The Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa hosted the forum “Digitising Your SME to Lead Change” as part of the Acelera Pyme programme for the Digital Kit. The event focused on the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) within the local business landscape. Held at Marina Innova Hub, it attracted numerous SMEs and professionals from the island keen to discover how to strategically apply this technology to enhance their competitiveness, efficiency, and adaptability in an increasingly digital environment.

Inaugural Remarks

The forum commenced with an address from José Valle, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa. He emphasised the urgent need to support small and medium enterprises in their digitalisation process, particularly in a region like Lanzarote, where the business sector plays a vital role in social and economic development. Valle highlighted AI’s potential as a genuine driver of transformation and reiterated the Chamber’s steadfast commitment to innovation, knowledge, and business modernisation.

Expert Contributions

The forum featured two internationally renowned experts. Enrique Dans, a professor at IE Business School and a noted advocate for innovation and digital transformation, delivered a presentation on effectively integrating AI into SMEs’ daily operations. He explained that this technology should not be viewed as a passing trend, but rather as a strategic opportunity to redefine processes, enhance decision-making, and quickly adapt to changes in the business environment.

Meanwhile, Julián Isla, an engineer renowned for his work in applying AI within the healthcare sector, shared insights from his experience leading projects focused on developing technological solutions for health. During his talk, he provided a humanistic and ethical perspective on the use of these technologies, demonstrating how such principles can equally apply in the business context to foster more efficient, responsible, and people-oriented processes.

Exploring Digital Kit Opportunities

Throughout the day, the forum also discussed opportunities presented by the Digital Kit programme to encourage the incorporation of AI solutions in SMEs. The speakers highlighted how these initiatives facilitate the gradual adoption of innovative technologies tailored to the specific needs of each business. They shared practical insights on maximising the benefits of these tools, promoting a sustainable, scalable digitalisation that aligns with strategic business objectives.

Networking and Positive Feedback

The event included a networking session where attendees could exchange ideas, raise questions, and forge synergies with other professionals in the sector. Participants provided highly positive feedback on the event, praising the clarity of the content, the immediate applicability of the knowledge gained, and the high technical and human calibre of the speakers. The significant attendance underscored the growing interest within the local business community to explore and adopt emerging technologies that can strengthen their market positioning.

Commitment to Digitalisation

Through this initiative, the Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa reaffirms its commitment to the digitalisation and modernisation of island enterprises, bringing expert knowledge closer, fostering a culture of innovation, and facilitating access to resources that enable SMEs to successfully lead their technological transformation.

The Acelera Pyme offices for the Digital Kit, launched by Red.es, a public entity under the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Function, in collaboration with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, aim to promote the digital transformation of small and medium enterprises, micro-enterprises, and self-employed individuals. These actions are financed by the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan through the NextGenerationEU funds, as part of the Spain Digital 2026 agenda and the 2021-2025 SME Digitalisation Plan.