Case Study / Blue Economy · Energy & Circularity
The Solutions Showcase Programme at GSIS 2026
From innovation to implementation in island contexts: connecting twenty implementation-ready solutions with the governments, investors and utilities delivering sustainability across island and coastal regions.
Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 · Gran Canaria
solutions selected across two thematic tracks
tracks: Blue Economy and Energy & Circularity
summit participants engaging directly with the solutions
One of the most practical components of the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 was the Solutions Showcase Programme, designed to connect implementation-ready solutions with the governments, investors, utilities and development organisations working across island regions.
The programme provided a platform for selected innovators to present solutions directly to decision-makers responsible for delivering sustainability projects in island and coastal territories. A total of 20 organisations were selected across two thematic tracks: Blue Economy and Energy & Circularity.
Participants underwent a structured preparation process prior to the event, including mentoring and pitch development support to strengthen their engagement with policy, finance and implementation audiences. Each presentation was followed by discussion with experts and stakeholders, creating opportunities to explore pilot projects, investment pathways and strategic partnerships.
Track 01
12 solutions
Blue Economy Solutions Showcase
Twelve organisations presented technologies and business models aimed at protecting marine ecosystems, strengthening ocean resilience and supporting sustainable economic development. Delivered in partnership with the MED-Hubs Initiative and its network of organisations, the session brought together island governments, investors, development institutions and technical experts to explore real-world deployment opportunities across coastal and island contexts.
CORAlliance
SwitzerlandA scalable coral restoration model building on over a decade of work through Coralive across 14 countries, using live coral tissue deployment and autonomous underwater drones to support ecosystem recovery at larger scales.
Ocean Oasis
Norway / Canary IslandsOffshore desalination technology powered by wave energy, addressing freshwater security and renewable energy generation simultaneously.
Vessel X
MaltaAutonomous marine technology for environmental monitoring, marine litter collection and coastal operations.
Bout
FinlandA digital marketplace platform for maritime transport and water mobility services, improving connectivity and operational efficiency within coastal and island transport systems.
Green Independence
ItalyIntegrated solutions combining renewable energy production and water purification, addressing infrastructure challenges common across island regions.
Helen of the Sea
Circular economy approaches for marine tourism operators, reducing environmental impacts while supporting sustainable tourism development.
SOS Carbon
Dominican RepublicMethods for transforming sargassum and marine biomass into value-added products, converting a growing environmental challenge into economic opportunity.
Recycllux
An end-to-end digital platform using Earth Observation, AI and blockchain traceability to detect marine plastic hotspots and coordinate low-carbon cleanup interventions. The asset-light model enables targeted operations within a 50 km radius using existing local fleets, reducing operational emissions by up to 46 times while creating local green-blue jobs.
Floating Power Plant
DenmarkA floating wind platform with integrated hydrogen-based long-duration energy storage, designed to deliver green energy on demand to remote islands and weak-grid coastal communities. Currently at TRL6, it is being developed into the world's first integrated floating wind and hydrogen demonstrator at real scale at PLOCAN's offshore test site in Gran Canaria.
ATAREC
WAVE BEAT, a patented wave energy solution that retrofits existing coastal infrastructure exposed to breaking waves, turning it into a green energy generator. Suited to ports, desalination facilities and island deployments, it delivers energy three times more stable than solar, with one WB750 unit equivalent in output to 15,000 m² of solar panels.
DuWo
ItalyA smart, reusable box system designed to eliminate single-use polystyrene from the fisheries supply chain, across both fishing and aquaculture. Each box carries an integrated RFID microchip enabling full traceability and end-of-life material recovery, and the system is recognised as a best practice under the EU Mission Charter.
Hippotainer
Modular, container-based indoor farming for island and climate-challenged regions, delivering the full value chain from design and deployment through daily operations to post-harvest processing for reliable year-round local food production.
Solutions Showcase · Gran Canaria
Twenty selected innovators, presenting directly to the people who deploy on islands.
Each presentation was followed by discussion with experts and stakeholders, opening pathways to pilot projects, investment and strategic partnerships across island regions.
Track 02
8 solutions
Energy & Circularity Solutions Showcase
Eight organisations addressed some of the most persistent challenges facing islands: energy dependency, waste management, resource efficiency and climate resilience. The session engaged utilities, government representatives, investors and development agencies seeking scalable approaches for sustainable infrastructure.
Charged Islands
NetherlandsIts Baseload Renewable Energy System (BRES) model helps islands achieve energy independence through integrated renewables, reducing electricity costs and eliminating exposure to fuel price volatility.
Energy Pool
FranceAdvanced energy management and microgrid solutions that support utilities in integrating renewable energy while maintaining grid stability, drawing on island and weak-grid experience worldwide.
Fibras Naturales Canarias
SpainA spin-off from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, transforming agricultural waste from banana cultivation into fibres, pulp and bio-based materials for industries from construction to aquaculture.
Biogás Canarias
SpainDecentralised micro-biogas systems designed for island environments, converting organic waste into renewable energy while reducing waste streams and strengthening local energy autonomy.
RePlastic Recycle
United StatesModular, AI-enabled recycling and manufacturing infrastructure for remote and island communities, providing local solutions for plastic waste management and circular resource use.
ATH Bioenergy
SpainAn integrated biogas and biomethane upgrading model for island and remote territories, converting agricultural residues, food waste and industrial by-products into high-purity biomethane for transport, industry and hospitality, paired with environmental certificates that support ESG-driven decarbonisation.
Exowave
ScandinaviaPatented wave energy technology that converts ocean motion into zero-emission electricity and freshwater, with low visual impact and no noise pollution, designed for coastlines where wave resources are abundant but largely untapped.
Solid Energy
DenmarkLarge-scale, high-temperature industrial heat pumps reaching flow temperatures up to 165°C, using wind and solar electricity to replace gas and oil in island communities. Modular units from 250kW to 10MW and above use only natural hydrocarbon refrigerants, drawing on ten years of proven performance in district heating.
From Showcase to Recognition
Across both tracks, innovators, organisers and island stakeholders came together on stage, celebrating the cohort and the partnerships set in motion during the programme.
Why It Matters
The Solutions Showcase reinforced one of GSIS's core objectives: moving beyond dialogue and accelerating practical action across island territories. Island economies depend heavily on healthy marine ecosystems and secure, affordable energy. Many islands continue to face high energy costs, dependence on imported fuels and limited waste management capacity.
The solutions presented across both tracks demonstrated that energy transition, circular economy objectives and marine ecosystem protection are increasingly interconnected, especially in island contexts where resources, land and infrastructure are constrained. By connecting innovators directly with island stakeholders, the showcase created pathways for future collaboration and deployment across multiple regions.
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