AIR Institute, ITCL, CIDAUT, CESEFOR, and CETECE will be participating in various events as part of the Startup OLÉ 2026 program, which will take place in Salamanca from October 13 to 15. NODDO will support and highlight the participation of the partner technology centers during the event.
Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026 will bring together various activities related to entrepreneurship, innovation, and networking among companies, institutions, startups, and other stakeholders in the ecosystem from October 13 to 15.
In this edition, several technology centers in Castile and León that are affiliated with NODDO are playing a specific role in the program. AIR Institute, ITCL, CESEFOR, and CETECE will be present at various sessions and venues during the event, while NODDO will support their participation through communication and outreach and will be on hand to assist the centers. This is precisely the collaboration agreement reached between NODDO and Startup OLÉ, with the association itself not participating in the official program.
ITCL is participating in the event with a panel discussion on innovation and healthcare startups
Participation by the partner centers begins on October 13 with ITCL Technology Center.
From 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., David Lucio, Head of the Digital Health Area at ITCL, will moderate the panel discussion “The Role of Health Research Institutes in Promoting Health Startups, ” in the Rehearsal Room at the Salamanca Convention Center.
The agenda also includes the participation in this panel of representatives from IBSAL, IBioVall, and IBioBurgos.
That same day, between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., the program includes a panel discussion titled “Technology Centers as Drivers of Business Innovation.” The agenda is available at this link.
October 13: Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Healthcare
The first day will feature two panel discussions with representatives from the technology centers affiliated with NODDO.
7:30–8:00 p.m. | The Role of Health Research Institutes in Supporting Health Startups
Rehearsal Hall. Salamanca Convention Center.
ITCL Technology Center will be represented by David Lucio, head of the Digital Health Division, who will moderate this panel discussion on the role of health research in the creation and growth of innovative startups.
Also participating will be Lucía García, scientific director of IBSAL; Javier Castrodeza, co-scientific director of IBioVall; Alicia Merayo, a researcher with the ALBA Group at the University of León; and María Rodríguez, a member of the Scientific Committee of IBioBurgos.
The event will provide an opportunity to explore the connection between research, technology, and entrepreneurship as a means of translating scientific advances into new healthcare solutions.
8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Technology Centers as Drivers of Business Innovation
This roundtable will bring together representatives from four technology centers affiliated with NODDO to highlight their contribution to innovation, technological cooperation, and business competitiveness.
Speakers will include:
- Raúl García, Project and Partnership Management at the AIR Institute, as moderator.
- David Lucio, head of the Digital Health Division at ITCL.
- Jorge Velasco, head of R&D at the CIDAUT Foundation.
- Fernando Rubio, Head of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Division at CESEFOR.
The session will provide an overview of the role of technology centers as agents that connect specialized knowledge with the real needs of the business community, thereby promoting the development of R&D&I projects and technology transfer.
Institutional Presence and Innovation Ecosystem at the October 14 Event
The program for October 14 includes the official opening of Startup OLÉ and various sessions with representatives from government agencies and organizations linked to the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Among them is the panel discussion titled “The Role of Institutions in the Growth of the Ecosystem,” scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in which Augusto Cobos, executive director of ICECYL, will participate alongside representatives from other institutions and organizations.
CESEFOR and CETECE are participating in the event on October 15
The final day of Startup OLÉ will feature specific opportunities for participation by CESEFOR and CETECE, two technology centers affiliated with NODDO. On October 15, the schedule includes two dedicated sessions.
CESEFOR will host the CESEFOR Forum from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Small Hall of the Palacio de Congresos. The program includes two consecutive panels dedicated to the opportunities offered by digitalization and artificial intelligence for the forestry sector, under the title “Powered by CESEFOR, ” from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. and from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.
dedicated to the opportunities that digitization and artificial intelligence offer the forestry sector.
The first session, “Traceability and Industry, ” will bring together:
- David Villada, head of the Forestry Promotion Service of the Regional Government of Castile and León, served as moderator.
- Rodrigo Gómez, CTO of the CESEFOR Foundation.
- Gonzalo Álvarez, project engineer at Föra Forest Technologies.
- Javier Melús, researcher at the Technological Institute of Castile and León (ITCL).
The session will address the opportunities offered by technology to improve traceability, industrial processes, and the digital transformation of a strategic sector for Castilla y León.
The CESEFOR Forum will continue from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. with a second session as part of its program.
For its part, CETECE, a technology center specializing in the agri-food sector, will participate from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. in the panel discussion “From Challenge to Opportunity: Innovation That Transforms the Agri-Food Sector,” which will focus on innovation’s ability to address the sector’s challenges and generate new opportunities for business development, as part of the program in the Authorities Room.
The session will be moderated by Eva de la Gala, CETECE’s Director of Business Development, and will feature business representatives:
- Virginia Fradejas, founder and CEO of Kamarere.
- Rodolfo Chaves, CEO of QUALI-IA.
- Ernesto Gómez, CEO of Ingern.
- Juan Carlos Fernández, CEO of Vetonia Silvestre.
This forum will provide an opportunity to share different perspectives on agri-food innovation, the application of new technologies, and collaboration as a driver of business competitiveness.
The agenda is available at this link.
NODDO supports the participation of the Technology Centers
The presence of AIR InstituteITCL, CESEFOR, and CETECE at Startup OLÉ enables the associated Technology Centers to bring their activities and participation in various fields related to innovation and entrepreneurship to this event.
From NODDO, the association of Technology Centers in Castile and León, we will support the communication and promotion of Startup OLÉ and, in particular, the participation of our member centers.
More information: Official schedule for Startup OLÉ Salamanca 2026.
