From 20-23 April 2026, ALDA took part in the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 in Gran Canaria, Spain, as part of the MED-Hubs consortium, joining a truly global community working towards more sustainable and resilient island and coastal territories.
This year’s Summit gathered participants from 67 countries and territories, making it one of the most geographically and professionally diverse editions to date. Across three days, 110 speakers, including government representatives, private sector leaders, researchers, and civil society organisations, contributed to discussions and exchanges shaping the future of island sustainability. The event confirmed the growing importance of international collaboration and the strength of a network bringing together actors committed to turning ideas into action.
For ALDA, participating in such a global setting represented an important opportunity to connect with stakeholders, policymakers, innovators, and development actors from around the world.
Our participation was mainly linked to the MED-Hubs project and its mission of promoting innovation in the blue economy. Throughout the Summit, ALDA and the consortium maintained a shared presence through the MED-Hubs networking stand, creating space to promote the project, exchange ideas, and build new connections.
One of the key highlights was the Global Blue-Tech Innovation Showcase organised by MALTAccelerate and delivered in partnership with the MED-Hubs Initiative and its network of organisations. The session featured startups presenting innovative solutions addressing challenges and opportunities across marine and coastal ecosystems to an audience of policymakers, investors, and development partners.
A particularly important contribution from MED-Hubs and the consortium was the support provided to the selected startups participating in the showcase, with MALTAccelerate playing a driving role both as a MED-Hubs partner and as a co-sponsor of GSIS 2026. Through this joint effort, ALDA contributed to creating visibility and opportunities for innovators to pitch their ideas, connect with key stakeholders, and engage with an international ecosystem focused on sustainability and blue innovation.
Beyond the showcase itself, the Summit offered several discussions that were particularly relevant to ALDA’s work and mission. Among them, Blue Governance for a Changing Ocean explored themes such as marine spatial planning, fisheries transitions, sustainable aquaculture, maritime innovation, and governance approaches for resilient ocean economies.
Another particularly valuable discussion was Island Governance for 2030: Policy, Collaboration & EU Alignment, which addressed governance challenges, EU frameworks, and opportunities for stronger collaboration across territories.
These conversations strongly resonated with ALDA’s work on local governance, participatory approaches, citizen engagement, and sustainable territorial development. They also reinforced the importance of creating stronger links between policy, innovation, and community-led solutions.
Participating in GSIS 2026 was a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships, exchange ideas, and position ALDA and MED-Hubs within an increasingly global conversation on sustainability and innovation. We look forward to building on the connections created during the Summit and continuing to support initiatives that bridge local action and international collaboration.