The Canary Islands, an Atlantic archipelago off northwest Africa, have long been defined by tourism rather than technology.
In the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite market, the spotlight has largely been on major operators such as SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper. In early 2026, UK-based space technology firm Open Cosmos began drawing industry attention following an intense spectrum licensing battle.
Amazon's move to acquire satellite communications operator Globalstar for approximately US$11.57 billion is widely seen as a step toward deeper consolidation in the satellite industry, while signaling a broader structural shift—from traditional broadband services toward direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity.
Amid surging demand from low-Earth orbit satellites, aerospace, and defense, Parpro Corporation expects a sharp acceleration in core business growth in 2026, supported by a maturing North American manufacturing footprint. The company forecasts that full-year profits could rise from prior years, with gross margins holding near 20%.
Taiwan is pushing deeper into the global space supply chain, as a government-backed effort to develop advanced satellite payloads yields another milestone: the commercialization of an in-orbit computing module designed for real-time data processing.
The 2026 International Symposium on VLSI Technology, Systems and Applications (VLSI TSA) kicked off on April 14, gathering over 800 semiconductor professionals worldwide. The conference focused on next-generation core areas including GenAI inference acceleration, wafer-level computing, and terahertz wireless communication, while also delving into quantum computer system architectures and extending the reach of semiconductors to AI-driven cardiac analysis and other smart healthcare applications.
Google is in talks with the US Department of Defense that would allow the Pentagon to use the company's Gemini AI models for classified purposes, according to The Information. If the deal comes to fruition, it could represent a deepening of ties between Google and the Pentagon, which is seeking AI partners after its falling out with Anthropic in recent months.
Openchip's growth and product roadmap could reshape AI computing supply chains and deployment costs globally, offering lower-power alternatives and CPU-independent modules that could ease constraints for data centers, research institutions, and defense contractors. The developments signal potential new suppliers for countries pursuing sovereign AI capabilities.
Taiwanese drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger Group is developing a domestic version of the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, modeled on systems deployed by the US in recent conflicts, as it seeks to build a cost advantage through manufacturing scale.
The Chinese government has introduced sweeping regulations that authorize investigations and penalties against foreign companies that decouple from China's supply chain. The new rules arrive as global supply chains face mounting geopolitical pressure and China's export surplus continues to grow.
Middle Eastern Gulf states are seeking alternative air defense systems as delays in US weapons deliveries and rising regional tensions strain existing stockpiles, according to The Wall Street Journal. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expanding procurement beyond traditional US suppliers, turning to South Korea, Ukraine, and the UK to secure faster access to missile defense capabilities.
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