Talent was the star of the new edition of the Next Spain Forum, which took place this morning in La Galeria. Titled “Entrepreneurs for a more sustainable city,” the conference was hosted by: ABC and Vocent, Telefonica as a global partner; … Collaboration between L’Oreal sponsor and Moeve.
The event began with Jorge Paradela, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Andalusian military government, who conveyed the Andalusian government’s vision on issues such as digitalization and sustainability. “The fit with what we’ve been doing is frankly interesting,” he said. “We have long said that the engine of progress is the convergence of digitalization and the energy transition, which translates into environmental sustainability,” he added.
In this sense, the councilor said: “We have seen for some time that Europe wants to re-industrialize with clean energy and digitalization. Andalusia has a lot to say.” Paradella said that change is occurring at a “fast pace” in both physical, digital and technological media. “Furthermore, a common accelerator is artificial intelligence,” he added.
“We believe that Andalusia has the opportunity to play a leading role in this field, and we are putting a lot of effort into this,” he said. “With these engines moving forward together, we can reach a more just and balanced society. Our role is twofold: to promote the production structure and to be its partner. Paradela also said that Andalusia has a large digital talent pool, which is the “new blood that the economy needs.”
In this sense, the Minister of Industry explained that the Government of Andalusia, in cooperation with EOI, is launching 11 digital and technological nodes dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and digital skills training.
Mr. Paradera also highlighted projects such as the cooperation with Telefónica in the Andalucía Open Future Startup Accelerator and the Just Transition Fund, which is dedicated to industrial development through European funds. The advisor asserted that the government is committed to injecting €2.6 billion into this sector. “In Andalusia, thanks to the talent we have, a great digital ecosystem is being created,” the counselor concluded.
Towards a connected world
Mr. Paradera was followed by Joaquín Segovia, Regional Director of Telefónica Southern, who gave a presentation entitled “5G and IoT for Sustainable and Connected Cities.” “We are moving faster and exponentially from the industrial age to the digital age,” the talk began.
“This digital society is flooded with everything,” Segovia explained, asserting that this change is supported by three major enablers. Explosive growth in data and processing power.
Joaquin Segovia
In that sense, the Telefonica executive explained that Spain and Andalusia are above average and have the best infrastructure in the world. Segovia highlights 5G technology, which is designed to facilitate the Internet of Things and provides important capabilities for the development of smart cities.
“This impact of technology is happening at a critical moment with the impact of climate change,” he asserted, adding, “We have to be sustainable, but there is an opportunity in talent.” “We have to support it to develop future services,” he said.
Segovia also stopped during his presentation to explain what a connected city should look like. “Smart cities transform management models, improve the lives of those who live and visit them, solve urban challenges with technology and innovation, and always keep citizens at the center,” he explained.
“We have the best connectivity in Europe, the opportunity to lead this change towards a sustainable world and the talent to drive innovation from Seville to build a digital and sustainable future,” Segovia concluded.
focus on talent
Juan Martínez Barea, founder and president of Universal DX and promoter of the Sputnik Entrepreneurship Program, then took to the stage. “Talent is the key,” he began his talk. “When talent is concentrated, so is spirituality, which creates ambition, role models and joint projects,” he explained, adding that “it takes a one-shot” for ambition and the desire to get things done well to be contagious.
Juan Martinez Barea
That’s what Sputnik tried to do to “find the most ambitious young people.” The goal is to have 5,000 people take the program over 10 years. “This is an army that will change the world,” Martinez Barea said. Furthermore, he emphasized that “we support the launch of new projects with the aim of reaching the top,” citing recent success stories.
“But reaching the top is not enough,” he warned. “The most important thing for us is commitment. They need to return to the Andalusian locomotive,” Martínez Barea concluded during his presentation.
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