Transfiere opens its 15th edition with a unified call to boost innovation as a driver of competitiveness and technological leadership

Málaga, 24 February 2026. – The mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre; the secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities, Juan Cruz Cigudosa; the regional minister for Economy, Finance, European Funds and Social Dialogue of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Carolina España; the rector of the University of Málaga, Teodomiro López; the ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Spain, Soosuk Lim; the president of the Transfiere Organising Committee, Felipe Romera; and the president of CRUE R&D&I, Julián Garde, took part today in the inauguration of the fifteenth edition of Transfiere, which will run until Thursday 26 February at FYCMA, the Trade Fair and Congress Center of Málaga, under Málaga City Council.

Transfiere 2026 has opened one of its most emblematic editions, marking its 15th anniversary. The forum will bring together the most innovative proposals in strategic areas with high scientific, technological and economic impact to address today’s key global challenges. Public administrations, companies, universities and research centres agreed on the need to reinforce cooperation in R&D&I and to move towards a solid collaborative model that consolidates innovation as a driver of competitiveness, transformation and technological leadership.

In connection with this fifteenth anniversary, the opening ceremony also included a commemorative speech by María Luisa Castaño, advisor, board member and scientific mentor, and a member of the founding team of Transfiere. In her address, she highlighted the value of the event as a platform for sharing projects, ideas and knowledge that foster the national R&D&I ecosystem and its convergence within the global market.

This first day featured prominent international participation, notably the Republic of Korea as guest country, which underlined Transfiere’s capacity to promote effective cooperation among research centres, companies, universities and the public sector, creating favourable environments for knowledge transfer and shared innovation.

Likewise, Hanbat National University (HBNU), located in the heart of Daejeon—considered Korea’s “Silicon Valley” and founded in 1927—took part as the invited academic institution in the Research Center space, contributing its experience as a benchmark in industry–academia collaboration. Through the keynote speech “Beyond Borders: Global Industry–Academia Collaboration for Shared Success,” the Director of the Office of International Affairs at HBNU, Min-Wook Oh, presented an advanced model integrating cutting-edge academic research with practical industrial applications.

III Global Innopolis Forum

Within this framework of international cooperation, the opening day also hosted the 3rd Global Innopolis Forum (GINI), a strategic dialogue platform in which Málaga shared the stage with leading innovative cities such as Daejeon (Republic of Korea), Dortmund (Germany), Montgomery and Seattle (United States), and Quebec (Canada).

The meeting analysed key global trends in advanced science and technology, while facilitating the exchange of experiences in public innovation policies and the development of knowledge-based urban ecosystems, further strengthening ties among participating territories.

The forum also reinforced Málaga’s positioning as a strategic innovation and knowledge transfer hub in southern Europe, consolidating its role as host city of a gathering that, following its first edition held in the Republic of Korea in 2023, continues to strengthen a global cooperation network among highly specialised R&D&I regions.

Strategic Content

As part of the first day’s programme, the Ágora space hosted sessions focused on business, funding and innovation, including an address by the Regional Managing Director of IMEC Spain, Karel Van Gils. A roundtable was also held on the main changes to the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework and their impact on European regions, with representatives from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Government of Castilla-La Mancha, the Basque Government, EURADA and Zabala Innovation.

Among the day’s strategic topics was innovation in dual-use technologies, highlighting business opportunities arising from collaboration with technology centres to develop solutions with both civil and defence applications, in a context marked by the strengthening of technological sovereignty. A debate was also held on the National Deep Tech Strategy, with participation from the State Research Agency (AEI), the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and the Government of Catalonia.

The Science Room opened with a presentation by the Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT) on technological sovereignty and energy sustainability. This was followed by a roundtable on Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI), featuring representatives from national, regional and local institutions. Speakers also included the Carlos III Health Institute, the Hydrogen Technology Observatory, the Cotec Foundation, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), and institutions linked to the PERTE for Advanced Health.

Meanwhile, the Innovation Room addressed public–private collaboration in science parks, with participation from Málaga Tech Park and its counterparts in Gijón and Tenerife, as well as Carlos III University of Madrid and FUNDECYT-PCTEX. Discussions also covered the challenges and opportunities of applied AI and the role of telecommunications companies, alongside sessions on new funding mechanisms for innovative projects and the role of the Spanish Space Agency in a changing geopolitical environment.

Finally, the Andalucía Knowledge area showcased various regional innovation and knowledge transfer initiatives, including experiences from Andalusian universities in green transition, energy and sustainability, as well as projects in agrotech and occupational risk prevention digitalisation. The programme also featured a presentation on the role of the European Office for Research Coordination in Andalusia (OECIA), a new vision for Andalusian entrepreneurship led by the Regional Ministry of University, Research and Innovation, the introduction of the new Board of Directors of the Smart City Cluster, and a workshop on Horizon Europe funding opportunities related to culture, innovation and competitiveness.

Minister Diana Morant to Speak on Wednesday

Looking ahead to Wednesday 25, Transfiere will continue its programme across the Ágora, Science Room, Innovation Room, Research Center and Andalucía Knowledge spaces, focusing on key challenges such as funding, strategic cooperation and emerging innovation areas.

Among the highlights will be the panel “Complementary Plan for Knowledge Transfer: Present and Future,” led by the minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant.

The day will also feature the VI Open Call for Deep Tech Startups, coordinated by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), offering national and international startups the opportunity to increase their visibility before investors and industry experts. Finalists include Altum Sequencing, Calpech, Deep Detection, Orbital Boost Aerospace and PhotoKrete.

Transfiere 2026

More than 600 entities, companies and public administrations are actively participating in this edition, along with delegations and attendees from over 20 countries, including Germany, Belgium, Canada, China, the Republic of Korea, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Kenya, Morocco, Moldova, the Netherlands and Portugal.

The programme features one hundred thematic panels with more than 300 speakers, while the academic sector is represented by around fifty national and international universities. A dozen autonomous communities and cities are also present at Transfiere 2026.

Transfiere Tracciona

Within the framework of the forum, Transfiere Tracciona reinforces its role as a strategic platform to highlight and strengthen the leading role of companies in knowledge transfer and in building an innovation-driven economy. The initiative positions the business sector—from large corporations in telecommunications and energy to startups and emerging projects linked to technology consultancy and industrial and intellectual property—as the 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 driving entities, consolidates Transfiere as a key environment for boosting competitiveness, internationalisation and economic development. This recognition is also reflected in the Innovative Company Award “Transfiere Tracciona. Transfiere Forum,” most recently awarded to Telefónica Empresas.

Transfiere is organised by Málaga City Council; the Regional Ministry of University, Research and Innovation of the Regional Government of Andalusia; and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. FYCMA is responsible for the event’s executive management. 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 include Madrid Emprende (Madrid City Council); Salamanca City Council and Salamanca Tech; the Community of Madrid and the madri+d Foundation; the Andalusian Technology Corporation (CTA); Málaga Provincial Council; EMASA; Limasam; Mecides; Andalucía TRADE; 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.