Transfiere 2026 expands its international dimension with the Republic of Korea as an example of innovative ecosystem and university–industry collaboration

Málaga, 25 February 2026. – Transfiere, the European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation, strengthened its role as a global hub for knowledge transfer and scientific cooperation on the second day of its fifteenth edition. A highlight was the participation of the Republic of Korea as guest country, showcasing its innovative ecosystem and university–industry collaboration model.

The Innovation Room hosted the presentation “From the Laboratory to the Global Market: Korea’s Innovation Engine”, in which Korea emphasized that innovation competitiveness relies on an interconnected ecosystem where research institutes, universities, industry, and regional hubs work collaboratively. The presence of the Republic of Korea also reinforced bilateral ties between Korea and the Spanish national innovation ecosystem in scientific and technological development, as well as the shared interest in promoting collaborative projects in strategic areas.

VI Open Call for Deep Tech Startups

On the second day of Transfiere 2026, key topics in the Ágora space included investment, public–private collaboration, technological sovereignty, and knowledge transfer. Among the most relevant sessions were debates on legal certainty and fiscal agility to foster innovation, led by FI Group, while Innvierte encouraged discussion on public–private collaboration and technological sovereignty through deep tech. The Canary Islands regional government coordinated a session on venture building, and R&D talent was addressed by the State Research Agency (AEI).

This space also hosted the panel “Complementary Plan for Knowledge Transfer: Present and Future”, with the participation of Elisa Rivera Mendoza, director general for Planning, Coordination and Knowledge Transfer at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; Augusto Cobos Pérez, director general of the Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León (ICECYL); Juan Luis García Martín, regional minister of University, Innovation and Digital Transformation of Navarra; María del Mar Paños de Arriba, director general of Industrial Promotion and Innovation of Aragón; Rosario Serrano Vargas, managing director of the Research and Innovation Agency of Castilla-La Mancha; and Fernando Mérida Martín, deputy Director General for Knowledge Transfer at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

Finally, the five finalists of the VI Open Call for Deep Tech Startups, coordinated by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), were presented. This initiative recognises and showcases the most disruptive innovative projects. Altum Sequencing, Calpech, Deep Detection, Orbital Boost Aerospace, and PhotoKrete will compete on the final day of Transfiere for the title of best emerging project, evaluated on market viability, scalability, and societal and environmental impact.

Science Room

The Science Room hosted a roundtable on dual-use technologies with civil and military applications, featuring speakers from CDTI, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, the Ministry of Defence, CSIC, the University of Málaga (UMA), and CIEMAT, among others. The Government of Navarra analysed advances in Synthetic Biology, while EJASO led a debate on public researchers’ participation in Knowledge-Based Companies (KBCs). Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) was another key topic, with discussion among national, regional, and local institutional representatives.

Innovation Room & Research Center

Panels in the Innovation Room covered consortium creation, security and defence funds, and regulatory sandboxes, alongside presentations of initiatives such as Spain’s DISRUPTIVE platform for disruptive technologies, promoted by the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE). The Research Center offered sessions on patents, industrial property, open science, and new “Elevator Pitch” presentations of cutting-edge prototypes in key areas such as Smart Health, AI, and Big Data.

Andalucía Knowledge

In the Andalucía Knowledge area, proposals in precision medicine within the Andalusian Public Health System (SSPA) were highlighted, with participation from the Regional University Hospital, Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga, and the Public Foundation Progreso y Salud. The sessions also showcased practical case studies and strategies for technology transfer, including spin-off development, the closure of the Thinkinazul Andalucía Complementary Plan, and the workshop “Advanced Prompting: Harnessing the Power of AI”.

Entrepreneurship and dissemination

Transfiere will close its fifteenth edition on Thursday 26 February, although the Ágora, Science Room, Innovation Room, Research Center, and Andalucía Knowledge will continue to explore, through expert panels, key topics in entrepreneurship, innovation communication and dissemination, AI, and quantum computing throughout the morning.

In the Ágora, panels will discuss Spain’s leading deep tech ecosystems, with speakers from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the European Investment Fund (EIF), the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, RCD, and Amadix. Another expert panel will explore sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems based on local strengths and resources. Discussions on the present and future of innovation communication will also take place, concluding with the award ceremonies for the VI Open Call for Deep Tech Startups, the III “Transfiere Tracciona” Innovative Company Award, and the XI “Foro Transfiere” Journalism Award.

The Science Room will feature panels on how AI drives innovation and the role of knowledge transfer between public research and industry, including case studies of successful collaboration promoting applied innovation and business competitiveness. Projects from Málaga City Council will also be presented.

The Innovation Room will address quantum computing challenges, with participation from Telefónica, University of Granada, QCentroid Labs, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM), and the Technological Information and Communication Center (CTIC), discussing advances in quantum technologies applied to computing, communication, simulation, and their impact.

The Research Center will continue its Elevator Pitch sessions, presenting international prototypes and research projects in disruptive technologies and Smart Health, including “From Post-it to Market”, focused on integrated strategies in innovation, intellectual property, and public funding for startups. Andalucía Knowledge will present the International Forum on Dual-Use Technologies and explore unmanned aerial mobility through the ecosystem of the CUAM (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Urban Air Mobility Innovation Center) at the University of Seville.

Transfiere 2026

Over 600 entities, companies, and public administrations are actively participating in this edition, alongside delegations and attendees from more than 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 100 thematic panels with more than 300 speakers, while the academic sector is represented by around 50 national and international universities. A dozen autonomous communities and cities are also represented at Transfiere 2026.

Transfiere Tracciona

Within the framework of Transfiere 2026, Transfiere Tracciona strengthens its role as a strategic platform to highlight and enhance the 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 consulting and industrial and intellectual property—as a driving force in the ecosystem, facilitating the identification of innovative projects, creation of strategic alliances, and advancement of public–private collaboration.

The sustained growth of business participation, together with the involvement of leading companies as driving entities, consolidates Transfiere as a key environment for promoting 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 Andalusian Government; and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. FYCMA assumes executive management of the event. The Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands is Premium Partner. Golden Partners include 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 madri+d Foundation; 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.