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The 19th Iberian Meeting of Science and Technology Parks will take place from the 5th to the 7th of October in Ourense and Santiago de Compostela. This year’s programme will focus on artificial intelligence, aerospace, security and defence, dual-use technologies, cybersecurity and STEAM talent
The Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE) and TecParques, the Portuguese Association of Science and Technology Parks, will hold the 19th Iberian Meeting of Science and Technology Parks in Galicia from the 5th to the 7th of October. These events are designed to strengthen partnerships between innovation ecosystems in Spain and Portugal and to promote new opportunities for collaboration between parks, companies, institutions and R&D&I stakeholders.
The meeting will be hosted by the Parque Tecnolóxico de Galicia – Tecnópole. And this year, it will focus on some of the strategic technologies that are redefining the competitiveness and autonomy of both countries: artificial intelligence, the aerospace sector, security and defence, dual-use applications and cybersecurity. In addition, the programme will feature sessions dedicated to the future of science and technology parks, female talent and leadership in STEAM fields, and business linkages between Spanish and Portuguese organisations.
The decision to hold the event in Galicia reflects the region’s commitment to these sectors through the Strategic Initiative for Security, Defence and Aerospace 2025–2030, as well as the long-standing cooperation between Galicia and Portugal on R&D&I projects. The Tecnópole and Ourense area also offers expertise in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, computer engineering and the aerospace sector, alongside its proximity to the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Braga.
Collaboration between APTE and TecParques dates back to 2002 and, throughout the eighteen previous editions of the Iberian Meeting, both associations have worked to analyse the evolution of their respective innovation systems, explore new avenues for cooperation and consolidate an alliance between the science and technology parks of both countries. At this year’s event, the goal will be to continue making progress on joint collaboration initiatives and to foster development of cross-border projects between parks, companies and research organisations.
A programme focused on strategic technologies and business cooperation
The main day of the event will take place on Tuesday 6th October at Tecnópole. The opening ceremony will feature Luis Pérez, Vice-President of APTE; Nuno Augusto, President of TecParques; and Margarita Ardao, Director-General for Business Strategy and Industrial Land at the Xunta de Galicia.
Later on, the programme will address artificial intelligence through a round-table discussion on AI Factories and a presentation by Martín Piqueras, Senior Executive Partner at Gartner. The section dedicated to the aerospace, security and defence sectors will include sessions on cross-border cooperation between Spain and Portugal, the aerospace sector and dual-use applications, with the participation of representatives from companies, universities, public administrations and innovation organisations from both countries.
The event will also feature a round table on “Women, technology and talent: leadership, career paths and retaining STEAM talent”, as well as a specific session to analyse the future of science and technology parks. The business programme will be rounded off with an Iberian pitch session involving three Spanish and three Portuguese companies, alongside various networking opportunities designed to facilitate the establishment of new connections and joint projects.
On the final day, Wednesday 7th October, the event will relocate to the City of Culture of Galicia in Santiago de Compostela and will focus on cybersecurity, featuring content relating to the transposition of the NIS2 Directive and a round-table discussion with business and academic representatives from Spain and Portugal. The day will conclude with a presentation by the organising body of the 20th Iberian Meeting and the official closing ceremony.
With this nineteenth edition, APTE and TecParques aspire to continue consolidating the Iberian Meeting as a stable platform for connecting the innovation ecosystems of Spain and Portugal, and to promote initiatives capable of crossing borders and transforming the technological capabilities of both countries into new cooperation projects.