The Canarian research and experimentation platform for water technologies, DESAL+ Living Lab, has been distinguished by Water Europe with the ‘Water-Oriented Living Lab of the Year Award 2026’. This international recognition, presented in Dublin during the Water Innovation Europe 2026 conference, values the contribution of the Canarian R&D&I ecosystem to the development and application of innovative solutions for more efficient and sustainable water management.
The award, which acknowledges nearly ten years of collaborative research and technological experimentation supported by 24 pilot plants across 11 testing areas, was accepted by the Director General of Universities and Research of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jafeth Alonso, and by Baltasar Peñate, head of the Water department at the Canary Institute of Technology (ITC) and coordinator of DESAL+ Living Lab.
Baltasar Peñate highlighted that the award recognizes collective work in creating an environment that accelerates innovation in island and isolated territories, while the Minister of Universities, Science and Innovation, Migdalia Machín, stated it demonstrates the potential of applied research in the Canary Islands to provide solutions to global challenges.
DESAL+ Living Lab constitutes a Canarian ecosystem specialized in desalination and water technologies, connecting experimental infrastructures, scientific knowledge, and technological capabilities. Its activity is supported by 24 pilot desalination plants and involves entities such as the ITC, the ACIISI, the University of La Laguna (ULL), the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), the Gran Canaria Economic Promotion Society (SPEGC), and the Mancomunidad de Ayuntamientos del Norte de Gran Canaria.
The recognition coincides with the publication of Water4All's ‘Atlas of Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs) 2026’, which includes DESAL+ Living Lab among international platforms dedicated to innovation in the integrated water cycle. The Water-Smart Awards from Water Europe annually recognize initiatives that promote the intelligent and sustainable use of water resources.
The candidacy of DESAL+ Living Lab was developed within the framework of the IDIWATER project, co-financed by the Interreg MAC program. This European award solidifies the Canary Islands as an international benchmark in water innovation.
