These conferences, now a well-established format, took place throughout the morning with the goal of promoting direct collaboration. They featured B2B networking opportunities, round tables with leading business and institutional representatives such as the Miguel García Sánchez Foundation (La Caña Group), Ikos Advanced, FAAM, and Senator Hotels & Resorts. Additionally, the capabilities of leading research centers in agronomy, technology, health, and social sciences were presented.
José Antonio Sánchez, the Vice-Rector for Scientific Policy at UAL, highlighted the forum's significance in bridging the gap between research and businesses. "Our main objective was to listen to companies, understand their needs and concerns, show them our capabilities to assist them, and, above all, achieve greater innovation and add value to their products," he stated. Sánchez also emphasized the academic institution's public service mission, noting that "the university is the university of Almería, at the service of Almería."
David Iglesias, a representative from Bio Horizon Biotech and co-director of the UAL's working group for transfer and innovation, stressed the importance of applying scientific knowledge for global competitiveness. "In a highly competitive world, companies have a clear way to compete better: through innovation. We have a fantastic University of Almería that develops tremendous capabilities across various disciplines, and our aim was to ensure these capabilities and research groups reach businesses," he explained. Iglesias encouraged provincial entrepreneurs to leverage this growth avenue, stating, "This knowledge stored away is useless; it's valuable only if we can implement it in society and markets, generating wealth for our Almerian society."
Mariola Hidalgo, president of the UAL's Social Council, expressed her commitment to enhancing the relationship between the University and businesses, acknowledging that companies sometimes find it difficult to approach UAL due to "fear or lack of knowledge." She recalled the Social Council's traveling exhibition ‘Ruta de la Ciencia’, which has showcased UAL's research in over ten municipalities across the province since 2023.
The program included coffee breaks for B2B networking and a round table discussion with prominent business and social representatives. The event served to highlight the potential of UAL's main research centers in key strategic areas: Agronomy and Environment (CIAIMBITAL), Economy and Business (CDTIME), Health and Well-being (CIBIS), and Human and Social Sciences (CySOC). The conference concluded with a highly positive assessment from organizers and attendees, reaffirming the commitment to continue these dialogue spaces to transform scientific research into economic progress for Almería.
