This one sits slightly outside the usual housing and tourism headlines, but it matters.
The Canary Islands government is pushing the idea that the archipelago could become a global laboratory for ocean protection and climate change solutions, and they’ve been pitching that message directly to the international community.
At the second edition of DiploInnova Canarias, held this week in Madrid, representatives from 17 embassies were told that the islands have all the right ingredients to lead serious research and innovation around the oceans and climate change.
Why the Canary Islands?
Speaking at the event, Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo said the islands are uniquely placed to take on this role.
More than 80% of the Canary Islands’ territory is sea, and as an island region, they’re on the front line when it comes to climate-related risks. Rising sea levels, extreme weather, erosion and flooding aren’t abstract concepts here. They’re real, and they’re getting closer.
Clavijo stressed that the regional government is fully committed to environmental policy and to backing research and development projects, supported by infrastructure that’s already recognised internationally.
Not just knowledge, but innovation and talent
According to Clavijo, this isn’t just about academic research.
He described DiploInnova Canarias as part of a new phase in how the islands present themselves abroad. One focused on innovation, talent and practical solutions, rather than simply exporting knowledge.
The stated aim is for the Canary Islands to actively contribute to solving global challenges, while at the same time diversifying the local economy and creating higher value jobs.
Science as an economic driver
The Canary Islands government is keen to frame science and innovation as engines of economic and social development, not side projects.
Clavijo pointed to the Canary Islands Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF) as a key tool in this strategy, describing it as a framework that provides legal certainty and tax advantages, and which continues to attract investment and technology-based companies to the islands.
“A natural laboratory”
The president of Cotec, Cristina Garmendia, reinforced that message.
She described the Canary Islands as one of the most strategic territories in Europe for advancing the blue economy and applied innovation, calling the archipelago a “natural laboratory” where Europe can test, validate and scale solutions it urgently needs.
Cotec, she said, wants to help ensure that this positioning is recognised and strengthened at a European level.
AI, automation and an unexpected strength
One detail that caught attention was data from Cotec showing that Canary Islands companies lead Spain in the use of artificial intelligence applied to the automation of physical movements.
Not exactly what most people associate with the islands.
But it points to a growing ecosystem of technological know-how, particularly linked to ocean-related innovation and engineering.
Real projects, not just speeches
This isn’t all theory.
A number of projects already underway in the Canary Islands were highlighted, including:
- Ocean Oasis, working on wave-powered desalination
- Geomar, developing an ocean and climate research centre
- Wavespiston, generating clean energy and water from waves
- Enerocean and Pronoe, developing floating offshore wind with double turbines
- Brineworks, focused on low-cost direct CO₂ capture
- Aquawind, combining aquaculture with offshore wind energy
- Manta, specialising in floating marine photovoltaic systems
These are practical, applied projects, using the islands’ natural conditions as a testing ground.
Why this matters long term
As an outermost EU region, the Canary Islands face specific vulnerabilities when it comes to climate change. The European Commission has already acknowledged this and signalled stronger support for adaptation strategies tailored to regions like this.
Positioning the islands as a place where solutions are developed, tested and scaled makes sense. It builds resilience, diversifies the economy and reduces reliance on tourism alone.
Whether this vision translates into long-term structural change is the real question.
But for once, this is a Canary Islands strategy that looks beyond the next tourist season.
