Transfiere will delve into the challenges of technological sovereignty by connecting science, business, and public policy on an international scale

Málaga, February 9, 2026. – Transfiere, European Forum for Science, Technology, and Innovation, will tackle innovation areas with high scientific, technological, and economic impact that are crucial to guaranteeing a territory’s technological sovereignty, competitiveness, and knowledge transfer, alongside other challenges such as security and defense, intellectual property, health, and sustainability.

In its fifteenth edition, to be held on February 24, 25, and 26, 2026, at FYCMA (Málaga Trade Fair and Congress Center), under the Málaga City Council, the scientific and technological discussion will focus on strategic fields such as funding, public procurement of innovation, deep tech, and entrepreneurship. Other topics will include advanced materials, dual-use technologies, and quantum computing.

Transfiere will offer a comprehensive program structured around three major thematic blocks: the pillars of innovation (annual themes); talent and innovative territorial and international strategies (general interest themes); and emerging innovation (current topics).

Pillars of Innovation

In the field of deep tech, the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) will lead the session “Public Investment that Drives Science,” presenting funding opportunities for science-based technologies with high industrial and strategic value, promoting knowledge transfer from research to market.

Public-private collaboration and knowledge transfer will take center stage in the session “Collaboration as a Tool for Promoting Innovation,” organized by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), a public entity under the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, which promotes innovation and technological development in Spanish companies. Similarly, the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE) will coordinate the debate “Success Stories of Public-Private Collaboration in Science and Technology Parks.” Both sessions will showcase how cooperation between institutions, companies, and technology parks drives applied innovation and generates high-impact projects.

Regarding Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI), projects funded by the FID 21-27 Line will be presented in a panel of public managers organized by the consultancy KNW, featuring the participation of the Councillor for Innovation, Urban Digitalization, and Promotion of the Málaga City Council, Alicia Izquierdo García; the Deputy Director General for Innovation Promotion at the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Amanda Gil Sánchez; the Deputy Director General of Economic Affairs of the Murcia Health Service, Juan Antonio Quesada Torres; the Director General for Energy Planning and Mines of the Xunta de Galicia, Pablo Fernández Vila; alongside KNW Managing Partner, Manuel Varela Rey.

Continuing with funding, the program will also include talks and workshops in which Andalucía Trade, the Business Agency for Transformation and Economic Development of the Junta de Andalucía, will highlight the main channels for business support and funding of innovative projects.

Additionally, the session “Consortium Creation: Anticipating Challenges and Opportunities for the 2026 Calls,” led by consultancy AYMING, will provide guidelines for preparing solid and competitive proposals that maximize success opportunities. Finally, the participation of researchers in companies will be addressed in the session “Participation of Public Researchers in Knowledge-Based Companies (EBCs),” organized by the law firm EJASO, exploring how to reconcile public service with knowledge transfer and collaboration with the business sector.

Talent and Innovative Territorial and International Strategies

Territorial innovation strategies will be addressed through a presentation led by consultancy EFFECTIA, as well as a session by the Principality of Asturias titled “Asturias, Future Scenarios,” exploring how public policies, technology centers, and the business ecosystem coordinate to foster regional innovation and generate projects with tangible economic and social impact.

The autonomous community of Castilla y León will present a panel on “Open Innovation,” focusing on collaborative innovation, results measurement, and project scalability, highlighting the importance of joint work between different actors to foster development. Talent in R&D&I will be another central theme, addressed by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) in a session dedicated to attracting and connecting scientific talent with innovation in Spain, including key programs for funding and training researchers such as Ramón y Cajal, Torres Quevedo, Industrial Doctorates, and various public-private calls.

