- More than a hundred representatives from Spain’s and Europe’s innovation ecosystems will gather at the Gijón Science and Technology Park to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the blue economy as a driver of territorial transformation
The Gijón Science and Technology Park is preparing to host the 23rd International Conference of the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE), which will take place on November 6 at LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial.
Under the theme “Blue Economy 5.0: Innovation, Talent and Sustainability for a Smart Coastal Future,” the event will bring together more than 100 professionals, experts and institutional representatives linked to innovation, sustainability and regional development.
Organized by APTE and Gijón Impulsa, the managing entity of the Gijón Science and Technology Park, the conference forms part of a dual celebration: a reflection on the role of innovation in coastal transformation, and the 25th anniversary of the Gijón Science and Technology Park, a benchmark for business and scientific development in Asturias.
The institutional opening will feature addresses by Carmen Moriyón Entrialgo, Mayor of Gijón; Juan Carlos Campo, Deputy Minister of Industry of the Principality of Asturias; and José Moisés Martín Carretero, Director General of the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI). Felipe Romera, President of APTE, will then deliver the official welcome to attendees.
The international keynote address will be delivered by Susana Pinheiro, Business Development Director at UPTEC – University of Porto, with a lecture titled “Innovation and the Blue Economy: The UPTEC Model and Its Regional Impact.”
Following these lectures, two thematic round tables will explore the major challenges of the blue economy:
The first one, “Technological Ecosystems for a Smart Blue Economy”, will be moderated by Clara Gálvez Verdú, Director of Internal Control and Procurement at Málaga TechPark, with participation from:
- Pablo Bou Mira, Business Development Manager at Blue NetCat (Parc UPTEC, Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto).
- Miguel Ângelo Araújo Carvalho Fernandes, Executive Director at Flowtech (UPTEC).
- Marcos Viñuela García, CEO and Founder of Simbiosys S.L. – VRT4 Port (Gijón Science and Technology Park).
- Jaime Baucells Granell, Sales Director at MEGA Fortris Group.
The second round table, “Blue Employment, STEM Talent and New Professional Profiles”, will be será moderated by Rubén González Rodríguez, Director of the Gijón Azul Chair, featuring:
- Julián Camus Bergareche, Director of the Jovellanos Maritime Safety Centre.
- Lucía Fraga Lago, Head of Training at Centro Tecnolóxico do Mar (CETMAR).
- José Antonio Juanes de la Peña, Director of Strategy at the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of Cantabria (IH Cantabria).
- Alfredo Alcayde García, Deputy Director of the Higher School of Engineering of the University of Almería (PITA Science and Technology Park of Almería).
The program will also include a closing reflection titled “25 Years of the Gijón Science and Technology Park and Its Blue Projection,” featuring Ángela Pumariega Menéndez, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Economy, Employment, Tourism, and Innovation of the Gijón City Council, and Luis Díaz Gutiérrez, Managing Director of Gijón Impulsa.
The conference will conclude with the APTE Awards Ceremony, recognizing the Best Practice in APTE Science and Technology Parks 2025, and the most active parks within the Technical Network during 2024.
Additionally, the 8th APTE Science and Technology Parks Media Awards will honor journalists and media outlets that have most actively promoted the dissemination of science and technology park activities across Spain.
The closing session will include the handover of the APTE flag to the host park of the next international conference in 2026, followed by the official closing remarks by APTE President Felipe Romera.
Pre-Conference Activities and Networking
On November 5, the day before the main event, internal meetings of APTE’s Technical Network will take place, along with a round table on R&D&I infrastructures and the Association’s General Assembly.
Attendees will also enjoy a guided tour of the Milla del Conocimiento Margarita Salas, the epicenter of Gijón’s innovation ecosystem.
Ángela Pumariega emphasized that “Blue Economy 5.0 represents a great opportunity for Gijón, a city with a clear coastal, innovative, and sustainable vocation. Hosting the 23rd APTE International Conference as our Science Park celebrates its 25th anniversary is an excellent way to showcase this potential and position Gijón as a national benchmark in innovation and the blue economy.”
Felipe Romera added that “the conference provides a unique space for sharing experiences and fostering cooperation among Spanish and international science and technology parks, helping to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems that drive the sustainable transformation of our territories.”