Transfiere 2026 closes its fifteenth edition in Málaga, consolidating itself as the great innovation hub in Spain

The European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation has brought together more than 4,700 participants and 600 organizations in an event that has broken attendance records and strengthened international alliances in knowledge transfer.

The event concluded its fifteenth edition at the Palace of Fairs and Congresses of Málaga (FYCMA) with a historic outcome that consolidates it as the main meeting point for knowledge transfer in Spain. Over three days, the event brought together more than 4,700 participants — exceeding initial forecasts — in an atmosphere of intense activity that has reaffirmed Málaga as the epicenter of the innovative ecosystem in Southern Europe. The event successfully mobilized around 20 countries and a dozen autonomous communities, evidencing the strength of a forum celebrating its fifteenth anniversary with its sights set on the technological challenges of the future.

International participation has been one of the backbone axes of this edition, with South Korea as the guest country and Hanbat National University as the featured international university. The meeting had representation from fifty national and international universities, along with more than 600 entities, companies, and public administrations that turned the corridors of the FYCMA into a true Tower of Babel of innovation. This global projection has made it possible to weave strategic alliances and open new avenues for collaboration at a time when European technological sovereignty has been placed at the center of the debate.

The content program deployed more than 100 thematic panels with the participation of 300 experts who addressed everything from the classic structural axes — such as R&D&i financing, innovative public procurement, or university-business transfer — to the emerging areas that will mark the future of the continent. Precision health, applied quantum technologies, advanced materials, dual-use technologies, and energy autonomy topped the attendees’ agendas, in an effort to align Spanish research with the strategic priorities set by Brussels.

The distribution of the exhibition space into five specialized areas facilitated networking and the generation of synergies among the different actors in the ecosystem. The Ágora, the Science Room, the Innovation Room, the Research Center, and the Andalucía Knowledge space hosted everything from prototype presentations in artificial intelligence and big data to meetings between investors and technology-based startups. Especially relevant was the role of the Research Center, where success stories in green tech and smart health demonstrated the capacity of the Spanish system to transform knowledge into solutions applied to the productive fabric.

The closing day was marked by the awarding of prizes recognizing excellence in the field of innovation and scientific communication. The VI Open Call for Deep Tech Startups, promoted together with the Enterprise Europe Network, gave visibility to the most promising disruptive projects before national and international investors, reflecting the strength of an increasingly mature entrepreneurial ecosystem. For its part, the XI ‘Transfiere’ Journalism Award distinguished informative work on science and technology, while the III ‘Transfiere Tracciona’ Innovative Company Award went to Bioazul, a consultancy specialized in innovation and sustainability.

The Málaga-based company Bioazul emerged as the project most voted for by Transfiere registrants and web users among a total of 23 proposals submitted by multinationals, SMEs, micro-SMEs, and startups. The Vice-Minister of University, Research and Innovation of the Junta de Andalucía, Lorena Garrido, was in charge of presenting this recognition, which distinguishes entities that, through their annual participation, contribute to strengthening the innovation ecosystem and fostering public-private collaboration. A gesture that symbolizes the spirit of a forum that, over fifteen editions, has demonstrated its capacity to generate real impact on the country’s technological development and competitiveness.