Business Factory Aero (BFAero) took part in the 19th Iberian Meeting of Science and Technology Parks, held at Tecnópole (Ourense), which brought together representatives from the innovation ecosystems of Spain and Portugal to foster collaboration and explore new opportunities in strategic fields such as aerospace, artificial intelligence, security and defence, and cybersecurity.
The event focused on the role of innovation and cooperation between companies, technology centres, science parks and institutions in driving the development of strategic sectors. Among the activities at the event was a round-table discussion on the aerospace sector, moderated by Luis García Santalla, president of the CEL-Aceleradora BFAero Foundation.
The aerospace sector: at the forefront of cooperation
The round-table discussion provided an opportunity to exchange views on the challenges and opportunities facing the aerospace sector, as well as on the importance of bringing together companies, organisations that support entrepreneurship and innovation bodies to foster the development of new initiatives and create opportunities for collaboration.
The discussion was attended by Jan Mataró, CTO and co-founder of Kreios Space; Miguel Ladrón de Cegama, director of MLC Consulting and head of content at EDOS; Carmen Verdejo, director of the Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at ICECYL; and Jorge Pimenta, director of innovation at IPN Coimbra, AESA’s incubator. Their backgrounds, spanning the business, technology and institutional sectors, provided different perspectives on the aerospace ecosystem.
Galicia, a strategic hub for aerospace innovation
The hosting of the 19th Iberian Meeting in Galicia forms part of the region’s drive to promote strategic technologies, through the Strategic Initiative for Security, Defence and Aerospace 2025–2030, and its long-standing collaboration with Portugal on R&D&I projects.
Ourense and Tecnópole offer a particularly favourable environment for these links, thanks to their proximity to the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Braga; the plan for Tecnópole to host Galicia’s Centre of Excellence in Cybersecurity; and the expertise available at the Ourense campus of the University of Vigo in aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence and computer engineering.
This context offers new opportunities to foster partnerships between science and technology parks, businesses, institutions and talent from both countries, thereby promoting the development of joint projects in strategic sectors.
New partnerships for the innovation ecosystem
Organised by the Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE) and TecParques, the Portuguese Association of Science and Technology Parks, the 19th Iberian Meeting also featured sessions on artificial intelligence, dual-use applications, STEAM talent and the future of science and technology parks, as well as networking opportunities to foster new business connections.
Taking part in initiatives of this kind enables BFAero to continue strengthening its links with the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Spain and Portugal, expanding opportunities for collaboration and contributing to the growth of start-ups and the development of the Galician aerospace sector.