Representatives of the DESAL+ Living Lab platform, the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), and the Gran Canaria Economic Promotion Society (SPEGC) participated in the 2026 Global Water Summit, one of the most important international events in the water sector, held in Madrid on May 18, 19, and 20.
Organized annually by Global Water Intelligence (GWI), the summit brings together representatives from leading companies, technology start-ups, research centers, public administrations, investors, and international experts linked to the water sector. The event has established itself as a strategic forum for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and the promotion of innovative solutions aimed at addressing global challenges related to the sustainable management of water resources.
As part of the event, ITC and SPEGC took part in the Roundtables “20 Urgent Topics for Market Growth”, an interactive forum designed to identify growth opportunities, foster collaboration among key stakeholders, and discuss the trends that will shape the future of the international water market.
The participation of both organizations provided an opportunity to present the IDIWATER Acceleration Programme to an international audience, an initiative aimed at supporting the development and scaling of innovative solutions for the water sector. The event also facilitated the establishment of new strategic contacts with companies, technology centers, and investors interested in collaborating with the Canary Islands innovation ecosystem.
This initiative belongs to the internationalization strategy of the DESAL+ Living Lab platform and seeks to strengthen its international visibility as a leading platform for the research, validation, and demonstration of technologies related to desalination, water reclamation and reuse, wastewater valorization, and the efficient management of water resources.
In addition, during the various meetings held throughout the summit, the opportunities offered by the Canary Islands for conducting R&D&I activities were highlighted, showcasing both its scientific and technological infrastructure and the funding instruments and specific tax incentives available for research and innovation projects.
Through this participation, ITC and SPEGC continue to strengthen the positioning of Gran Canaria and DESAL+ Living Lab as internationally recognized hubs for innovation in the water sector, fostering the attraction of talent, investment, and new technological initiatives that contribute to advancing more sustainable and resilient water management.
The IDIWATER Acceleration Programme is an initiative of the IDIWATER project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Interreg MAC 2021–2027 Programme.
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