The Women and Technology Congress by Aepa-Comunidad Valenciana will take place on Friday, February 23, at 9:00 a.m. in the Alicante Provincial Council Auditorium. It will feature internationally influential speakers and showcase a curated lineup of startups that have achieved notable success. The event concentrates on research, innovations, and disruptive technologies across fields such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, genetics, anti-aging, 3D printing, virtual reality, blockchain, the Internet of Things, and robotics, among others. Three hundred professionals have already confirmed their attendance.
The keynote will be delivered by Teresa Alarcos, president of the W Startup Community, an executive and independent board member in technology companies. The opening will be led by Juan José Cortes, General Director of Innovation for the Valencian Community’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, and the closing will be presented by Fernando Canós, Deputy General Director and Eastern Territorial Director of Banco Sabadell, with participation also from Aepa president Marcela Fernández.
In the first session, titled “How Innovation Improves People’s Well-Being,” three speakers from globally recognized centers and organizations will participate: Tania Cedeño, director of the National Center for Epidemiology at the Carlos III Health Institute; Javier García, president of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and a member of the World Economic Forum, and a leading researcher in nanotechnology; and Manuel Bonilla, corporate Innovation Director at Grupo AB Living & SHA Wellness Clinic and president of Encuentros NOW. They will discuss the key technologies and innovations, current and future, in health and well-being, with real-world examples of their application for prevention and treatment of diseases.
The second session will feature a one-on-one discussion between Montse Guardia, Chief People Officer at the semiconductor company Ideaded, president of the Social Council at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), founder and advisor of Technology Startups, and Carmen Vidal, Executive Vice President of the Generative AI Association and founder of Paradigma Digital. The session, titled “The Value of Disruptive Technologies in the Enterprise,” will be led by them.
Rounding out the day, Rosa Sánchez, Secretary General of the Alicante Province Metal Employers Federation (Fempa), will speak about enabling digital technologies and industrial in-lab practices. The Elche-based journalist Mari Carmen Jiménez will host the event.
The congress will spotlight technology applied to health, tourism, and sustainability through eight Valencian startups drawn from university science parks at the University of Alicante (UA) and the Miguel Hernández University (UMH), along with Lanzadera, Juan Roig’s accelerator. The startups will showcase their prototypes and innovative tech. Notable success stories include Natalia Benito, COO of Ysotope and a Deep Tech entrepreneur, who leads the first Spanish Deep Tech startup focused on development, validation, and commercialization of radiopharmaceuticals for precision oncology. Another featured case is Silvia Antón, cofounder and CSO of Mediterranean Algae, a startup working with edible Mediterranean seaweed and algae extracts for personal care and beauty.
Also presented will be Jennifer M. Castro, Technical Deputy Director at Solublion, a company offering biodegradable, compostable, and hydro-soluble polymer solutions based on thermoplastic starch—a patented technology. Avelina Moreno, MSc, Head of R&D at Match Biosystems, a DIV-focused innovative company based in the UMH’s Scientific Park, working on a new generation of in vitro diagnostic devices and a ready-to-use product portfolio with innovative diagnostic kits, will share insights.
Another case is Alejandra Alenda, Marketing Manager at Mommus Food, a leader in plant-based, non-animal, healthy snacks made from almonds, water, salt, and natural ferments. Pilar Granado, cofounder and CTO of Oscillum, a biotechnology company in Elche, will present smart labeling solutions that enable real-time product monitoring, internal optimization, and cost savings.
Further showcases include Gemma Fernández, ADO Co-founder at Vertiports, a startup designing a range of innovative Vertiports for drones and eVTOL AirTaxi, blending real estate and aviation expertise. The event will conclude with Iria Sanz, CEO of Lateua, a Valencian startup founded in 2021 that uses artificial intelligence to power interior design projects.
The congress is organized by the Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Professionals of Alicante (Aepa) with collaboration from the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI), UA and UMH science parks, Banco Sabadell, the Diputación de Alicante, Lanzadera, the Juan Roig accelerator, Encuentros Now, and Fempa’s Innovation Area, Innometalia.