The company Barefoot Canarias, based in La Palma, has transformed the experience of the Tajogaite eruption into an innovation opportunity for creating minimalist footwear. The company has been identified as a success case by the CIDE Network, an initiative of the Canary Islands' Ministry of Universities, Science, Innovation, and Culture, promoted through the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation, and Information Society (ACIISI), and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER Canarias 2021-2027).
Under its own brand VOLKAN, Barefoot Canarias combines design, biomechanics, material innovation, and a strong connection to the territory to develop a unique product with ambitions for growth beyond the islands.
The specialized advice from the CIDE Network has been crucial in the company's innovation process. According to its promoters, Javier Salinero and Enrique Viña, this support has guided them through the necessary steps for project development and access to internationalization programs such as Canarias Aporta and Canarias Expande, as well as business training and support lines for incorporating innovative staff (Diginnova) and for company growth.
The CIDE Network offers free advice to companies and entrepreneurs to foster innovation, facilitate access to funding, support services, and cooperation opportunities.
Barefoot Canarias is currently working on expanding VOLKAN outside the Canary Islands. Upcoming objectives include developing a website and a logistics center in mainland Spain to serve the European market, as well as analyzing internationalization opportunities towards Latin America, the United States, and the Persian Gulf countries.
The company's founders emphasize the importance for companies in smaller islands not to forgo innovation due to their insular location. They also highlight the need to protect proprietary developments and to have specialized support for accessing training, funding, and internationalization programs.
