE ECOSYSTEM were also presented during the session as representative initiatives from the other three participating programmes.

That same afternoon, representatives of the European Commission and Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation visited ITC’s facilities in Pozo Izquierdo, in an activity coordinated by the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI). The European Commission delegation included Irene Vecchiato, Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), and Julia Beile, Project Adviser at the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). The Ministry was represented by Antonio Rodríguez de Liévana, Director-General for the Coordination of the Internal Market and Other EU Policies, and Rosa Bernardo. ACIISI Director Javier Franco accompanied the delegation together with Gonzalo Piernavieja, ITC’s Director of R&D&I; Eduardo Portillo, Head of the Biotechnology Department; Marianna Venuleo, ITC researcher and ATL.A.HUB coordinator; and Flavio Guidi, project officer in the area.

The visit provided an opportunity to see first-hand ITC’s scientific and technological capabilities in areas linked to the blue economy. Particular attention was given to algae biotechnology, including facilities associated with the High-Tech Incubator for Blue Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IAT BIOASIS), as well as infrastructure for microalgae cultivation and processing and the extraction of bioactive compounds. The delegation also visited the DESAL+ Living Lab experimental facilities and the DESALRO 2.0® plant, both dedicated to the development and validation of water technologies, as well as the BIOGREENFINERY experimental platform, focused on the production and use of green hydrogen and renewable fuels. The visit highlighted the potential of Pozo Izquierdo as a testing and technology validation environment supporting new developments related to the blue economy.

On Wednesday, 16 September, ITC took part in the round table “Islands, Coastal and Outermost Regions: Shared Challenges and Opportunities”, included in the programme of the joint conference of the Atlantic and WestMED sea basin strategies. Marianna Venuleo joined representatives from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Leancubator and PLOCAN in the panel, which was moderated by Irene Vecchiato of DG MARE. During her contribution, she presented ATL.A.HUB, a European initiative funded through CINEA that is developing Atlantic hubs specialising in land-based algae aquaculture and marine biotechnology. The project connects scientific, technological and business capabilities through two leading facilities located in Pozo Izquierdo (Gran Canaria) and Vila Franca de Xira (Lisbon), designed to support the development, validation and scale-up of new algae-based biotechnological products and processes. The University of La Laguna (ULL) and ACIISI also participate in the consortium from the Canary Islands.

ATL.A.HUB was also represented throughout the two-day conference in the exhibition area, which showcased initiatives and projects contributing to the sustainable development of the Atlantic and Mediterranean blue economy. The stand introduced visitors to the project’s work to develop the algae value chain and facilitate knowledge and technology transfer to the business sector. Other exhibitors included the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster, the EU4Ocean Coalition, MPAs Canary Islands and ACIISI, among other organisations. ACIISI’s stand also featured ACUICONECTA and IDIWATER, two ITC-led projects implemented within the framework of Interreg MAC cooperation between territories in Macaronesia and West Africa.

ITC’s presence at the Atlantic-WestMED Conference provided an opportunity to present European institutions, research organisations, companies and other blue economy stakeholders with a representative overview of the R&D&I activities being developed in the Canary Islands. The presentations, project exhibition and visit to the Pozo Izquierdo facilities showcased specific capabilities in areas such as marine aquaculture and biotechnology, the industrial water cycle and e-fuels, within a forum designed to create new partnerships and develop shared solutions for the sustainable development of Atlantic and Mediterranean territories.

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