Spain at Slush 2025: A Mission to Boost Innovation and Connect with Global Stakeholders

Spain’s presence at Slush 2025 reinforces the entrepreneurial ecosystem’s commitment to internationalization, connection with other European hubs, and the active pursuit of new opportunities for startups and scaleups. The Spanish delegation followed a strategic agenda focused on understanding the Finnish model, fostering institutional relations, strengthening the presence of the Spain Tech Ecosystem, and sharing experiences in its own side event. 

The ONE Platform also took part in this mission, accompanying the ecosystem and supporting the connection among different stakeholders. 

This post highlights the main results of the mission and the most relevant insights for those aiming to scale their projects and gain ground in global environments.

Learning from the Finnish Model: Keys to Driving Growth

On November 18, 2025, the day before Slush officially began, the Spanish delegation had the chance to see firsthand how Finland has consolidated a competitive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. The program included visits to several organizations offering a cross-cutting view of the ecosystem.

The day started at Business Finland HQ, the public agency that funds startups, drives innovation, and facilitates international expansion. There, financing and acceleration programs designed to support internationally minded startups were presented. 

The group then visited Maria 01, one of the most influential tech hubs in Northern Europe, where startups, funds, corporations, and innovation initiatives coexist. It has become a benchmark for public-private collaboration. The visit also included presentations from Vertical and Catapult. 

The agenda continued with a visit to the Nokia Executive Innovation Center, where the latest technological demonstrations in 5G, smart networks, and immersive services were showcased, and concluded at Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.

This prior knowledge was essential to contextualize Spain’s role within Slush and identify potential synergies between both ecosystems.

Strengthening Institutional Relations: A Bridge to Accelerate Opportunities

Following the immersion day, the delegation attended a networking event at the Embassy of Spain in Helsinki. This gathering brought together public representatives, entrepreneurs, funds, and innovative companies from both countries.

These types of meetings make it possible to:

• Expand international networks with key stakeholders.
• Build institutional trust, essential for opening doors and accelerating projects.
• Position Spain as a country that drives technology and innovation.
• Attract investor interest in initiatives with growth potential.

The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities of internationalization, talent attraction, and regional collaboration.

Spain Tech Ecosystem en Slush 2025

One of the mission’s main pillars was the presence at the Spain Tech Ecosystem pavilion. This space showcased Spain’s territorial, sectoral, and investment dynamism, bringing together startups, corporations, public agents, and investors working across the country to drive innovation.

The pavilion hosted more than 34 ecosystem stakeholders, including 14 startups, 7 public agents, 7 corporates, and 6 investors. It became a meeting point for entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations, reinforcing Spain’s image as an open, diverse, and competitive innovation hub. The initiative was powered by Red.es and the ONE Platform, which supported the delegation in content dissemination and in building an inclusive and transparent narrative about the role of our ecosystem on the international stage.

Side event: “Spain’s Scaleup Momentum”

The program was completed with the side event “Spain’s Scaleup Momentum: Regional Hubs Fueling Global Innovation”, held on November 19 at Slush. The event explored how Spanish regions are driving scaleup growth, talent attraction, and global expansion.

The first roundtable addressed local strategies to attract talent and scale internationally. Representatives from the Valencia City Council, the Canary Islands Special Zone, and the startup Yuvod shared how their regions are developing plans to attract and retain talent, initiatives to support internationalization, and models of public-private collaboration. The second roundtable focused on the challenges and opportunities of Spanish innovation, featuring representatives from Talgo, BeAble Capital, WealthReader, and BBVA.

Moderated by ICEX and Red.es, the event concluded with a networking breakfast that strengthened ties between public and private stakeholders.

With this mission, and with the support of Red.es and the ONE Platform, progress is being made toward the goal of building an innovative and globally connected entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Spain’s presence at Slush 2025 demonstrates that the country has the talent, capacity, and ambition needed to occupy a relevant place on the international innovation map. The ecosystem grows when it connects, shares, and generates strategic alliances.

If you are an entrepreneur, this is the right time to explore new environments, seek international collaborations, present your project to global investors, and take advantage of missions that expand your reach.

Internationalization begins with a decision: to take the step. From the ONE Platform, we will continue to accompany this journey. That is why we recommend visiting our international promotion section and staying informed about upcoming events.