The Spanish consultancy defines the four technological priorities to boost productivity and business competitiveness

Technological Strategy

The Spanish Association of Consulting Firms (AEC) has identified four key pillars for the new economic year: growth-oriented innovation, practical application of AI, strategic autonomy, and technological governance. The goal is to transform Spain's scientific capabilities into industry, security, and skilled employment.

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La Asociación Española de Empresas de Consultoría (AEC) It has identified the four technological priorities that will shape the strategic decisions of companies and institutions in the new economic year. In a context of increasing international competition, España It faces the challenge of converting its digital and scientific capabilities into tangible improvements in productivity, industrial fabric, security and social welfare.

Innovation focused on growth, the effective deployment of artificial intelligence, the strengthening of strategic autonomy, and responsible technology governance are, according to the consulting industry association, the pillars upon which future competitiveness must be built. Cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computing, cybersecurity, and dual-use technologies are no longer optional, but rather a determining factor for the position of Spanish companies on the global stage.

In this context, José María Beneyto, President of the AECHe underscores the relevance of this paradigm shift: “Technology has become a national issue. The new course demands placing technological decisions on the same level as economic and industrial ones. Our productivity, the competitiveness of companies, and the scope for action of [the government] will depend directly on them.” España and Europa».

«España It has a solid scientific, industrial, and business foundation to gain traction in the new technological economy. The next step is to accelerate knowledge transfer, boost investment, and transform innovation into market solutions, a robust productive fabric, and quality employment,” he adds. Beneyto.

From innovation to productivity: the first challenge

The first challenge identified by the AEC It is to ensure that investment in innovation translates into an effective improvement in productivity and the creation of new business models. Although España Despite possessing advanced digital infrastructure, world-class universities, and research centers, Spain faces challenges in translating scientific knowledge into commercial applications and scaling technology companies. Furthermore, the need to define new funding mechanisms to ensure continued investment beyond the extraordinary cycle of European funds is emphasized.

Artificial intelligence as a driver of results

Artificial intelligence has moved beyond the experimental phase and entered a stage of practical application. The priority now is its integration into specific processes, products, and services to achieve measurable improvements in productivity and decision-making. This requires not only high-quality data and secure infrastructures, but also a review of organizational models to effectively combine human and technological capabilities. The convergence of AI with quantum computing, robotics, and other technologies is crucial. edge computing This opens up new sectoral opportunities. The recent launch of Kimi K3 by the Chinese company Moonshot AI evidence, according to the AEC, the acceleration of global competition in this field.

Technological Priority	Strategic objective
1. Growth-oriented innovation	Translating scientific capacity into improved productivity and new business models.
2. Deployment of AI and frontier technologies	Incorporate AI into processes and services to obtain tangible results.
3. Strategic autonomy and security	Reduce dependencies, strengthen value chains, and protect critical infrastructure.
4. Technological governance and talent	Build models of responsible use and adapt professional skills.

Strategic autonomy and cybersecurity: keys to sovereignty

The third challenge is to strengthen the capacity to España y Europa to develop and protect strategic technologies. Autonomy does not imply isolation, but rather the capacity to identify essential capabilities, strengthen value chains, and build alliances to expand decision-making power. In this context, the ciberseguridad This is becoming a top-level responsibility for governing bodies, given the increasing exposure of critical infrastructure to threats. Dual-use technologies (civilian and military) also require greater public-private collaboration.

Governing the transformation and preparing human capital

Finally, the AEC It points to the need to build governance models that enable safe and responsible technological adoption. "Governing new technologies means guiding their use, defining responsibilities, and preparing people to work with them. Their deployment will be sustainable when it translates into growth, trust, and new opportunities," it concludes. José María BeneytoThis implies anticipating risks and undertaking a profound evolution of professional skills.

A national project with a meeting at the Global Technology Forum

These four challenges will be the central focus of Foro Tecnológico Global, driven by the AEC, which will be held on October 7, 8 and 9, 2026 in Madrid y San Lorenzo de El Escorial the motto “Geopolitics and technology: the new frontiers”The meeting will bring together institutional and business leaders and international experts to discuss the decisions that will define the future of España y EuropaAmong the confirmed speakers are Henna Virkkunen, vice president of the Comisión EuropeaThe Nobel Prize in Economics Philippe Aghion; Yasushi Masaki, Deputy Secretary-General of the OCDE; Josep Borrell, former high representative of the Unión Europea; Antonio Garamendi, President of the CEOE; the philosopher Luc Ferryand the astronaut Janet Kavandi.