Spain consolidates its position as a technological leader in the automotive sector

 

Under the motto «"Made in Spain Technology: A Path Towards Strategic Autonomy" Experts and industry leaders have analyzed the key trends that are transforming the future of mobility: decarbonization, softwareization and smart manufacturingThe event served as a platform to present specific initiatives and foster public-private collaboration, underscoring Spain's commitment to sustainable, connected, and competitive mobility.

 

The event brought together top representatives of the main Ministries and Public Administrations, including Jose Moises Martin Carter, CEO of Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), and Ruth del Campo Becares, Director General of Data at the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service.

 

Martha Valero, Director of Infrastructure and Industrial Technology of ICEX Spain Export and InvestmentsThe event was inaugurated, highlighting the sector's technological leadership and the adaptability of the Spanish automotive and mobility ecosystem. "ICEX is committed to promoting the brand Spain in the automotive sector, supporting companies in their Capabilities and attracting new investments through programs such as 'Invest in Spain' and 'Innova Invest'», said Valero.

 

Cecilia Medina, Innovation and Talent Manager at SERNAUTO and coordinator of the “Move To Future” (M2F) PlatformHe emphasized: “Spain is a leader in a high-tech sector like automotive. We must continue to invest in innovation and talent to maintain our position as a global benchmark. We need an environment that supports this transformation with supportive policies and a national strategy that incentivizes technology.”

 

The event was structured into three key panel discussions, each focusing on one of the key trends shaping the future of the automotive industry:

 

• Decarbonization:

  • Moderated by Borja Dapena of FI Group, this panel explored solutions to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Roberto Hernández of Bosch Spain highlighted the need for local production and circular economy processes: “Currently, there are political and trade tensions affecting the entire supply chain. Therefore, we must commit to local production and production processes that allow us to recover as many raw materials as possible to strengthen our strategic autonomy.”
  • Carlos Díaz of Repsol advocated for technological neutrality and collaboration: "Technological neutrality is fundamental to promoting innovative solutions. We need regulations that also consider economic sustainability and competitiveness, and we need to establish strategic alliances to involve all links in the value chain."
  • Mikel Llona, ​​CEO of Birziplastik, spoke about the circularity of plastic materials and the need for more uniform regulations at the regional and European levels. "Plastic waste must be at the heart of the circular economy. Furthermore, we must commit to working locally and raising public awareness, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region for the recovery of raw materials."
• Softwareization:
  • Julio Díez of Incotec moderated the debate on the development of cooperative, connected, and automated systems.
  • José Moisés Martín Carretero of CDTI emphasized the importance of competitiveness in software supply chains: “We must foster the competitiveness of our software supply chains. We are doing this by working on an approach that considers the entire ecosystem.”
  • Vicente Milanés of Renault Group warned about the need to maintain leadership in this area: "Over the last 10 years, vehicles have advanced tremendously. We cannot afford to lose our leading position in this transformation."
  • Francisco Cazorla, from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, spoke about adapting new technologies to the automotive industry: "There are already innovative technologies that can be applied to the automotive industry. We must adapt these solutions to incorporate them into vehicles, because when there's no steering wheel, the software takes over."
• Smart Manufacturing:
  • Fernando Pérez of Zabala Innovation led the discussion on digital transformation in production processes.
  • Ruth del Campo Becares of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service highlighted the role of the data economy: "We have to be ambitious and focus on differentiating factors. The data economy helps companies become more competitive; it's a tool that helps optimize new business models."
  • Eduardo Beltrán de Nanclares, from MONDRAGON, emphasized the need for support policies to compete globally and attract talent: "Support policies are necessary to compete on equal terms with other markets and make the sector attractive to attract qualified talent."
  • Ana Simarro of Grupo Oesía delved into the applications of artificial intelligence. "We need to invest in these types of solutions and collaborate across all companies to become more efficient."

 

In addition, innovative projects were presented through "Elevator Pitch", such asPOLIVEC"To Birziplastik, “InPercept” from FICOSA and “SoliDAIR” from CIE Automotive, demonstrating Spain's progress in these areas.

 

The event concluded with a clear message: the Spanish automotive industry is at the forefront of innovation, committed to a future of sustainable, safe, and connected mobility.