Mediterranean LAB Foundation, a program led by L’Associació de Científiques i Científiques i Científics d’Excel·lència del Pla and supported by the Valencian Association of Entrepreneurs, AVE, will host a collaborative meeting that brings researchers and business leaders together. The event is scheduled for next Tuesday, March 21, and will involve GenT.Accent, the Alicante Family Business Association AEFA, Valencia Entrepreneurs Association, Alicante Room, the Valencia Community Business Confederation ANSWER, the King Jaume I Awards Foundation FPRJI, the University of Alicante, and Miguel Hernández University. The aim is to foster meaningful synergy between the worlds of research and enterprise, creating a space where ideas can translate into practical business value.
The gathering will be held in person and will commence at 11:00 in the morning at the main restaurant located on Calle Andalucía, 18 in Alicante. It promises a dynamic networking environment, enabling participants to form connections that can drive collaborative opportunities and new ventures.
The session will begin with an opening address by Alberto Gutierrez, President of Fundación LAB and CEO of Aquaservice, together with Gonzalo Abellán, Head of AccenT. The welcome remarks will set the stage for a dialogue focused on aligning research capabilities with corporate needs and market opportunities.
Following the welcome, a structured dialogue will explore how research insights can translate into real benefits for companies. Nuria Olive, co-founder and director of ELLIS Alicante, and Damia Tormo will guide the discussion, moderated by Jose Maria Gomez Gras, managing partner and co-founder of Columbus Venture Partners, Professor of Business Organization at Universidad Miguel Hernández. The conversation will illuminate pathways for practical collaboration and knowledge transfer between academia and business teams.
Then seven renowned AccenT researchers will present their fields of study and highlight concrete, business-friendly applications. Presenters include Rose Aran (University of Alicante), Amilcar Bedoya (Universidad de Valencia), Bald Kings (University of Alicante), Jordi Gamir (Universidad Jaume I), Ibrahim Mendoza (Universidad de Valencia), Carlos Sabater (University of Alicante), and Antonio Jose Signes (Miguel Hernández University). Each session will emphasize how scholarly findings can be leveraged to solve current commercial challenges and to drive innovation in product development, operations, and strategy.
The day will culminate with a collaborative dialogue featuring Raul Martin, Corporate General Manager and CEO of KM ZERO Food Innovation Hub, a member of the LAB Mediterráneo Foundation’s Executive Board, and Mary Carmen Vidal, head of product development at Dacsa Group. They will discuss the organization’s commitment to research and development as a cornerstone for addressing business challenges and advancing competitive advantage across sectors.
Mediterranean LAB Foundation
The LAB Mediterráneo Foundation is a project born from AVE with the goal of establishing the Valencia Community as a national and European benchmark for entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, and research. The foundation seeks to be a catalyst that accelerates the region’s tech ecosystem and strengthens linkages between science, industry, and investors. Its mission centers on elevating Valencia as a magnet for talent and investment while promoting practical innovation that improves competitiveness and quality of life.
To achieve these aims, the Foundation has outlined five core priorities: stimulating the creation and growth of technology startups; attracting national and international tech companies to install operations in the Valencian Community and generating a positive “tractor effect”; supporting enterprises in non-tech sectors to accelerate digital transformation; increasing private investment in R&D+i; and reinforcing the capabilities of research institutions to advance knowledge and practical outcomes.
The Foundation’s Board includes a diverse group of partners, such as Aceitunas Cazorla, Aquaservice/Plug and Play, AVE, Baleària, Banco Sabadell, Boluda Corporación Marítima, CaixaBank, Dacsa Group, Familia Martínez/KM ZERO, GDES, Grupo AZA, Grupo Bertolílados, Grupo Bertolílados Estiu, Importaco, Lanzadera, Logifruit, Nunsys/inConcert, Royo/Invext, S2 Grupo, SPB/Cleanity, TIBA/Romeu, Verne Technology Group, and ZEUS/Sesame, reflecting a wide network of industry, finance, and technology partners supporting Valencia’s growth.