One of the major challenges in the health sector, precision medicine, will be the focus of a high-level debate with representatives from the Andalusian Public Health System (SSPA), including Miguel Ángel Armengol, Research Affiliate – Critical Data, MIT, and member of the Andalusian Public Foundation for Progress and Health (FPA); Bernardo Herrera, Head of the Urology Service at the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria and Associate Professor at the University of Málaga; Raquel Yahyaoui, Clinical Biochemistry Specialist (MD, PhD) at the Regional University Hospital of Málaga and researcher at IBIMA–BIONAND Platform; Pedro Serrano, Head of the Neurology Service at the Regional University Hospital of Málaga, Associate Professor at the University of Málaga, and Coordinator of the NeuroRECA Network; and Carlos Larrañeta, Head of Public Procurement of Innovation, Protection, and Transfer at FPA Progreso y Salud.

Finally, international cooperation will be explored at 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 across innovation ecosystems. The Global Innopolis Network Initiative (GINI) is an international network in which Málaga has participated since its foundation in 2023, bringing together leading R&D&I cities such as Daejeon (Republic of Korea), Dortmund (Germany), Quebec (Canada), and Montgomery County and Seattle (United States), aiming to promote science, technology, and urban innovation as drivers of sustainable development and inter-city cooperation.

It is worth noting that GINI chose Málaga as the host of its third edition, after the inaugural meeting took place in the metropolitan city of Daejeon, Republic of Korea, which will attend Transfiere 2026 as a guest country, a role it previously held in 2016.

The Asian country has created a highly advanced scientific, technological, and innovation ecosystem based on strong public-private collaboration, leading research institutions, and a highly dynamic industrial and startup environment. Additionally, Korea collaborates closely with European partners through initiatives such as Horizon Europe and EUREKA, promoting joint research and innovation partnerships. At Transfiere 2026, Korea will present an overview of its national innovation ecosystem, highlighting research excellence, university-industry collaboration, and the role of regional innovation centers connecting government-funded research institutes, leading universities, and innovative companies and startups, while fostering dialogue and collaboration between Europe and Asia.

Thus, Málaga will simultaneously host both forums, Transfiere and GINI, in the Ágora, strengthening ties and creating synergies with the Republic of Korea, positioning the city as an international hub for dialogue on innovation, science, and technology, and reinforcing its role as a strategic node connected to Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Emerging Innovation

Regarding current topics, this edition will focus on strategic emerging areas essential to ensuring technological sovereignty and competitiveness, including dual-use technologies, advanced materials, quantum computing, and security and defense sectors.

The scope of dual-use technologies will be analyzed in the session “Innovation in Dual-Use Technologies: Business Opportunities Leveraging the Potential of Technology Centers,” organized by the Spanish Federation of Technology Centers (FEDIT), highlighting both civil and defense applications and demonstrating the strategic role of these technologies across sectors. Additionally, the University of La Laguna will explore applied innovation in geothermal energy and space, showing how university research can be transformed into disruptive business solutions, contributing to the development of high-value technology sectors.

Synthetic biology will be addressed by the Government of Navarra, while industrial uses of hydrogen will be analyzed practically at the Hydrogen Technology Observatory, highlighting industrial application opportunities and potential for energy transition. Finally, innovation in agrotech in extreme territories, organized by the Government of the Canary Islands, will present models of technology adoption and transfer that allow scaling innovative solutions in challenging contexts, demonstrating how innovation can adapt to complex geographical and climatic conditions.

Fifteenth Edition

This new edition follows a successful 2025 edition that brought together over 5,200 professionals from 40 countries and more than 700 public and private entities. On its fifteenth anniversary, the forum strengthens its role as a catalyst for strategic collaborations between public and private sectors, facilitating access to funding, knowledge exchange, and the internationalization of scientific and technological talent.

Transfiere is organized by the Málaga City Council; the Ministry of University, Research, and Innovation of the Junta de Andalucía; 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 program. Silver Partners include Madrid Emprende of the Madrid City Council; the City Council of Salamanca and Salamanca Tech; the Community of Madrid and the Foundation for Knowledge madri+d; the Technological Corporation of Andalusia (CTA); the Provincial Council of Málaga; Málaga Municipal Water Company (EMASA), Limpieza de Málaga (Limasam); Andalucía TRADE–Business Agency for Transformation and Economic Development of the Junta de Andalucía; 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.