Empowering Earth Observation from the Canary Islands with ALISIO-1

s the Canary Islands Aerospace Strategy is presented this week, Open Cosmos is proud to highlight a meaningful step forward in our collaboration with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), a partnership that reflects the strength and potential of public-private cooperation in advancing space capabilities across the region.

At the heart of this collaboration is IAC’s ALISIO-1,  which will soon be made available through our platform, alongside the growing suite of Earth observation assets within Open Cosmos’ data offering. This initiative is designed to empower the productivity of the satellite and maximise its impact by supporting solution development by research and scientific institutions, particularly those working across the Canary Islands and Spain more broadly.

One of the most promising aspects of ALISIO-1 is its Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR), which opens the door to a wide range of advanced Earth observation applications, from detection of oil spills and artificial objects in the sea to Hot spot detection and wildfire monitoring. By enabling easy access to this data, we aim to support researchers, innovators, and policymakers in developing tools that address local and global challenges.

This partnership is a strong example of how public and private entities can collaborate to unlock new capabilities. IAC brings world-renowned scientific and technical expertise, while Open Cosmos contributes an agile, scalable space infrastructure, including end-to-end satellite mission development, data access and processing tools, and integration within a global Earth observation network through the OpenConstellation initiative. Thanks to this integration, the IAC’s satellite will be available alongside other assets within our broader infrastructure.

This effort demonstrates the potential of the aerospace sector in Tenerife. By showcasing regional capabilities and supporting applied innovation, it strengthens the Canary Islands’ position as a growing hub for space activity and technological development.

With continued collaboration and refinement, it will be possible to develop high-impact Earth observation solutions that contribute to scientific advancement, economic opportunity, and sustainable development.