Garching, February 4th, 2026 – From 24 to 28 February, 2026 ITQ GmbH, together with the Spanish Dr. Stetter ITQ S.L.U., 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.
The fields of activity range from waste identification and collection using mobile robots, sorting and automation of recycling processes, through to the production of new packaging and components. Cutting-edge technologies from Robotics, Smart Automation and Artificial Intelligence will be used, provided and supported by participating sponsors.
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.
“The new museum location creates a very special atmosphere: historic technology that tells a story, and innovative people shaping the future. This environment highlights how important it is to make technology tangible and to connect generations,”
says Dr. Rainer Stetter, Managing Director of ITQ GmbH.
Why Gran Canaria?
With its diverse climate zones, Gran Canaria offers ideal conditions for a sustainable and self-sufficient energy supply based on renewable sources. Through its SMART & GREEN projects on the island, ITQ GmbH aims to drive digital transformation and promote international networking. This represents a crucial step in addressing the global shortage of skilled professionals.
More Information:
ITQ GmbH
Dr. Stetter ITQ S.L.U
SMART GREEN ISLAND MAKEATHON
Gerda Stetter Foundation – Technik macht Spass!
Founded in 1998, ITQ GmbH is an independent engineering and consulting company with a focus on automation, mechanical and plant engineering. The experienced team of experts specializes in interdisciplinary problem solving related to software and systems engineering. Its core competencies include software engineering (analysis, design, implementation, testing) and process improvement as well as project and crisis management as well as consulting and coaching.
A special concern of ITQ is both requirements-oriented and forward-looking training as well as continuing education concepts, which have already started with the younger generations. Therefore, the company promotes young academics in practical study projects as well as technical workshops for children, pupils, and students through their Gerda Stetter Foundation – Technik macht Spass!
ITQ GmbH
Parkring 4
85748 Garching bei München
Telefon: +49 (89) 321981-70
Telefax: +49 (89) 321981-89
http://www.itq.de
Telefon: +49 (89) 321981-74
E-Mail: schiller@itq.de
