The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is consolidating its position as a key infrastructure for marine research, technological innovation and international cooperation, reinforcing the role of the Canary Islands as a strategic partner in the global response to climate change. This was demonstrated through its participation in the second edition of the DiploInnova Canarias science diplomacy programme, an event held at the headquarters of the Cotec Foundation in Madrid, which brought together representatives from 17 embassies interested in learning about the scientific, technological and infrastructural capabilities of the Archipelago linked to the ocean and climate change.
During the event, opened by the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, the strategic role of the Canary Islands was highlighted as a territory with unique conditions to become a leading natural laboratory of international reference in the protection of the marine environment and the generation of innovative solutions to major climate challenges.
In this context, PLOCAN was presented as one of the key scientific infrastructures within the Canary Islands ecosystem, alongside the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC) and the Archipelago’s two public universities (the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of La Laguna), helping to consolidate the Canary Islands as a hub for research and applied innovation in the blue economy.
The session also served to showcase the connection between science, technology and business. Several companies and research groups that have carried out tests at PLOCAN’s facilities shared their areas of work and projects during the meeting, demonstrating how the Archipelago provides a real-world environment to validate, test and scale innovative solutions linked to the ocean, energy and climate.
Along these lines, projects were presented working on wave-powered desalination, such as the one being developed by Ocean Oasis; ocean and climate experimentation carried out by the research centre Geomar; Wavepiston’s proposal for clean energy and water from waves; the deep-water, dual-turbine floating wind technology being developed by Enerocean; Aquawind’s proposal combining aquaculture and offshore wind energy; and the work being carried out by Manta, which specialises in floating marine photovoltaic systems.
The Canary Islands: an ocean laboratory for global solutions
The DiploInnova Canarias programme, promoted by the Presidency of the regional government within the framework of the Responsible Islands initiative, seeks to foster international collaboration in science and knowledge transfer, strengthening the Archipelago’s international projection through innovation, talent and cooperation.
The second edition of the event focused on the ocean and climate change, an area of particular relevance for the Canary Islands, where over 80% of the territory is sea, and where island regions face challenges such as sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and an increase in extreme weather events.
