The EIT Community participated in Canarias Destino Startup 2026, held from 7 to 9 October in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, to showcase its programmes supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and business growth, and to strengthen its connections with the Canary Islands’ innovation ecosystem.
Held at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, the event brought together startups, investors, institutions and key players from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing a platform to exchange experiences, build connections and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
In this context, the EIT Community Hub Spain took part in a dedicated session presenting the opportunities offered by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) through its different Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).
Laura Ovies, EIT Community Officer in Spain, provided an overview of the EIT Community and its main support programmes for startups, businesses and innovative organisations, including funding, acceleration, training, collaboration and internationalisation opportunities.
The session also featured André Vieira da Fonseca from EIT InnoEnergy and Ángeles Barrios from EIT Health, who presented opportunities offered by their respective communities in the fields of sustainable energy and healthcare.
Strengthening connections with the Canary Islands’ innovation ecosystem
Participation in Canarias Destino Startup forms part of the EIT Community Hub Spain’s ongoing efforts to bring European innovation opportunities closer to stakeholders across Spain, with particular attention to the European Union’s outermost regions.
Throughout the event, meetings were held with innovative companies, institutional representatives and entrepreneurship support organisations to identify potential synergies and facilitate access to the EIT Community’s European programmes and networks.
This participation contributes to further strengthening ties between the Canary Islands’ innovation ecosystem and the EIT’s European innovation network, fostering new opportunities for collaboration and growth for local businesses and organisations.
