Yesterday, the Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) was the venue for the conclusion of the 13th edition of Santa Cruz Technology, which featured a week filled with tech-related activities including showcases of cutting-edge products like the Apple Vision Pro. The event wrapped up over the weekend with a mix of technology enthusiasts, gamers, Asian culture aficionados, and notably, Cosplay and K-Pop enthusiasts coming together under the umbrella of TecnoPlay, indulging in workshops, exhibits, and competitions that promote technology through culture and entertainment.
Santa Cruz’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome stating, “We transformed Tecnológica into almost a full week of activities, starting from Tuesday and ending on Sunday. We introduced two new elements, the hackathon and shifting the venue from La Recova Art Gallery to TEA, providing us with more space to continue expanding.” Bermúdez also conveyed his pride in “engaging an art and culture institution like TEA, enhancing the richness of our event.”
Carmen Pérez, the Development Society advisor, also lauded the event’s focus on technology’s importance and its application in businesses as a key factor in its success. She highlighted that “emphasizing more tech-centric content and delving into trending topics has been a successful strategy.”
The substantial turnout and participation witnessed throughout the weekend, particularly on Thursday, showcased the event’s warm reception by the public, as per initial survey reports gathered, remarked the advisor.
Attendees were treated to various dedicated spaces at TecnoPlay during the weekend. The gaming zone hosted competitions that demonstrated participants’ high level of skill. The outdoor stage dedicated to Asian culture featured activities like anime opening riddles, karaoke, otaku trivia, and a captivating cosplay catwalk.
As is customary, the K-Pop performances exceeded expectations yet again this year, drawing a large crowd around the main acts. The mayor took the opportunity to unveil the upcoming Young District spring programming, highlighting the significant role of this genre.
Discussions
Knowledge sharing extended to various areas, with dedicated talks on entrepreneurship and the role of women in the gaming industry. TecnoHack, a new addition, provided a platform for collaborative work on technological projects through team competitions.
TecnoPlay’s conclusion yesterday marked it as a source of inspiration, education, and joy.
The high turnout and joyful ambiance at the event underscored the growing interest in technology, gaming, and Asian culture, as commended by the City Council.
Tecnológica Santa Cruz – Grupo Canaauto is organised by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Development Society and sponsored by Promotur Turismo de Canarias (Government of the Canary Islands), funded by the Next Generation EU Funds. Grupo Canaauto lends its name to Tecnológica in 2024, with Gold category sponsorships from Worten, Mutua Tinerfeña, and Corte Inglés; Silver category from Hospiten and Última Informática; Bronze category from Fuente Alta, and a strategic alliance with the European University of the Canary Islands.
