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Al-Ándalus Innovation Venture: Strategic Alliances Driving Spanish Entrepreneurship
The fourth edition of Al-Ándalus Innovation Venture, held in Seville, reaffirmed its role as a key meeting point for Spain’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Among its standout features was the launch of the ADR Forum (Regional Development Agencies), a strategic initiative aimed at fostering interregional cooperation and strengthening the national business fabric. Red.es was actively represented within this collaborative framework.
On September 24 and 25, Seville hosted over 2,500 professionals and 150 investment funds for a dynamic programme that blended investment, entrepreneurship, and innovation through keynote talks, panel discussions, and dedicated networking spaces.
One of the event’s major new features was the ADR Forum, promoted and organised by Andalucía Emprende. For the first time, Regional Development Agencies from across Spain convened in this setting to create a collaborative space, align strategies, and explore synergies between territories. The overarching goal: to position Spain’s innovation ecosystem as a unified and competitive force on the global stage.
The ADR Forum: Building a Unified National Ecosystem
The forum was opened by Francisco Javier González Navarro, Director General for Entrepreneurship Promotion and Continuing Education at the Andalusian Ministry of University, Research and Innovation, and Daniel Escacena Ortega, Director General of Andalucía Emprende. Both addressed key themes such as the need for joint efforts to drive economic and social transformation. Guillermo Chávez García, Head of Spanish and French Markets for Estonia’s e-Residency Programme, presented Estonia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as a successful model of public-private coordination.
The programme featured two roundtables. The first focused on best practices from regional entrepreneurship ecosystems, with contributions from development agencies in Illes Balears, Aragón, Navarra, and Seville. The second explored public-private cooperation and international opportunities looking ahead to 2030, led by Luis Prieto Cuerdo, Director of Digital Economy at Red.es, and the Seville-based startup Biomixing SL, a spinoff from the University of Seville. Luis introduced the National Entrepreneurship Office (ONE Platform), highlighting its role as a national hub for entrepreneurial collaboration and its suite of tools and functionalities.
The forum also facilitated coordination with national entities such as ENISA, CDTI, EOI, and INCIBE, further reinforcing Seville’s position as a hub for innovation and cross-sector collaboration.
Overall, the ADR Forum was conceived as a national working space whose outcomes will guide regional cooperation in the years to come.
Complementary Initiatives
Beyond the ADR Forum, several other initiatives enriched this comprehensive vision. The final of the BME Scaleups programme—an initiative by Bolsas y Mercados Españoles to prepare growth-stage companies for entry into capital markets—was held during the event. Additionally, the ‘She Startups’ session spotlighted the vital role of female leadership in technology, an essential pillar for a truly innovative and equitable ecosystem.
Al‑Ándalus Innovation Venture 2024 delivered a forward-looking edition focused on collaboration and opportunity creation. The ADR Forum played a key role in advancing this mission by enabling joint efforts across regions, with active participation from public and private stakeholders and representation from Red.es. Seville continues to strengthen its position as a strategic meeting point for driving entrepreneurship and innovation in Spain.