The Portuguese Association of Science and Technology Parks (TECPARQUES) and the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE), of which the University of Valencia Science Park (PCUV) is a member, with the support of Startup Madeira as host, held on November 28 and 29 on the island of Madeira the XVI Iberian Meeting bringing together representatives of Spanish and Portuguese parks with the aim of analyzing and sharing experiences around the digital transformation and the role of science and technology parks in this process
The welcome was given by Carlos Soares Lopes, CEO of Startup Madeira; Hugo Coelho, president of TECPARQUES and Felipe Romera, president of APTE, who stressed that "with each Iberian Meeting the alliance between Spain and Portugal in terms of innovation through science and technology parks is strengthened, an alliance that in this meeting is reinforced with two new collaboration agreements to promote greater collaboration between our science and technology parks and their companies and R&D entities". Throughout the day, 24 speakers from both countries presented their analysis, reflections and contributions to the digital transformation process and its impact and implications in all areas of life.
Sonia Palomo, Deputy Director of Technology and International Relations at Malaga TechPark, intervened to present the work of the Ricardo Valle Institute of Innovation Foundation (Innova IRV), the first node of a national network of innovation poles, which aims to help the growth and consolidation of the industry generating digital technologies in our country.
Soledad Díaz, managing director of APTE, moderated a round table on digital transformation and change of habits, where the participants, Nuno Guarda (CISCO), Pedro Camacho (Nearsoft) and Carlos Romero (University of Malaga) explained how they have approached the process of digital transformation from their different entities and the main challenges and barriers they have had to face.
Manuel Pestano, technical director of the Science and Technology Park of Tenerife (PCTT), gave a presentation on digital transformation in Tenerife through the park in which he showed how innovation can be a driver of regional development. Likewise, José Olarreaga, CEO of the company Be-ambassador housed in the PCTT, participated in a pitch for startups to talk about their platform for managing employee branding and employee advocacy strategies.
"with each Iberian Meeting the alliance between Spain and Portugal in terms of innovation through science and technology parks is strengthened, an alliance that in this meeting is reinforced with two new collaboration agreements to promote greater collaboration between our science and technology parks and their companies and R&D entities," Felipe Romera, president of APTE
Digital transformation in the parks
The second round table on digital transformation in parks, innovation areas and incubators was attended by Carles Fillat, coordinator of the Business Campus at Fundación Tecnocampus Mataro Maresme and Juan Antonio Bertolín, general director of Espaitec, Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat Jaume I de Castelló, who shared valuable perspectives on how science and technology parks are driving business innovation through initiatives to approach digital technologies.
Finally, the pitches of José Luis Vega, head of Business Promotion at PCT Avilés "Isla de la Innovación", Ayose Kim, head of the Economic-Administrative and Contracting Area at PCT Fuerteventura; Idurre Albizu, head of Business Development and Communication at Garaia Technology Park, Javier Benito, general director of the Science Park of the University of Salamanca and Alejandro García, head of projects at the Science and Technology Park of Extremadura (FUNDECYT- PCTEX), presented the various projects and initiatives being developed by Spanish parks to contribute to the digital transformation of their ecosystems.
This meeting was not only an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences, but also a forum to strengthen ties and explore new collaborations between the Spanish and Portuguese science and technology parks and therefore, during the meeting two new collaboration protocols were signed: Move On to promote the softlanding of companies from both countries in the Spanish and Portuguese parks and Smile (Sharing, Meeting, Interactive Learning Experience) to strengthen synergies and collaborations between the managing entities of the Spanish and Portuguese parks.
The next meeting will take place in Spain, specifically in Avilés, on July 3 and 4, 2024 and will be organized by the Science and Technology Park of Avilés "Isla de la Innovación".
About Iberian meetings
Since 2002, APTE and TECPARQUES have been working to promote collaboration between Spanish and Portuguese parks in an attempt to strengthen cooperation in innovation between companies and R&D entities located in the parks of both associations.To this end, for the last 21 years the "Iberian Meetings" have served to analyze these innovation systems and the possibilities of cooperation that they offer, as well as the possibility of this increasingly cohesive Iberian alliance assuming a greater role in European innovation policies.