Salamanca Tech Summit, the initiative that will turn Salamanca into the epicentre of the latest technological advances

From 26 to 28 June, Salamanca will host the Salamanca Tech Summit, an event that we have organised together with the Salamanca City Council and the University of Salamanca to bring the latest advances in artificial intelligence, animation, video games, biotechnology, cybersecurity and blockchain to the public.

This event reflects the commitment of the AIR Institute and the city's main institutions to research and innovation. The calibre and diversity of the speakers, coupled with the variety of themes to be explored, demonstrates this commitment. The Summit is aimed at both professionals and academics from the technology sector and the general public, providing a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the latest developments in technology.

Salamanca's Palacio de Congresos will be the venue for more than thirty conferences with more than sixty internationally renowned speakers. Among the confirmed experts are prominent figures such as Chema Alonso, Chief Digital Officer at Telefónica and cybersecurity expert; Andy Jaffke, VP of Teradata for Iberia; Javier Martínez Borreguero, Industry 4. 0 Global Head of Telefónica Tech; Mikel Díaz Parra, Quantum Global Enablement Lead at IBM Research; Roberto Morandi, EMEA Western Region AI Business Development Executive & CTO at Dell Technologies; Rubén Casado Tejedor, Managing Director and Data Lead in Spain for Accenture; Julio Merelo of Alastria; and Jorge Huguet, former General Manager of Sony Computer Entertainment Iberia, among many others.

During the presentation ceremony, which took place on the morning of 6 June, the Mayor of Salamanca, Carlos García Carbayo, stressed that the Salamanca Tech Summit is a ‘means of promoting the city's commitment to technology and innovation both nationally and internationally’. García Carbayo added that ‘thanks to the joint work with the AIR Institute and the University of Salamanca, the city is consolidating itself as a technological centre of reference in southwest Europe’.

Juan Manuel Corchado, Rector of the University of Salamanca, commented that this meeting ‘will put Salamanca at the epicentre of technological debate and make the whole community aware of the value of technology. It will also give citizens a first-hand insight into the latest developments presented by researchers and experts in different areas’. Corchado also encouraged students to take advantage of this unique opportunity: ‘Rarely will you see the gurus of IBM, Microsoft, Telefónica, Teradata, HP, Dell or Sony PlayStation in the same room’.

Finally, Fernando de la Prieta, Full Professor at the University of Salamanca and member of the BISITE Research Group, concluded the presentation by detailing the programme of the meeting and unveiling the website for the event, where all the conference details and schedules can now be viewed.