Madrid’s Innovation Forum RETECH Connects Startups, Scaleups, and Corporations
The second edition of the Innovation Forum RETECH Madrid, hosted by the Community of Madrid, brought together startups, scaleups, and leading corporations in the Greentech, Health, and Aerospace sectors at the SID building in Tres Cantos. This open innovation event aimed to foster business collaboration and address real challenges in these strategic sectors through technological solutions.
Part of the Redes de Emprendimiento Digital project in the Community of Madrid, driven by the Digitalization Department, the forum promotes technological entrepreneurship and open innovation to strengthen the Madrid ecosystem. It supports the growth of startups with solutions for advancing towards a circular economy, digital health, and decarbonization in infrastructures.
Sector Challenges and Recognized Startups
Throughout the event, 14 startups and scaleups finalists, selected for their innovative vision and solution fit, tackled three sector challenges set by participating companies such as Lenovo, Enagás, Naturgy, and Precision for Medicine. The format included corporate open innovation presentations, sector-specific working sessions, and project pitches before a jury of industry representatives.
- In the Greentech sector, Circular was recognized for its work in transitioning towards a digital circular and low-carbon economy.
- In Health, eB2 stood out for its efforts in digitalization and tool development for facilitating diagnosis.
- In Aerospace, 3Top Airtech was chosen for its focus on decarbonization and operational continuity in transportation and GNL-based energy infrastructure.
Real Collaboration at the Event
The main goal of this 2nd Innovation Forum was to create high-value connections between companies and startups, deepen the technological and commercial fit of presented solutions, and lay the foundation for potential pilot projects and strategic collaborations. The event was structured to promote collaboration among all participants.
The day began with an institutional presentation by Ignacio Azorín, Director General of Digital Strategy of the Community of Madrid, followed by the presentation of the three challenges by participating corporations. The event also featured the Mayor of Tres Cantos, Jesús Moreno García, and the Councilor for Economic Development, Ana Isabel Pérez Baos.
Azorín emphasized how this edition of the Innovation Forum is consolidating an open innovation model that is already yielding tangible results in the ecosystem. He highlighted how real challenges shared by leading companies allow startups and scaleups to analyze the fit of their solutions and accelerate effective collaboration between corporations and entrepreneurial talent.
Technical Support and Continued Engagement
The winning startups will receive guided technical support to facilitate validation, testing, or implementation processes in real environments. They will also strengthen their strategic positioning and collaboration opportunities. All participating startups had the chance to present their projects to corporations facing real challenges, receive specialized feedback, and expand their network within the Madrid business and innovation ecosystem.
This 2nd Innovation Forum is part of the Redes de Emprendimiento Digital project’s calendar of activities, which includes acceleration and scaling programs, hackathons, investment forums, and sector-specific meetings to promote open innovation and connection between startups, companies, and investors. The project has three specialized hubs strategically located in the region: Greentech in Hub 232 in Las Rozas de Madrid, Health in the Digitaliza Madrid Innovation Center, and Aerospace in the La Encina Building in Tres Cantos.
With this second edition of the Innovation Forum, the Community of Madrid reinforces its position as a national and international hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship. It is driving technological transformation, ecological transition, and business competitiveness in the region.
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