Technology & Innovation
Islands are often framed as constrained by distance and scale, yet they are also places where necessity drives invention, from off-grid energy to leapfrogged connectivity. This theme explores how digital tools, appropriate technology, and island-led innovation are reshaping what's possible for small island communities.
About this theme
Small size and geographic isolation have long been treated as constraints on island economies, but they are increasingly also a catalyst for innovation: islands adopt, adapt, and sometimes leapfrog technologies faster than larger, more path-dependent economies. Renewable microgrids, satellite and undersea connectivity, digital public services, and locally built tools designed for island-specific constraints all sit within this theme.
This track also asks harder questions about who benefits from that innovation: data sovereignty, the risks of technological dependency on external vendors, the digital divide between and within islands, and how island communities can shape technology transfer on their own terms rather than simply receiving it.
This theme was added for the 21st Islands of the World Conference following a well-received addition to the same effect at the 2026 ISISA conference in South Korea, recognising technology and innovation as a distinct and growing area of island studies scholarship.
Topics of interest
- →Renewable energy transitions and off-grid microgrids on islands
- →Undersea cables, satellite connectivity, and digital infrastructure
- →Digital public services and e-government on small islands
- →Data sovereignty, cybersecurity, and platform dependency
- →Appropriate technology and locally-built solutions to island-specific problems
- →AI, remote sensing, and data tools for climate and coastal monitoring
- →The digital divide within and between island territories
- →Technology transfer, capacity-building, and who controls the roadmap
- →Smart tourism and technology-enabled visitor management
- →Innovation ecosystems, start-ups, and entrepreneurship on small islands
- →Telemedicine and remote-care technology for dispersed populations
- →Comparative perspectives on island innovation across SIDS regions
Submission formats welcome
Papers, panels, practitioner and start-up case studies, and live demonstrations are all welcome. We especially encourage contributions from technologists, engineers, and practitioners working directly on island infrastructure and services.
