Spanish science and technology parks driving the most disruptive technologies in DES2025
The Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE) has been present for the ninth consecutive year at the DES – Digital Enterprise Show 2025, held in Malaga.
In this edition, APTE was accompanied by a delegation of fifty representatives from companies and entities from its member parks, as well as from the Spanish Technology Platform for Disruptive Technologies (DISRUPTIVE).
The ninth edition of DES was marked by key topics such as artificial intelligence 2.0, collaboration between humans and AI, and quantum computing. APTE had a stand alongside the DISRUPTIVE Platform, which is administered by the association and funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the State Research Agency.
In line with its objective of promoting the Spanish innovation ecosystem, APTE organised a round table discussion focused on the role of science and technology parks as drivers of digital transformation, moderated by its managing director, Soledad Díaz.
The participants were: Pedro José Martínez Córdoba, Councillor for Economic Promotion and Trade at Salamanca City Council – Salamanca Tech; Marian Ibarrondo Unamunzaga, Head of Business Development at the Basque Technology Park; and Natalia Pérez, Director of Communication, Innovation and Institutional Relations at Málaga TechPark.
During the session, Natalia Pérez highlighted Málaga TechPark’s firm commitment to strategic areas such as microelectronics, emphasising the future establishment of the IMEC semiconductor centre in the park. This initiative will position Málaga and the technopolis as a key hub in the European chip industry.
For her part, Marian Ibarrondo highlighted the promotion of deeply disruptive technologies in the The Basque Country Technology Park ecosystem, such as quantum computing — promoting BasQ with the only IBM quantum computing centre in Europe located at the DIPC (Donostia Physics Centre) research centre —, artificial intelligence applied to the industrial environment and a firm commitment to cybersecurity. In addition, the work of the Ikerbasque initiative was highlighted as a benchmark in attracting top-level research talent on an international scale.
Pedro José Martínez Córdoba presented the work of Salamanca Tech in areas such as biotechnology, with innovative projects producing alternative protein for animal feed and advanced research into the cure for colon cancer. Its commitment to training talent is also reflected in educational initiatives such as technology camps for young people, aimed at reducing barriers to entry and encouraging technological vocations from an early age.
Likewise, the DISRUPTIVE platform organised a face-to-face B2B meeting that facilitated business meetings between entities from APTE member parks and platform participants. It also held a round table on key digital technologies to accelerate digital transformation, moderated by Elena García, APTE project and network coordinator, with the participation of: Carlos Battyán Soldano, CEO and director of Menntun; Facundo Castagna, head of the Xitaso office in Malaga; Raúl Orduna Urrutia, director of digital security at Vicomtech; and Jordi García Castillón, founder and CEO of CiberTECCH (eHealthAI Startup).
During this round table, issues related to the adoption of disruptive technologies such as AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing were discussed, as well as their ethical implications and social impact. The speakers reflected on which technologies are most transformative in their sectors, the main obstacles to their rapid adoption, the role of the public sector as a driver or hindrance, the growing importance of data as a strategic asset, and how to achieve ethical, secure and effective management.
In addition, the APTE agenda included a space dedicated to current opportunities in European projects, with a meeting led by Anto Recio, head of digital social innovation at the Extremadura Science and Technology Park. During the session, key strategies for accessing these projects and harnessing their potential were discussed.
APTE also took the opportunity to present the activities it carries out to promote collaboration, internationalisation and, ultimately, innovation among companies and R&D&I entities, both those within and outside Spanish science and technology parks.
