More than 600 companies to participate in Transfiere, celebrating its 15th anniversary positioned as a leading global event for the R&D&I ecosystem

Málaga, 19 February 2026 – More than 600 entities, companies and public administrations from the national and international R&D&I ecosystem will participate in Transfiere, the European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation, which this year celebrates its 15th anniversary positioned as a strategic global meeting point for knowledge transfer, public-private collaboration and the generation of scientific and technological development opportunities.

Details of this edition, which will take place from 24 to 26 February at the Málaga Trade Fair and Congress Center (FYCMA), under the Málaga City Council, were presented today to the media and the national innovation ecosystem at an event held at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid. Speakers included the mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre; the director general for Planning, Coordination and Knowledge Transfer at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Elisa Rivera; the secretary general for Research and Innovation at the Regional Ministry of University, Research and Innovation of the Government of Andalusia, Antonio Posadas; and the director general of FYCMA, Nacho Román.

This edition, particularly symbolic as it marks 15 years of Transfiere, will signal the beginning of a new era for the forum which, throughout its trajectory, has consolidated an integrative model encompassing academia, business, public administration and civil society, and now incorporates the natural environment as a pillar of sustainability and a driver of innovation. To this end, it will feature the participation and presence of companies ranging from SMEs to large corporations and startups; the research community, including academic professionals, universities, research and technology centers, as well as science parks. Intermediary innovation bodies, hubs, clusters and actors from the investment sector will also be represented, alongside public administrations, senior institutional representatives, public policy makers, international delegations, and European cooperation networks and projects. Another key strength is the strong national territorial involvement, with representation from a dozen autonomous communities and cities.

As for the programme, it will include more than 300 experts and over one hundred thematic panels addressing the main challenges and most urgent needs of the innovation ecosystem. The academic sphere will also be represented by around fifty national and international universities.

The agenda will be structured, on the one hand, around the structural pillars of the innovation ecosystem, such as R&D&I funding and investment, Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI), entrepreneurship and talent, as well as knowledge transfer between universities and companies. On the other hand, it will explore areas of sustained strategic interest such as health and biomedical innovation, sustainability and energy autonomy, intellectual property, and territorial innovation strategies. Emerging areas shaping today’s technological agenda will also be addressed, including advanced materials, dual-use technologies, quantum computing, and security and defense.

All of this will take place across Transfiere’s five specialized spaces, where synergies, partnerships and business opportunities will be generated, reinforcing its role as a comprehensive meeting platform for the entire innovation ecosystem: the Ágora, focused on business, funding and innovation; the Science Room, dedicated to scientific research and knowledge transfer; the Innovation Room, oriented towards policies, strategies and instruments that drive large-scale innovation; the Research Center, where success stories and prototypes are showcased in strategic areas such as GreenTech, Smart Health, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Disruptive Technologies, Smart Tourism & Culture, Smart Learning and security; and Andalucía Knowledge, which facilitates knowledge transfer and collaboration with stakeholders of the Andalusian Knowledge System and companies. In addition, a large exhibition area will offer technology demonstrations, prototypes and direct connections between R&D&I supply and demand.

Guest Country and university

Transfiere’s global dimension will be reinforced by the participation of the Republic of Korea as guest country — a role it previously held in 2016 — and Hanbat National University (HBNU), which will attend as guest university.

The country has developed a highly advanced scientific, technological and innovation ecosystem based on strong public-private collaboration, leading research institutions and a dynamic industrial and startup environment. At Transfiere 2026, it will present an overview of its national innovation ecosystem, highlighting research excellence, university-industry cooperation and the role of regional innovation centers that connect government-funded research institutes, leading universities and innovative companies and startups, while fostering dialogue and collaboration between Europe and Asia.

Regarding the guest university, HBNU, founded in 1927, is a prestigious public university in South Korea recognized for its excellence in engineering and industry-academia cooperation. Located in the heart of Daejeon — Korea’s “Silicon Valley” — HBNU acts as a vital bridge between cutting-edge research and global industrial commercialization.

