European forum for innovation and entrepeneurship

During the first panel on strategic innovation, deep tech, and quantum technologies at the 1st European Forum for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, experts from the institutional, industrial, and scientific sectors agreed on the urgent need to bridge the gap between research and the market.

The session featured Patricia Sierra, Director of monodon (Research & Venture) at Navantia, S.A., S.M.E; Paula Kleij, Policy Officer in Quantum Technologies at the European Commission; Vicente Martín, Principal Investigator of the GIICC at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; with Victor Gaspar, Sales Director at Multiverse Computing, as moderator, and Luis Fernando Álvarez-Gascón, General Manager of Secure e-Solutions at GMV, as the “challenger.”

Victor Gaspar warned that “Europe faces a clear risk: continuing to fund science while others capture the industrial value,” emphasizing the need to boost tech startups, strengthen knowledge transfer, and rely on instruments such as innovative public procurement and venture capital to scale up.

Patricia Sierra highlighted that “Spain is developing a solid strategy in quantum technologies,” focusing on technological sovereignty, cybersecurity, and the need to strengthen the capacity to bring innovation to the market through investment vehicles that allow solutions to scale.

Vicente Martín stressed the importance of shortening the distance between research and application: “It is fundamental to facilitate the creation of hubs that allow for an agile transition toward real innovation,” also highlighting the key role of post-quantum technologies in ensuring future security.

Luis Fernando Álvarez-Gascón emphasized the sector’s commitment: “At AMETIC, we have spent years championing the creation of spaces that drive innovation,” integrating emerging technologies such as quantum and dual-use tech into the ecosystem.

The message is clear: Europe has the knowledge, but it needs to accelerate its execution capacity, scale its innovations, and reinforce its technological autonomy in key areas such as deep tech and quantum computing.