For two days, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria became the epicenter of technological debate with the celebration of OktoberTech 2025, an event organized by the Canary Islands Technological Excellence Cluster (CET) and CONETIC, which brought together national and international experts on artificial intelligence (AI) and the data economy.
This meeting was supported by Proexca in its aim to promote strategic sectors, such as technology in this case, to encourage diversification and internationalization of the archipelago’s economy.
The first day concluded with a powerful idea: “The success of AI does not depend exclusively on technology, but on trust, governance, and overcoming cultural and organizational barriers,” as highlighted in the opening panel.
Data economy
On the second day, which focused on the data economy, Rut del Campo, Director General of Data at the Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), defined data as “the essential fuel for AI.” In her speech, she explained that the Spanish Data Strategy has mobilized more than €400 million in 300 projects, positioning Spain among the European leaders in data spaces. However, she warned that “only one in five organizations has its data ready for AI applications.”
In an interview moderated by Oswaldo Brito, president of the CET Cluster, experts Miguel García (SODETEC) and Jorge Núñez (ADQUIVER) agreed that “data is a monetizable asset,” but stressed that “trust is key to its exchange between the public and private sectors.” Both pointed to two major obstacles: the lack of defined roles in institutional data management and cultural resistance to transparency.
Governance and interoperability
The panel on interoperability and data governance focused on Gaia-X and its Trust Framework as a European standard for secure information sharing. Óscar Lázaro, director of Baidata, stated that “these spaces force companies to improve their data governance.”
For his part, Felipe Bravo, a researcher at the University of Chile, warned about “the control of unstructured data by a few companies,” while Manix Manglani, CEO of MNX Online, urged that “national projects contribute to new international standards.”
Talent and digital twins
The conference also addressed the role of talent and digital twins. Experts in the field of education agreed that “AI enhances human capabilities” and that “a transformation of training models is urgently needed.” Digital twins, already established as a strategic tool, are revolutionizing sectors such as energy and mobility.
Legal framework
In the legal sphere, the European AI Regulation (AI Act) was analyzed, which establishes strict requirements for high-risk systems. Lawyers present at the meeting agreed that this regulation “offers a competitive advantage to Europe by ensuring legal certainty and business confidence.”
Conclusion
OktoberTech 2025 closed its edition with a clear message: Spain’s technological autonomy and digital resilience depend on decisive investment in data infrastructure, overcoming internal resistance, and public-private collaboration based on trust.
About Canarias Excelencia Tecnológica (CET)
The Canarias Excelencia Tecnológica Cluster brings together more than 100 companies in the ICT sector in the archipelago. Its mission is to drive digital transformation, promote innovation, and position the Canary Islands as an international technology hub.
