15 FEB 2024

INNOLAB Bilbao at the forefront of new technologies with the Iberdrola Hub

  • The open innovation platform continues to work to bring the many opportunities offered by the latest technological and innovation advances to organisations.

  • The Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub consolidates its position as a global hub for smart grid innovation and knowledge to help meet the challenges of the energy transition.

  • INNOLAB Bilbao launches the programme "Innovation Hubs: Transforming the future".

The open innovation platform INNOLAB Bilbao launches the programme of visits "Innovation Hubs: Transforming the future", exclusively for members and collaborators of the platform. The programme is part of the platform's strategy to stay at the forefront of technological and innovation advances. It includes a visit to the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub of Iberdrola España, an INNOLAB partner, as the first stop.

"Innovation Hubs: Transforming the future" is an initiative that allows you to get to the heart of innovation, getting to know some of the most relevant innovation hubs in the Basque Country in different fields and sectors, their facilities, processes, as well as projects carried out. At the same time, the programme aims to promote the identification of future synergies and collaborations.

The first of the guided tours was attended by various representatives of the partners and collaborators that make up INNOLAB Bilbao, such as Bilbao City Council, BBK Foundation, Mondragon Corporation, IMQ Group, University of Deusto, Sidenor, Inkolan, BCAM, Tecnalia, Vicomtech and EL CORREO, as well as Iberdrola España itself. All of them had the opportunity to see first-hand every corner of the centre and its activity. The open innovation ecosystem was highlighted as a fundamental lever on which Iberdrola España relies, as well as the challenges that this entails, the wealth of having a heterogeneous mix of collaborators, and the talent initiatives carried out by the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub to have qualified professionals with the digital skills that Smart Grids require. The day included visits to laboratories available at the centre, including the Smart Cities lab for testing developments in the area of digitalisation and automation of the low-voltage grid – the closest to the domestic customer –, and the Digital Factory, which is a space for using new technologies such as robots or digital twins, in the usual processes of energy distribution.

As we were able to see and put into practice during the visit, the Innovation Hubs are spaces designed to foster collaboration, creativity and innovation between different players in the business, entrepreneurial or academic ecosystem, among others. Spaces in which the exchange of ideas, the development of joint projects, as well as research and the promotion of new technologies are encouraged.

Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub

Located in Bilbao, the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub, promoted by Iberdrola España as a further commitment to remain at the forefront of the energy transition, is consolidating its position as a global centre for innovation and knowledge of smart grids to help respond to the challenges of the energy transition. It also acts as a driving force for innovation, combining Iberdrola España's technological capacity with more than 100 collaborating entities and companies. 

The initiative brings together the innovative potential of more than 200 professionals in the development of R&D&I projects related to the challenges of the electricity grids of the future: greater digitalisation, the processing of the data generated by these infrastructures and their response, electric mobility and self-consumption, among others.

The Director of INNOLAB BilbaoIraia Monteagudo says: "The 'Innovation Hubs: Transforming the Future' programme reinforces our commitment to technology and allows us to be at the forefront of new technological and innovation trends. Furthermore, we strongly believe in the power of collaboration to promote change and tackle the biggest challenges – a philosophy we share with the innovation hubs".

The Head of Iberdrola's GSGIH Noemí Alonso stated: "The creation of the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub is a further commitment by Iberdrola España to remain at the forefront of the energy transition, developing new business and distribution technology models through collaboration. This initiative, promoted by INNOLAB Bilbao, allows us to continue fostering a collaborative spirit, as well as creativity and innovation among different players in the business ecosystem".

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