On 19 and 20 February, the Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón (ITA), in Zaragoza, hosted a new edition of the Innovation Summit 2026, jointly organised by the Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster (ISMC) and ITA. Over two days, Aragon became the focal point of the national debate on strategic mining, industrial investment and European autonomy in critical raw materials.

The event brought together institutional representatives, leading companies, technology SMEs, financial entities and innovation experts at a decisive moment for the industrial competitiveness of Spain and Europe.

19 February | Governance and connection with the technological ecosystem

The first day was dedicated to the ISMC Board of Directors meeting and a guided visit to ITA’s facilities, where attendees explored its technological services, industrial scale-up support, digitalisation capabilities and access to innovation ecosystems.

This session strengthened the cluster’s strategic coordination and reinforced collaboration with one of Spain’s leading technology centres.

20 February | Investment, European funding and business innovation

The main conference day opened with the institutional session, during which M.ª Yolanda Vallés, Director General for Energy and Mines of the Government of Aragon, highlighted the regional government’s commitment to the responsible development of the sector and its alignment with European priorities in energy and critical raw materials.

Santiago Cuesta López, Director General of ISMC, and Álvaro Serrano, Chief Executive Officer of Saloro. President of the ISMC, emphasised the maturity of the mining ecosystem and its ability to work in a coordinated manner around innovation, financing and public-private cooperation. He underlined the need to transform mineral resources into industrial and technological opportunities capable of generating territorial impact and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Block 1 | Investment and financing in strategic mining

The first thematic block addressed the current investment landscape in the sector:

• Lluís Rodríguez, Vice-President of ICL Iberia, analysed the sectoral investment thesis and market trends.

• Ana Blanch, Managing Director of SODIAR, presented private financing instruments with a regional focus.

• Cristina Rabal (SAMCA), together with José Antonio Ezquerra, Managing Director of Euskalarido, shared successful case studies of sustainability-driven investment in mining.

This session translated strategic discussion into practical financial tools and real investment experiences.

Block 2 | European opportunities and Horizon Europe projects

The second block focused on European funding and strategic positioning:

• ISMC’s project management team presented a European funding radar outlining priorities and relevant topics aligned with critical raw materials.

• Belén Garzón showcased the OPTIMINER project as a successful Horizon Europe case.

• Laura Quijano introduced the PERMANET project as a European network supporting investment mentoring and industrial cooperation.

• Clara Balbín presented the IRMHUB project and its contribution to strengthening the mining ecosystem.

This session highlighted the importance of anticipating EU priorities and actively engaging in European networks to enhance sector competitiveness.

Block 3 | Elevator Pitch: innovation and business services

The Elevator Pitch session, held in a Q&A format, provided visibility to companies:

TECMINA, Cubicoff Ingeniería Abierta, ICAMCYL Foundation, Análisis DSC, Consultoría Geológica S.L., EMERITA Resources, Libelium and MPL XR Companyhttps://mplxr.com/.

This dynamic format showcased advanced technological solutions and specialised capabilities to potential partners and investors.

CDTI one-stop-shop and national innovation support

David Díez, Business Development Manager at ITA, presented the structuring of the CDTI national innovation project desk, strengthening the direct link between public funding instruments and business development.

The event concluded with the intervention of Manuel Arce, President of the Official College of Geologists (Aragon Delegation), and José Luis Barco, member of the Geology and Society University Chair.

A strategic forum for European industrial autonomy

In a context shaped by industrial sovereignty, supply chain resilience and the energy transition, Innovation Summit 2026 has reinforced Aragon’s positioning as a strategic hub in critical raw materials.

The outcome: new investment opportunities activated, public-private partnerships strengthened and an ecosystem demonstrating its capacity to transform mineral resources into industrial, technological and territorial value.

Through initiatives such as Innovation Summit, ISMC continues to promote high-level platforms connecting investment, innovation and cooperation, advancing a sustainable mining model aligned with European priorities and delivering tangible regional impact.

In the media

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