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EDS Robotics is a company focused on automation, robotics and machine vision. It has earned the SME of the Year Award for 2023 and will compete at both the provincial level in Alicante and the national stage. The recognition came after EDS Robotics prevailed over 34 other finalists at the annual International Congress Meeting, with support from the Alicante Chamber of Commerce, Santander Bank, the Spanish Chamber, Alcoy and the INFORMACIÓN newspaper, as well as backing from the regional council.
During the event, the winners were announced along with second prizes that accompany the main award. The trophy went to a sports nutrition company known for natural ingredients through an internationalization approach, 226ERS Sporting Goods. A notable entry also acknowledged a drone systems developer in digitalization and innovation, Abionic Solutions; a provider of training and employment services for polymer and elastomer manufacturers in footwear and related industries, Sentelast; and a Sustainable SME winner, the Gravitational Wave company, which supports ocean cleanliness by partnering with fishermen and transforming recovered plastic and nets into other products.
In the remarks, Carlos Baño, president of the Alicante Chamber, underscored that the award represents a milestone and a public acknowledgment of the work of SMEs across the province. He recalled that SMEs account for a large share of local entrepreneurship, stressing their essential role in creating economic activity, jobs and regional development. He also highlighted the dedication of every entrepreneur who undertakes a venture, noting the challenging environment in which many operate.
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The Santander regional department for Companies and SMEs also commented that the level of participation was very high and urged organizations to remain close to firms. The bank’s manager encouraged business leaders to stay optimistic amidst economic uncertainty and drew attention to the ongoing adaptation efforts by SMEs.
The financial director of EDS Robotics, Alvaro Brotons, thanked the organizers and called for recognition of studies by universities and local training bodies that help cultivate the talent necessary to launch innovation projects like the Aspense company. He also praised the regional tech ecosystem, describing it as robust yet demanding.
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From its base in the Tres Hermanas de Aspe industrial zone, the firm began by handling industrial automation and robotics projects, later expanding to include intelligence and machine vision capabilities. It is part of the Vraia Company group, a network that brings together several regional and Galician firms to advance the application of these technologies in manufacturing settings. One standout project involved using artificial intelligence and machine vision for quality control in the tire sector, as explained by Brotons.
After its Alicante win, EDS Robotics will advance to the 2023 National SME Award of the Year. Provincial winners will be named, and the overall national winners will be celebrated at a large ceremony in Madrid in early 2024.
Other photos from the event feature various participants along with leaders from local business associations. The event also highlighted that second prize winners will compete nationally in their respective categories, rewarding those with strong internationalization efforts, educational and employment initiatives, or innovation and digitalization strategies, while prioritizing sustainability measures.
Santander Bank and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce established the SME of the Year Award in 2017 to recognize the performance and operation of small and medium-sized enterprises that create jobs and wealth. The aim is to spotlight the daily efforts of entrepreneurs who contribute to regional economic development. The award is targeted at firms with fewer than 250 employees and annual revenue under 50 million euros.
In the previous edition, the competition attracted 1,766 companies from 50 provinces and the autonomous city of Ceuta, with 50 regional Chambers of Commerce participating. Since its inception in 2017, nearly 9,069 SMEs have joined the competition. In addition to the main participants, other local figures attended the event, including Lydia Lopez from the Alicante Trade Council, Toni Contreras from Büyük BILGI Accounts, Júlia Company from the Alcoy Chamber, Eva Minano from Uepal, and César Quintanilla, among others, who supported the recognition of business achievements.
These remarks and participation underscore the ongoing support for SMEs across the region and the broader push to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth within the local economy. The impact of these efforts is reflected in the attention given to talent development, supply chain resilience, and the adoption of digital tools across manufacturing sectors. [Attribution: Alicante Chamber of Commerce, Santander Bank, Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Alcoy region partners, and INFORMACIÓN]