From 24 to 28 February, 2026 Dr. Stetter ITQ S.L.U., together with the German ITQ GmbH, will host the SMART GREEN ISLAND INNOVATION FESTIVAL on Gran Canaria. The event will take place at the Elder Museum of Science and Technology (Museo Elder) in Las Palmas, located in the heart of the island’s capital. Around 750 participants in total will come together to explore future technologies, sustainability, science and education.
The museum provides a shared setting for three closely interlinked innovation formats: the SMART GREEN ISLAND MAKEATHON, hands-on technology workshops for local school pupils, and the international scientific conference EUROCAST. As a venue, the museum symbolizes the connection between technological heritage and the modern world of innovation, creating an inspiring environment for exchange and collaboration.
At the heart of the SMART GREEN ISLAND MAKEATHON 2026 is the guiding theme “CirQmind – Circular Economy through Circular Society.” Around 200 young talents from 25 countries and more than 30 universities, together with 100 representatives from institutions and companies, will work in interdisciplinary teams on practical technology challenges covering the entire value chain of the Circular Economy.
In this way, the MAKEATHON combines hands-on technology development with direct exchange between students, companies and institutions, while also serving as a recruitment and talent-development platform for technical professionals.
The implementation of the SMART GREEN ISLAND MAKEATHON is made possible through the financial, conceptual and material support of 23 national and international sponsors.
Special thanks go to the following sponsors:
Platinum-Sponsor: MVTec.
Gold-Sponsors are Government of the Canary Islands Gobierno de Canarias, Government of Gran Canaria Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Fundación Sergio Alonso, Museo Elder, Beckhoff, MEILLER-Kipper, Lorenz.
Silver-Sponsors are: igus, MathWorks, IES El Rincón, Algorithmics, Protect the Planet – Dorothea Sick-Thies, Quanderland.
Additional long-standing supporters of the MAKEATHON and Silver Sponsors include the Karl-Peter-Obermaier School Passau and the Wilhelmshaven Vocational Schools, whose highly motivated pupils support the design and supervision of the makerspaces, as well as the organization of the event and catering.
To spark enthusiasm for technology at an early age, the MAKEATHON also offers an extensive program for children and young people from the Canary Islands. 300 pupils will have the opportunity during the week to expand their knowledge by taking part in eight different Technology Workshops free of charge. The workshops are delivered by German universities, the Gerda Stetter Stiftung „Technik macht Spass!“ together with the EU-funded research project „EduDemoS“, and the Canary-based Fundación Sergio Alonso. The focus is on Robotics, Programming and Electronics, with a strong emphasis on Sustainability.
Running concurrently at the museum, EUROCAST will bring together around 150 participants from 20 universities. Scientists and experts from various disciplines will discuss current issues related to technology, research and innovation. The close physical proximity to the MAKEATHON allows insights into ongoing developments and actively promotes exchange between academia, the museum environment and modern science.