Tech Park Emerges as a European Benchmark

A unique EU infrastructure that has put the aerospace sector at the forefront in its first year of operation

The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, highlighted on Friday the significance of the fact that, in its inaugural year, Canarias Stratoport for HAPS & UAS, located in the Technological Park of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, has become a leader in the European unmanned‑aviation sector. He argued that the excellent results achieved in 2025 confirm the wisdom of the island council’s and the regional government’s investment in aerospace as a key pillar for diversifying the Canary economy and creating quality jobs.

Both Clavijo and the President of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Lola García, stressed that the selection of Stratoport by the most advanced international companies demonstrates how this infrastructure—unique in Spain and Europe—has positioned, in just one year, the island and the entire archipelago as a reference territory for unmanned aviation.

“In only a year we have turned the Canary Islands into a benchmark for the unmanned‑flight sector,” — Lola García.

First‑Year Milestones

• More than 1,000 flight hours logged by unmanned aircraft of all types and sizes.
• Ten leading aerospace and space companies are now operating from Stratoport and the multipurpose ISSEC centre under the ‘Canarias Geo Innovation 2030’ programme:
  • Telespazio Ibérica
  • Pegasus
  • Aerialworks
  • Skydweller
  • Atechsync
  • Mira Aeroespace
  • Aerolaser
  • Magline
  • TAO
  • Thales Alenia Space

The primary goal of these missions is to develop innovative solutions for emergencies, security and defence, dual‑use technologies, biodiversity, mobility, and other strategic areas.

Clavijo added that the projects aim to put the world’s most advanced technology “at the service of people.” Data gathered by the unmanned aircraft will be crucial for fighting wildfires, mitigating climate‑change impacts in natural areas, monitoring coastlines, preventing illegal fishing, and enhancing overall safety.

García noted that they have asked the President of the Canary Islands Government to visit the park personally, ensuring continued executive support that benefits Canary society at large and Fuerteventura in particular. She highlighted the job opportunities the aerospace sector offers to the island’s talented youth—over 1,300 people have already received training at ISSEC during its first year and a half of operation.

The statements were made during a visit to the projects of four international unmanned‑aircraft companies already operating at Stratoport and using the ISSEC centre to collect data. Accompanying them were Territorial Policy Councillor Manolo Miranda and Technological Park Director Eduardo Pereira, who toured the provisional hangars beside the runway.

Leading Companies

• Mira Aeroespace operates an 18‑metre‑wingspan unmanned platform. Last week it launched Spain’s first civil pseudo‑satellite—a aircraft equipped with electro‑optical and infrared cameras—targeting 1,000 flight hours in the coming months, gradually reaching higher altitudes up to the stratosphere. Flights are coordinated by Telespazio Ibérica and operated by the CATEC foundation.

• A‑TechSYN, a Turkish‑Irish firm, runs four 4‑metre UAS that fly almost daily for fire‑monitoring projects. The company plans to base its fleet permanently in Fuerteventura to support beach‑security, anti‑illegal‑fishing, and coastal‑control initiatives.

• Magline, based in Zaragoza, is conducting European and national projects involving UAS and new aerospace technologies. It has already begun flight tests with several 5‑metre unmanned aircraft focused on fire‑tracking.

• TAO, a German specialist in high‑altitude platform stations (HAPS) lighter than air, has chosen Canarias Stratoport to develop high‑altitude pseudo‑satellites for telecommunications and Earth observation. Its balloon‑type aircraft, linked to defence and fire‑monitoring projects, was assembled last week and is slated for its first flight soon.

After the tour, President Clavijo recalled his 2024 year‑end speech delivered from the Technological Park, where he described the facilities as an example of the Canary Islands’ “talented spirit that researches, innovates, and rises every day” to seize opportunities and provide solutions to the archipelago’s, the nation’s, and the planet’s biggest challenges.

“Today we have proven here that this vision of the Canary Islands is a reality,” — Fernando Clavijo.

He believes the aerospace industry’s momentum will increase further after its designation as a strategic sector in June 2024. This status was reinforced by the approval in May of the first Aerospace Strategy of the Canary Islands, a comprehensive plan to turn the archipelago into an international hub where Canarias Stratoport plays a pivotal role.

Unique Facilities

Canarias Stratoport for HAPS & UAS is a multipurpose infrastructure that enables the development, testing, and operation of:

• High‑Altitude Pseudo‑Satellites (HAPS) – long‑duration platforms that can fly at very high altitudes.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) – drones capable of extended flight times and high‑altitude missions.

The site is complemented by the ISSEC multipurpose building, also constructed by the Cabildo. ISSEC serves as a centre for the creation, development, validation, certification, and command‑and‑control of innovative solutions for security, emergencies, and biodiversity (forest fires, natural parks, marine pollution, public heritage, etc.) through Data Analytics derived from sensors on unmanned platforms. Its facilities include:

• Flight‑control rooms
• Simulators
• Training and instruction centre (Canarias Geo Training Center)
• Mission and data analysis labs
• Communications hub
• Idea lab (Canarias GeoLab)

These infrastructures, unique in Spain and Europe, are part of ‘Canarias Geo Innovation 2030’, a joint innovation programme of the Canary Islands Government and the Cabildo of Fuerteventura aimed at improving public services through Earth observation and communications. The projects are co‑financed by:

• The EU Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (Spain Puede) and Next Generation EU funds
• The FEDER 2021‑2027 programme via the Ministry of Science and Innovation
• The Canary Islands Government through the Territorial Policy and Universities departments
• The Cabildo of Fuerteventura via its Technological Park of Fuerteventura SA.