The first connect forum in Granada brings together more than 400 attendees, including leaders of technology companies and experts in innovation and development

The forum, organised by the onTech Innovation Cluster, brought together business leaders and experts in innovation and development at the Science Park in Granada on 8 and 9 November, to discuss the latest technological innovations related to the digital economy sector.

Christian Ketels, faculty member at Havard Business School and renowned business innovation guru, participated with an inspiring keynote speech on the role of clusters in innovation ecosystems.

Marifrán Carazo Villalonga, the Mayor of Granada, spoke at the official opening on Wednesday 8th together with Marcelo Vázquez Ariza, President of onTech.

The 1st Connect Forum, organised by the onTech Innovation cluster, has concluded its first edition in Granada after bringing together nearly 400 leaders of technology Company leaders with experts in innovation and development. Held in the Science Park, The 1st Connect Forum, organised by the onTech innovation cluster, has concluded its first edition in Granada after bringing together nearly 400 technology company leaders with experts in innovation and development. The technological event took place on 8 and 9 November at the Science Park, with an avant-garde and pioneering agenda for the city, thanks to an immersive experience that showcased the latest technological innovations related to the digital economy, industry, agri-food and energy, among others.

Marcelo Vázquez, president of the onTech Innovation cluster, stressed that the event brought together representatives of public administrations and institutions, leading companies in digital enabling technologies, as well as the main national and European clusters. It was also “a unique opportunity to learn from Christian Ketels, a member of Harvard Business School and considered one of the great gurus of the sector”, Vázquez continued referring to one of the strong points of the programme.

Focusing on technological innovation, the programme of the 1st Connect Forum included round tables, presentations on business innovation, technological development, the national and European cluster landscape and funding lines for R&D&I projects. The topics also covered different areas of the technology industry, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, IoT, robotics, quantum computing or cloud, among others.

The organisation of the forum was inspired by the experience of the VALORIAL cluster in Rennes (France) in organising its annual general meeting. As part of the AURORA project, knowledge about services was transferred between European clusters. In this case, the onTech Innovation cluster received the necessary know-how to organise an important event on the occasion of its annual general meeting. The event was supported by several prominent cluster members such as Grupo Azvi, EIP (International Business School), Grupo Mainjobs, Mnemo, Nazaríes Intelligenia, Grupo Solutia and Grupo Trevenque. During the event, participants also had the opportunity to learn about potential sources of funding and take part in exciting activities that connected the audience with the latest developments in business innovation.

onTech Innovation 10th Anniversary Gala

The tenth anniversary of the cluster was celebrated during the I Connect Forum, with a special gala reviewing the cluster’s evolution and milestones, and an emotional tribute to Gerardo Cuerva, former president of onTech, who was named honorary president. Institutions and administrations showed their support throughout the forum. The Mayor of Granada, Marifrán Carazo Villalonga, congratulated onTech Innovation for its outstanding position as a cluster of digital economy companies in Andalusia and for its leap to national and international levels on its tenth anniversary.