As part of the academic partnership between S3 and the renowned IQS, part of Ramon Llull University, we were asked to deliver the opening ‘Inspiration Talk’ at Innovation Day 2026, focusing on ‘Innovation in China: ally or competitor?’.
The event, held on the morning of 24 March at the IQS Auditorium, brought together academics, entrepreneurs, sustainability experts and leaders from the start-up ecosystem to address the major technological and business challenges of the moment.
The programme featured several fascinating sections, including an opening segment dedicated to scale-ups and how they integrate sustainability into their growth models, with contributions from representatives of technology companies and the research community.
This was followed by a session for emerging talent, where IQS PhD students presented their projects in a ‘Pitching my thesis’ format, followed by an Elevator Pitch from start-ups linked to the well-known 4YFN competition, such as AURAX, Hydroskin, Poseidona and Atom H2.
The day concluded with a third session focused on innovation applied to energy and technology for the reduction, capture and reuse of CO₂, featuring a round-table discussion with researchers and representatives from the industrial sector.
