The Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC), a public company attached to the Ministry of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, led by Migdalia Machín, carried out a strategic mission in Canada from May 18 to 22, with the aim of identifying contacts, opening avenues for collaboration, and advancing in possible agreements with companies, business support entities, universities, R&D centers, and technological agents.
The work agenda was mainly developed in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, with activities in Edmonton and Vancouver, and allowed for the presentation of the ITC's capabilities as a public R&D&i center, as well as its role as a local agent in the Canary Islands for European networks focused on business internationalization, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The ITC delegation sent to Canada, formed by Alma Cruz, Lucía Dobarro, and Clarissa Pierobon, from the Innovation department, held meetings with representatives of the Canadian business and technological ecosystem to build bridges between both territories, both for the benefit of companies and entrepreneurs supported by the ITC and through future direct collaborations with research entities, universities, and innovation agents with common interests.
This mission was mainly framed within two European networks: the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE), in which the ITC plays an active role from the Canary Islands.
Regarding the first, the Institute is part of it as a local node in the Canary Islands along with PROEXCA, the Chambers of Commerce of Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote and La Graciosa, under the coordination of the Directorate General for Economic Promotion and Diversification of the Government of the Canary Islands. This network is a strategic tool to support companies in their internationalization processes, search for partners, access new markets, and participate in innovation projects.
The second, Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE), is a European mobility program for entrepreneurship in which the ITC coordinates the Beyond EYE consortium, aimed at expanding learning and business cooperation opportunities beyond the European space, connecting new entrepreneurs with experienced businessmen in third countries.
Work sessions in Alberta and British Columbia
During the agenda in Canada, the ITC has had the collaboration of two Canadian members of the Enterprise Europe Network, the European-Canadian Centre for Innovation and Research (ECCIR), a non-profit entity specialized in promoting international cooperation in innovation and research between Europe and Canada, and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada (EUCCAN), which have facilitated direct contact with companies, organizations, and agents of the Canadian ecosystem.
Thus, two working sessions were held, the first on May 19 in Edmonton, in the province of Alberta, and the second on May 21 in Vancouver, in the province of British Columbia. In both meetings, aimed at local companies and business support agents, ECCIR's services to facilitate connections with European partners were presented, as well as the R&D&I activity of the ITC. Common sectors of activity were shared, such as energy and water sustainability, applied innovation and solutions adapted to the agri-food sector, and the internationalization of innovative entrepreneurship.
The ITC delegation also presented the strategic value of the Enterprise Europe Network as a business support network to facilitate internationalization processes, search for technological and commercial partners, knowledge transfer, and access to collaboration opportunities within and outside Europe.
In this context, the mission has made it possible to strengthen the connection with the EEN Canada nodes, especially with ECCIR and EUCCAN. These meetings have served to share lines of work, identify Canadian companies interested in collaborating with European entities, analyze opportunities with technology-based companies, and explore possible consortia or joint projects in European calls, especially within the framework of Horizon Europe, where Canada can participate as an eligible partner in certain calls.
An Erasmus for entrepreneurs from the Canary Islands in Canada
In parallel, this mission has allowed the ITC to promote the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program among local entrepreneurs in Canada, with the aim of expanding the network of host companies willing to receive new entrepreneurs from the Canary Islands, Spain, or other European countries.
Through stays of one to three months, the initiative allows managers of start-up companies to acquire entrepreneurial knowledge, skills, and competencies outside of Europe, which will serve as a basis for the success of their future businesses.
ECCIR's involvement has been key to identifying potential host entrepreneurs interested in participating in this exchange program, funded by the European Commission, which allows for a collaboration of mutual learning between entrepreneurs starting their activity and experienced entrepreneurs in business management.
Among the sectors of greatest interest identified during the mission are companies linked to the audiovisual field, renewable energies, fashion, ICT or artificial intelligence, as well as initiatives in the agri-food and tourism sectors, areas where opportunities for business cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the development of new market solutions may arise.
In addition to the conferences held in Edmonton and Vancouver, the agenda included bilateral meetings with entities such as VanLonChan, EUCCAN, and Simon Fraser University, which have allowed the ITC to reinforce its role as a gateway for Canadian institutions and companies interested in connecting with Europe through networks such as EEN, whether to establish commercial agreements, identify strategic partners, or access specialized technological capabilities. At the same time, these contacts open up new possibilities for the ITC itself to explore alliances with universities, research centers, and technological agents in Canada in areas where the Institute has a distinguished track record.
With this mission, the ITC advances its objective of expanding the international reach of the European instruments it manages from the Canary Islands and generating new opportunities for the Archipelago's business and entrepreneurial fabric. The connection with Canada allows for the opening of a space for collaboration with a dynamic ecosystem in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, while reinforcing the role of the Canary Islands as a platform for cooperation between Europe and other strategic territories, leveraging the Institute's experience in international networks, technological transfer, and support for companies in processes of growth, internationalization, and partner search.
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