A large delegation of the most innovative industry in the Basque Country gathered on November 13 and 14 at the Basque Open Industry. The European SME Week brought several international projects to the Bilbao Exhibition Center (BEC), and one of them was this appointment, which was useful for showing the potential of the Basque industry.

The offer of Basque Open Industry was extensive and served to show the broad industrial and technological ecosystem of the Basque Country. Under the slogan 'Let's meet in Innovation Land', Basque Industry 4.0, which used to take place until the pandemic, was presented in two days. Many public, private and business actors were there.

Wide and varied offer

But BOI was not only useful for showing the potential of the Basque industry in front of representatives of European institutions. In fact, it also offered the following opportunities to SMEs: to learn about the support aimed at the industrial sector, to test and validate technologies, to learn about the support for the internationalization process and, in general, to be aware of the trends on many different topics (from talent to the digital transition, energy and environment - until reaching the level). For this purpose, BOI's program brought together 150 protagonists (including talks given by specialists and a hundred exhibitors). In addition, meetings between companies were organized to encourage the interconnection between them.

Experts in Attracting Talent and Artificial Intelligence

There were also more BOI experts. Thus, in roundtable discussions and conversations, they provided information on the latest trends in these topics: Talent, Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Cybersecurity, Digital Transition and Energy and Environmental Transition.

In relation to the talent, the following were there: José María Peiró, professor of the University of Social Psychology in Organizations of the Universitat de Valencia and Daniel Mikolta, Director of People at the Ingeteam company.
In relation to Artificial Intelligence, Petra Püchner, European Commissioner of the Württemberg Ministry of Economy, Labor and Tourism and Director of the Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, explained new European initiatives enabling new business models through AA.

Appointments to meet with exhibitors at APP Networking Land

The interconnection that is usually created between participating companies is one of the parts that companies value the most and is of great importance. For this, an APP (called Networking Land) was enabled. Through this, it was possible to facilitate the exchange and the SMEs of the Basque Country had easy access to the exhibitors and were able to agree on appointments in advance with companies in the field of cyber security, startups and business promoters of the BIND 4.0 program, technology centers of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA) and more.

Live observation of trends

BOI was a kind of observatory to directly see the latest trends in advanced manufacturing and the new applications of the smart industry in the Basque Country. The Basque Country has stepped on the accelerator in innovation, and in fact has risen 21 places in the European ranking.

The program included conferences, panel discussions and practical workshops, with the structure of three interconnected blocks; on the one hand, talent; on the other hand, trends towards smart industry and; in addition, energy-environmental and technological-digital transitions.

It was an opportunity to delve into certain topics: internationalization, entrepreneurship, cyber security or technology, for example.

Accessible internationalization and Ukrainian stand

In terms of internationalization, the Basque SMEs that want to speed up their international expansion had access to the SPRI Group's External Network, with their own stands that would offer information. Thus, 18 offices of the SPRI Group's External Network were represented, coordinated by the Internationalization Agency of the Basque Country, Basque Trade & Investment (BTI). The agency has the potential to reach 90 countries.

One of the stands also had a special meaning. Ukraine was its basis and it was called 'Rebuild Ukraine'. Members of the Warsaw office (that office is responsible for the Ukrainian market), and Ukrainian companies and associations offered Basque companies the opportunity to participate in the country's reconstruction program (the program has been sponsored by the European Union).

Cutting-edge startups related to BIND 4.0

Entrepreneurship was also very important in the initiative and there were stands dedicated to the leading startups in the Basque Country linked to the BIND 4.0 program. This program has accelerated almost 200 projects thanks to the connection established with other companies in the Basque Country of various industrial sectors and of different sizes.

It was an opportunity to get in touch with the promoters, to discover the solutions they propose for the industrial sector and which can be incorporated into the business fabric of the Basque Country. Also, to cooperation The relationship between competitors who can find a point of connection to expand the paths of co was also promoted. On Monday, the 13th, there was the opportunity to get to know some of the success cases of the program up close.