Artificial Intelligence as a Real Driver of Business Transformation, Sustainability as a Shared Responsibility, and Public-Private Collaboration as the Only Way Forward
VASS contributed to the session on artificial intelligence, offering insights grounded in real-world business implementation. Miguel Ángel Ariza, Managing Director for Iberia South LATAM, shared the company’s experience designing flexible, modular, and secure digital architectures—built to help organizations adopt AI in an effective, ethical, and scalable way.
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These were the core themes that shaped the fifth edition of the Wake Up! Spain economic forum, held in Madrid from March 31 to April 4.
Organized by El Español, Invertia, and Disruptores, the event once again served as a key meeting point for Spain’s leading institutional, business, and tech stakeholders. Over 150 speakers participated across five days, structured around key topics—energy, digitalization, cities, defense, innovation, and employment—all aimed at addressing a pressing question: How is Spain preparing for a rapidly changing global order?
In this context, VASS contributed to the session on artificial intelligence, offering insights grounded in real-world business implementation. Miguel Ángel Ariza, Managing Director for Iberia South LATAM, shared the company’s experience designing flexible, modular, and secure digital architectures—built to help organizations adopt AI in an effective, ethical, and scalable way.
Political Stability and Energy Transition: A Shared Vision for the Future
The first day of Wake Up, Spain! opened with a strong institutional focus. The forum was officially inaugurated with a reception hosted by His Majesty King Felipe VI, attended by José Pérez Melber, CEO of VASS, and Christoph Bergdolt, Board Member. The event underscored the strategic role of technology and AI in Spain’s economic and social development. VASS’s presence reaffirmed its commitment to driving the country’s digital transformation through an ethical and sustainable lens.
The session, presided over by King Felipe VI, emphasized defense and security as critical issues for the European Union amid global uncertainty. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, highlighted Spain’s role in promoting technological sovereignty and safeguarding democratic values.
This institutional perspective was enriched by contributions from the financial and energy sectors. Repsol advocated for a competitive approach to the energy transition, while Redeia called for a reimagined electricity plan focused on demand-side strategies. Santander, Mutua Madrileña, and Iberdrola all agreed: addressing Spain’s key challenges—from pension reform to electrification—requires regulatory stability, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term vision.
Christoph Bergdolt, His Majesty King Felipe VI and José Pérez Melber
Technology and Capital Investment: Enablers of Sustainable Transformation
The second day shifted attention to industrial digitalization and sustainability. From the financial sector, BBVA warned of automation’s impact on employment and stressed the need to adapt education systems accordingly. BP and Naturgy emphasized the importance of technological neutrality for a successful energy transition and pointed to investment as a key driver—contingent on a clear, stable regulatory framework.
Discussions also underscored the role of major corporations in catalyzing transformation. Leading financial institutions reaffirmed that meaningful decarbonization requires not only proper financing but also full digitalization of the value chain.
Smart Cities, Connected Healthcare, and Tech-Driven Defense: Pillars of the New Economy
On Wednesday, the forum spotlighted urban innovation, defense technology, and healthcare. Madrid’s City Council advocated for cities to lead the fight against climate change. Urban mobility and logistics models were presented, with contributions from the municipal transport company EMT and private partners.
Sanitas highlighted the growing impact of clinical intelligence, demonstrating how data-driven approaches are enhancing personalized care and the efficiency of healthcare systems. In the defense sector, companies like Indra and Grupo Oesía called for increased investment in domestic technological capabilities to support strategic autonomy.
AI, Innovation, and Technology: Turning Theory into Business Value
Thursday was the forum’s key day for technology—and a pivotal moment for VASS, which participated in a panel on real-world applications of AI. During the session, Miguel Ángel Ariza explained that many organizations are pursuing isolated AI initiatives, often resulting in inefficiencies and fragmentation. VASS offers a solution through its RAG-based unified digital architecture, designed to orchestrate and integrate intelligent agents consistently and at scale.
This approach enables secure, efficient AI adoption grounded in strong data governance and ethical standards. Discussions also explored AI’s role across the software development lifecycle and industries like banking and retail—not as experimental pilots, but as production-ready solutions delivering measurable business impact.
VASS’s leadership in this space is supported by its integration of Intelygenz, an AI-focused firm with over a decade of experience—an acquisition that has significantly accelerated its capabilities and market presence.
That same day, companies like Masorange and Coca-Cola shared how they are using AI to enhance everything from customer experience to operational efficiency. Panelists agreed on key takeaways: the need to overcome cultural barriers, improve data quality, and establish a clear regulatory framework.
Jobs, Talent, and Regional Cohesion: How EU Funds Can Accelerate Change
The final day focused on how European funds can support workforce transformation. Mapfre emphasized the urgent need to revalue technical education as a foundation for employment in strategic sectors. Inditex provided an optimistic outlook on shifts in global trade, citing its strong capacity for adaptation. CaixaBank, Abanca, and others shared strategies for fostering greater territorial cohesion through financial sector involvement.
Institutional representatives discussed the role of public innovation, digital decentralization, and regional development. The Madrid City Council and several regional governments presented projects to digitize public services, expand tech infrastructure, and nurture local talent.
Wake Up, Spain! 2025 concluded by reaffirming its role as a national platform for reflection and collaboration on Spain’s most urgent challenges. As a digital leader, VASS left a clear message: Artificial intelligence must evolve beyond experimentation and become deeply embedded within organizations—guided by purpose, supported by robust digital architecture, and grounded in ethical principles. Only then can it serve as a true driver of transformation.