South Summit 2025: innovation, connections, and collaboration to keep driving the ecosystem forward

South Summit has once again positioned Madrid as the epicentre of entrepreneurship and innovation. For three days, the ecosystem gathered for an intense schedule of talks, networking and presentations, with thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, public sector agents, accelerators, hubs, and universities sharing ideas, projects and lessons learned.

This year’s official opening ceremony was attended by King Felipe VI, alongside Óscar López, Minister for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service; Carlos Cuerpo, Minister for Economy, Trade and Enterprise; Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid Region; José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid; and María Benjumea, Founder of South Summit.

During the opening session, Minister Óscar López reaffirmed the Spanish Government’s commitment to supporting digital talent and innovative entrepreneurship as key drivers of the country’s transformation.
“You are in the right country. Listen to the proposals and invest. Startups bring the business, and the Spanish Government supports you with laws and measures that have made Spain the third-largest startup ecosystem in Europe by value,” he stated. He also stressed the importance of developing artificial intelligence projects that are aligned with ethical principles and contribute to social wellbeing.

Also in attendance were Jesús Herrero, Director General of Red.es; David Francisco Blanco, Secretary General of Red.es; Carla Redondo, Director General for the Regulation of Digitalisation and Audiovisual Communication Services; and María González Veracruz, Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence.

The ONE Platform hosted a dedicated space within the stand of the Secretariat of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), where representatives engaged with stakeholders from both the Spanish and international innovation ecosystems. The goal was to showcase the resources, tools and services offered to entrepreneurs, startups, institutions and support organisations. This presence enabled direct interaction to better understand their needs, explore possible collaborations and continue building a shared network that strengthens collective progress.

South Summit was a unique opportunity to speak with individuals driving entrepreneurship from different regions.
Lorena Pedrós, Senior Advisor for Startups at IDEAS UPV, spoke to us about how the university ecosystem is working to open up new opportunities: "we want our teams to access programmes and connections that help them mature their projects. Events like this are not only inspiring – they also open doors to valuable partnerships."

Ana Torrent, Manager of the Canary Islands Association for Technological Excellence, shared her experience supporting startups from the archipelago: "we’ve brought over 20 companies from the islands to raise their profiles, connect with investors and showcase the technological potential being developed in the Canaries. These events are key for gaining visibility and generating impact beyond our territory."

We also heard from Irene Nuñez, Founder of Minitales, attending this type of event for the first time:
"I came with a bit of scepticism – I’ve worked with more established startups and wasn’t sure if this kind of event was for me. But it surprised me. On one hand, it creates real connections between projects that already share space – like on the Google campus. On the other, there’s a constant flow of ideas and feedback."

South Summit 2025 left a clear message: innovation is built through talent, collaboration and shared vision.
Innovative entrepreneurship needs spaces to meet, be inspired, and co-create.

Next stop: VivaTechnology 2025

From 11–14 June, the Tech Mission to VivaTechnology 2025 will take place, organised by Red.es, ICEX, and the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Paris – an ideal opportunity to strengthen connections with the French innovation ecosystem.

The preliminary agenda on 10 June includes visits to key organisations such as Bpifrance, WILCO, Thales, and Station F, with a day-end networking session alongside Business France, Acció, and Choose Paris Region. Among the speakers sharing their experiences will be Yolanda Echarte, Deputy Director of SMEs and Entrepreneurship at Red.es, who will take part in several panels with representatives from ICEX and OFECOMES.

The Spain Pavilion at VivaTechnology will provide visibility for participating organisations through their presence at the stand, the official catalogue and other promotional materials. In addition, support will be offered for obtaining accreditations, facilitating international connections and providing ongoing assistance from the organising entities. Participants will also engage in institutional activities and networking spaces to strengthen collaboration with other public and private ecosystem players.

From the ONE Platform, we reaffirm our commitment to a stronger, more connected and opportunity-rich innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem – for everyone who is part of it.

In the image, from left to right: Carla Redondo, Director General for the Organisation of Digital Services and Audiovisual Communication; Óscar López, Minister for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service; María Benjumea, Founder of South Summit; María González Veracruz, Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence; Reyes Maroto, Spokesperson for the Socialist Municipal Group in Madrid City Council; and Jesús Herrero, Director General of Red.es.