The university maintains a network of more than 2,800 partner companies and offers a sophisticated technology transfer system that ensures academic intellectual property (IP) is successfully integrated into global industrial value chains. In terms of entrepreneurship support, the institution promotes a high-tech startup network, and more than 10% of its faculty members have founded their own technology companies, translating academic expertise into tangible business impact.

As an international guest university at Transfiere 2026, HBNU presents a new paradigm of “K-Industry-Academia Synergy,” demonstrating how academic innovation can drive shared success beyond international borders. It will also provide a verified channel for international companies to access the Asian country’s most innovative R&D assets.

Moreover, Korea’s participation in Transfiere will coincide with the III GINI Global Innopolis Forum, where companies, universities and R&D centers will share experiences and global collaboration opportunities, strengthening international ties and promoting knowledge transfer among different innovation ecosystems. It is worth recalling that the Global Innopolis Network Initiative (GINI), an international network bringing together leading R&D&I cities — Daejeon (Republic of Korea), Dortmund (Germany), Quebec (Canada), and Montgomery County and Seattle (United States) — in which Málaga has participated since its foundation in 2023, chose the Andalusian capital as host of its third edition after the forum debuted in the metropolitan city of Daejeon.

Korea’s presence at Transfiere will be joined by delegations and registered participants from more than twenty countries, including Germany, Belgium, Canada, China, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Kenya, Morocco, Moldova, the Netherlands and Portugal, reinforcing the forum’s international dimension.

Talent Promotion

In line with Transfiere’s commitment to fostering emerging talent and promoting high-impact innovative initiatives, the 2026 edition will once again recognize projects, startups and companies leading change within the R&D&I ecosystem. Through strategic programmes and awards, the forum aims to recognize and give visibility to those driving transformation at national and international levels.

Thus, the 6th Open Call for Deep Tech Startups, coordinated by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), will offer European deep tech startups the opportunity to increase their visibility among national and international investors specialized in the sector. The 11th “Transfiere” Journalism Award will recognize the work of the press in disseminating technological innovation developed in Spain and its international convergence, while the 3rd “Transfiere Tracciona” Innovative Company Award will honour companies that demonstrate commitment and strategic support to the forum on an annual basis.

Transfiere Tracciona

Within the framework of Transfiere 2026, Transfiere Tracciona strengthens its role as a strategic platform to showcase and enhance the leading role of companies in knowledge transfer and in building an innovation-based economy. The initiative positions the business sector — from large corporations in sectors such as telecommunications and energy to startups and emerging projects linked to technology consultancy and industrial and intellectual property — as a true driving force of the ecosystem, facilitating the identification of innovative projects, the creation of strategic alliances and the advancement of public-private collaboration. The sustained growth in business participation, together with the involvement of leading companies acting as anchor entities, consolidates Transfiere as a key environment for boosting competitiveness, internationalization and economic development — recognition that was reflected in the latest edition through the awarding of the “Transfiere Tracciona. Foro Transfiere” Innovative Company Award to Telefónica Empresas.

Transfiere is organized by the Málaga City Council; the Regional Ministry of University, Research and Innovation of the Government of Andalusia; and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. FYCMA assumes the executive management of the event. The Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands is Premium Partner. Golden Partners are the Global Innopolis Network Initiative (GINI) and the INNVIERTE programme. Silver Partners are Madrid Emprende of the Madrid City Council; the City Council of Salamanca and Salamanca Tech; the Community of Madrid and the madri+d Foundation for Knowledge; the Technological Corporation of Andalusia (CTA); the Provincial Council of Málaga; Málaga Municipal Water Company (EMASA); Limpieza de Málaga (Limasam); Mecides; Andalucía TRADE – Business Agency for Transformation and Economic Development of the Government of Andalusia; Telefónica; and the University of Málaga (UMA).

All information about the forum is available at  www.forotransfiere.com, and on its profiles: Facebook, X and Linkedin.