AI-generated summary
The Akademia programme, developed by the Bankinter Innovation Foundation, is a leading educational initiative designed for college seniors to prepare them for future challenges by focusing on key innovation trends. Offering a multidisciplinary perspective, the program emphasizes innovation as a practical process that transforms original ideas into sustainable value across sectors like energy, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence. Esteemed industry experts guide students through these themes, providing insights into how companies drive innovation in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Central topics include energy’s role as a catalyst for progress, exploring new sources like hydrogen and renewables, and the intertwined importance of water management amid climate challenges. Telecommunications advancements, including emerging 6G networks, demonstrate how connectivity fuels innovation globally. The program also highlights data’s critical role in strategic decision-making, the transformative power of artificial intelligence, and the revolutionary potential of quantum computing. Recently introduced, sensorization explores the integration of sensors to create intelligent environments across various applications. Through these sessions, Akademia equips students with the knowledge to lead future innovation.
Upcoming articles will further explore these critical themes shaping the world’s future. For more details on the Akademia programme and its offerings, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the Bankinter Innovation Foundation’s website.
Discover how the Bankinter Innovation Foundation's Akademia program prepares university students to lead the future through learning about key trends in innovation, energy, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, data, and more.
The Akademia programme of the Bankinter Innovation Foundation is a benchmark in the training of new generations to successfully face the challenges of the future. Designed for college seniors, the program focuses on the key trends that will define the innovation landscape in the next decade. Akademia offers participants a multidisciplinary vision, preparing them to lead in an increasingly interconnected and technologically advanced world.
Innovation as a fundamental pillar
The Akademia program starts with an in-depth exploration of the concept of innovation, differentiating it from research and development (R+D). In this session, students understand that innovation is not only the generation of original ideas, but also the ability to turn those ideas into products and services that generate value in a sustainable way, as Fernando Alfaro, enthusiastic founder and promoter of the program, insists. The fundamental levers that drive innovation are discussed, including key sectors such as energy, telecommunications and artificial intelligence. Renowned experts such as Manuel Martínez (Ferrovial), Javier Foncillas (Dolby) and Santiago Puertolas (Hopper) offer their perspective on how companies are driving innovation in their fields.
Energy: the engine of progress
Energy is a central theme on the agenda, recognizing its critical role in human and technological development. Students explore the opportunities and challenges presented by new energy sources, such as hydrogen and renewable energy. This session highlights how each advance in the availability of new energy sources has triggered waves of innovation in different sectors. With the guidance of experts such as Nieves Cifuentes (Naturgy), Fernando Torrico (Iberdrola) and Daniel Ballorca (Hyperbaric), students learn to understand energy as a catalyst for economic and social transformation.
Water: the vital resource
When we talk about energy, we must also talk about water. It is an inseparable binomial: one does not exist without the other. In addition, water, an indispensable resource for life and the economy, is also a focus of innovation. In this session, students discuss the full water cycle in urban and industrial contexts, and how emerging technologies can transform its management and use. The water footprint is addressed and cases of innovation in this sector are presented, showing how technology can offer solutions to water challenges in a world increasingly affected by climate change. Experts such as Álvaro Silva and Teresa Alvariño (Cetaqua) provide their vision of the future of water and its sustainable management.
Telecommunications: Connecting the World
In a world where connectivity is essential, telecommunications play a crucial role in innovation processes. The Akademia program dedicates a session to exploring the most recent developments in this field, including the new 6G protocols. Participants discuss the characteristics of these new networks and their possible practical applications. Experts such as Juan Cambeiro (Telefónica) and Víctor Pittaluga (Huawei) share their insights on how evolution in telecommunications is driving new products and services, and how this directly affects the pace of global innovation.
Data: the key to decision-making
In the digital age, data is the new gold. This session of the Akademia program focuses on how companies and sectors are using data to innovate and create differentiated value propositions. Students learn about the concept of digital twin and its importance in the development of artificial intelligence. The session also explores how digital footprinting can be leveraged to improve strategic decision-making in companies. Experts such as Mercedes López (Banco Santander) and Sergio Martínez-Cava (Bankinter) guide students in understanding the power of data in the digital economy.
Artificial intelligence: replicating human knowledge
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another key area addressed in the Akademia program. During this session, students learn how AI can solve business problems and provide competitive advantages. Use cases are presented where AI has been fundamental to the success of companies in various sectors. In addition, it delves into how to build AI-based algorithms, understanding their fundamentals and practical applications. Experts such as Borja Sánchez (Rakuten) and Fernando Alfaro (Madiva) offer their experience on how AI is transforming industries and redefining the future of work.
Quantum Computing: Breaking Barriers
For this reason, the program also addresses quantum computing, an emerging field that promises to revolutionize our ability to process information. Students explore the theoretical principles of quantum computing, such as superposition and post-quantum cryptography, and discuss the current state of the technology. This session helps students understand the limitations of current technologies and the possibilities that quantum computing offers to overcome those obstacles. Experts such as Esperanza Cuenca (NVIDIA) and Carlos Kuchkovsky (Qcentroid) provide a vision of the future of this disruptive technology.
Sensorization: the power of the digital senses
Sensorization is an emerging trend that is transforming the way we interact with the environment. In this topic, new for the 2024-2025 academic year, students will explore how sensors are being integrated into a variety of applications, from healthcare to industry, enabling real-time data collection and improving the responsiveness of systems. Topics such as the miniaturization of sensors, their integration into portable devices and the impact of sensorization on the creation of intelligent environments are addressed.
Stay tuned: upcoming articles
The Bankinter Innovation Foundation’s Akademia programme covers a variety of topics that are fundamental to understanding the future of innovation. In the next few articles, we’ll delve into each of these topics, exploring how innovation, energy, telecommunications, water, data, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and sensorization are shaping the world we live in and will work in. Don’t miss it! Stay tuned to find out how these trends will influence your future and how you can prepare to lead the change.
If you want to know more about the Akademia program, we invite you to visit the Foundation’s website.
