The business mission to Brussels, organized by the consortium Enterprise Europe Network Canarias (EEN Canarias), gathered companies and institutions from the Archipelago with European representatives to explore programs supporting innovation, internationalization, and business development. The initiative, held from October 20th to 22nd, aimed to facilitate the Canary business sector's access to EU resources.
This second edition included bilateral meetings (matchmaking) with over 60 participants and 31 international companies, scheduling a total of 104 meetings to foster new alliances and cooperation projects. Through the enabled platform, more than 78 opportunities related to products, services, and business collaboration were exchanged.
The program featured informational sessions with representatives from the European Commission, who presented instruments such as the European Competitiveness Fund and the Access2Markets platform. Sectoral meetings were also held with the Directorate-Generals for Environment and Agriculture, focusing on the 2028-2034 financial framework.
Special attention was given to funding opportunities for research and innovation, analyzing participation in the Horizon Europe program and cascade funding mechanisms for SMEs. The agenda concluded with a visit to the European Parliament to learn about EU support lines for businesses.
The mission, a follow-up to the 2025 edition, highlighted the growing interest of Canary Islands companies in the European innovation ecosystem, with a threefold increase in participation applications compared to the previous year.
Enterprise Europe Network Canarias, the regional node of the international network Enterprise Europe Network, comprises the Directorate General for Economic Promotion and Diversification of the Government of the Canary Islands, Proexca, the Canary Islands Technology Institute (ITC), and the Chambers of Commerce of Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote and La Graciosa, and Fuerteventura. Its role is to facilitate the growth, innovation, and internationalization of SMEs.
