Transfiere will open tomorrow its 15th edition, consolidated as spain’s leading professional meeting point for knowledge transfer

Málaga, February 23, 2026 – Transfiere, the European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation, will open tomorrow at FYCMA (Trade Fair and Congress Center of Málaga), of the Málaga City Council, its 15th edition, firmly established as Spain’s premier professional meeting point for knowledge transfer. This edition marks a milestone due to its commemorative nature and provides an opportunity to reflect on fifteen years of continuous support for the R&D&I ecosystem, highlighting its role as a catalyst for strategic alliances, collaborative projects, and connections between science, business, and public administrations.

The opening day will feature the official inauguration ceremony, with speeches by the Chair of the Organizing Committee, the Republic of Korea as guest country, and representatives from the organizing institutions and academia. The event will take place at the Ágora, the space dedicated to business, funding, and innovation at Transfiere. The Ágora will also host one of the day’s key highlights: the 3rd Global Innopolis Forum, an international meeting where academic and R&D&I institutions and public administrations share experiences, success stories, and opportunities for global collaboration.

During this session, representatives from innovative cities such as Daejeon (Republic of Korea), Dortmund (Germany), Montgomery and Seattle (United States), and Quebec (Canada), together with Málaga’s Mayor, Francisco de la Torre, will discuss global trends in advanced science and technology, cooperation strategies, and regional innovation policies. It should be noted that the forum selected Málaga as its host city this year following its debut in the Republic of Korea in 2023.

Regarding thematic panels, the program will open with a keynote by the Regional Managing Director of IMEC Spain, Karel Van Gils, followed by a session on the main changes in the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework and their impact on European regions. Speakers will include representatives from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Government of Castilla-La Mancha, the Basque Government, EURADA, and Zabala Innovation.

Other topics include a panel on innovation in dual-use technologies, focused on business opportunities arising from collaboration with Technology Centers to develop civil and defense applications, thereby strengthening technological sovereignty in the current geostrategic context. There will also be a discussion on the National Deep Tech Strategy, featuring representatives 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.

Hanbat National University

The Research Center, dedicated to applied innovation and the presentation of success stories and prototypes, will host the keynote “Beyond Borders: Global Industry–Academia Collaboration for Shared Success,” delivered by Hanbat National University (HBNU), this year’s invited academic institution. The speaker will be Min-Wook Oh, Director of the Office of International Affairs at HBNU, who will present an advanced model integrating cutting-edge academic research with practical industrial applications.

Through its specialized industry–academia cooperation platforms, the university facilitates the smooth transfer of advanced technologies to the global market. This initiative goes beyond knowledge sharing, aiming to create a sustainable ecosystem in which international universities and companies grow together. HBNU’s roadmap focuses on “Smart Partnerships,” intelligent alliances designed to address real industrial challenges through collaborative innovation. This includes training talent prepared for a global environment and implementing technology commercialization strategies that ensure mutual prosperity.

The University of Málaga will also take center stage in this space, presenting key projects and research lines from its university research institutes. Throughout the day, additional sessions will address strategic topics such as geothermal energy, promoted by the University of La Laguna, as well as the role of universities and technology transfer offices, alongside a selection of “Elevator Pitch” sessions showcasing innovative research projects and prototypes.

Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI)

The Science Room, focused on scientific research and knowledge transfer in strategic fields, will open with a presentation on technological sovereignty and energy sustainability by the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT). This will be followed by a roundtable on Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI), featuring Alicia Izquierdo García, Councillor for Innovation, Digitalization and Investment Attraction at Málaga City Council; Amanda Gil Sánchez, Deputy Director General for Innovation Promotion at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; Juan Antonio Quesada Torres, Deputy Director General for Economic Affairs at the Murcia Health Service; Pablo Fernández Vila, Director General for Energy and Mining Planning at the Xunta de Galicia; and Manuel Varela Rey, Managing Partner of KNW.

Speakers in this space will also include representatives from the Carlos III Health Institute, the Hydrogen Technology Observatory, the Cotec Foundation, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), and the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) for Advanced Health.

The Innovation Room, focused on large-scale innovation policies and tools, will feature presentations on 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. Fundación Innova IRV, Eurecat Innova, and the University of Málaga will address the challenges and opportunities of Applied AI, while Orange will coordinate a roundtable on the potential of telecommunications companies. New financing models for innovative projects will be discussed in a panel led by Mecides, and the Spanish Space Agency will present its proposals for a changing geopolitical environment.

Innovation in Andalusia

Finally, Andalucía Knowledge, dedicated to strengthening knowledge transfer and collaboration opportunities with agents of the Andalusian Knowledge System and the business community, will offer on its first day an overview of innovation and knowledge transfer initiatives in the region. It will begin with university experiences in green transition, energy, and sustainability, with participation from Pablo de Olavide University, the University of Granada, the University of Málaga, the University of Jaén, and the University of Seville.

The inauguration of the CUII-TRADE stand will be presented, along with innovation projects in Agrotech and occupational risk digitalization promoted by CTAQUA, Surcontrol, FIDESOL, and the University of Seville.

The role of the European Office for Research Coordination in Andalusia (OECIA) in promoting regional research will also be explained, alongside a new vision for Andalusian entrepreneurship led by the Regional Ministry of University, Research and Innovation of the Regional Government of Andalusia. The day will include the presentation of the new Board of Directors of the Smart City Cluster and a workshop on Horizon Europe funding opportunities for projects related to culture, innovation, and competitiveness, with participation from Andalucía TRADE, FECYT, and Tecnalia R&I.

Transfiere 2026

More than 600 entities, companies, and public administrations are actively participating in this edition, along with delegations and registered 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 program features one hundred thematic panels with more than 300 speakers, while the academic sector is represented by around fifty national and international universities. In terms of territorial representation, a dozen autonomous communities and cities will be present 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 leading role of companies in knowledge transfer and in building an innovation-based economy. The initiative positions the business sector—from major 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. It facilitates 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, internationalization, and economic development. This recognition is further reflected in the Innovative Company Award “Transfiere Tracciona. Transfiere Forum,” which in its latest edition was presented to Telefónica Empresas.

Transfiere is organized 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 program. Silver Partners include Madrid Emprende of 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; Málaga Municipal Water Company (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.