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An event bringing together companies, researchers from the University of Málaga and institutions to analyse the potential of quantum technology for Málaga’s economic and scientific development
Málaga TechPark hosted on Tuesday the Málaga Quantum Ecosystem Launch: Innovation, Capabilities, and Opportunities, a meeting that brought together companies, researchers from the University of Málaga, institutions and experts to explore the potential of quantum technologies and their impact on the future of the productive sector.
Organised in collaboration with UMA innTech, representing the University of Málaga, the event highlighted the capabilities already present in the local ecosystem, while reinforcing Málaga’s positioning as an emerging hub in this globally strategic field.
Javier López, Vice-Rector for Technological Innovation at the University of Málaga and Director of UMA innTech, and Felipe Romera, Director of Málaga TechPark, delivered the welcome address and institutional opening. UMA innTech, as the main initiative linking the university and the business sector, acts as a catalyst for knowledge transfer and the development of innovative projects, consolidating structural collaboration between the University of Málaga and Málaga TechPark.
“Today we have showcased everything we are doing: the beginning of a new development vehicle for Málaga TechPark, complementing artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and microelectronics, together with the milestone of imec’s arrival at the park,” said Felipe Romera during the opening session.
“We are talking about a complex, future-oriented technology that requires investment. Precisely because of this complexity, if we do not involve all stakeholders, success could be jeopardised,” added Javier López at the start of the event. The Director of UMA innTech also noted that the development of quantum technologies within Málaga’s innovation ecosystem has been driven by the launch of the quant-UMA initiative by the University of Málaga more than two years ago.
High added value
The event highlighted how quantum computing, advanced cybersecurity and critical infrastructures linked to this technology are beginning to generate new opportunities for business innovation, especially in high value-added sectors.
“Quantum will be highly influential in the coming years. Today, participants are discussing how this field will evolve and what it will become. We still have a long road ahead in what represents a major development avenue. The aim is to attract companies and universities through this initiative. Ultimately, it is about moving from the traditional concept of a technology park to becoming a leader in these technologies. We are taking them to an unprecedented level and giving a major boost to their development,” explained Romera.
In this context, Málaga TechPark is strengthening its role as a meeting point between science, business and investment, facilitating the development of deep tech projects and knowledge transfer. Currently, Málaga TechPark hosts more than 700 companies, generating over €4,800 million in annual revenue and employing more than 29,000 professionals.
During the event, experts from academia and industry analysed the current state of the quantum ecosystem, addressing key topics such as technology strategy, the role of venture capital in driving deep tech startups, and the challenges of quantum security. In this regard, Javier Delgado, representative of the State Secretariat for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (Quantum Technologies Area), provided an in-depth overview of the quantum technologies ecosystem and its international positioning. This was followed by Jorge Fernández, from Bullnet Capital, who further explored the role of the deep tech venture capital and the rise of quantum technologies.
In addition, other initiatives, ongoing projects and future developments were presented. Sara Guzmán (Quside) explained the importance of critical infrastructure for quantum sovereignty and cybersecurity. Anders Moller (Dekra) then focused on testing and certification in quantum security, followed by Javier Romero, who outlined current and upcoming projects promoted by Quantum Labs.
One of the key highlights of the meeting was the presentation of the research lines led by Quant·UMA research groups, who were responsible for a dedicated session on Research in Computing and Quantum Technologies at the University of Málaga, consolidating the institution as a key player in knowledge generation in this field. This connection between advanced research and business application was identified as one of the main strengths of Málaga’s ecosystem.
Quantum leadership
The event also underscored the growing alignment between Málaga TechPark and the University of Málaga, through UMA innTech, with global technological trends at a time when the race for leadership in quantum technologies is intensifying worldwide. In this context, the park maintains active connections with innovation ecosystems in leading European cities and global technology hubs, strengthening its role within an international network for innovation, as well as talent and investment attraction.
The event concluded with a networking session that fostered the exchange of ideas and the creation of synergies among the different stakeholders in the ecosystem, laying the groundwork for future collaborations in a field set to transform entire industries in the coming years.
Through initiatives like this, Málaga TechPark and the University of Málaga continue to consolidate a model based on public-private collaboration, technological specialisation and integration into international innovation networks, advancing their goal of positioning themselves among the most dynamic and competitive environments in Europe.