In 2015, the Bankinter Innovation Foundation launched new initiatives to meet the objective that inspired its creation in 2003: Promote innovation and entrepreneurship as motors for creating sustainable wealth. To do this, the Foundation works with various groups in our society, from businessmen, executives and entrepreneurs, to those who will take on such positions in the future, such as students currently in higher education.
The Foundation works with four great initiatives: the Future Trends Forum, Akademia, Entrepreneurs and Cre100do. These initiatives can be described as a virtuous circle, beginning with the detection of main global trends in the world of innovation. These trends are then transmitted into the university community and the real world, finally receiving the precise impulse to turn them into economic motors via business activity. These were their activities:
The FTF is the first and only think tank in Spain dedicated to science and technology, and is one of the best 25 in the world according to the index elaborated by the University of Pennsylvania, incorporating more than 6,000 think tanks. It is made up of an exclusive group of 400 top-level experts, whose mission consists of anticipating the immediate future, detecting and analysing innovative trends that will transform society and business models in the medium term. During 2015 the following trends were analysed:
Big data and human performance. The implications that the increasing amount of data that we produce by using credit cards, mobile phones, wearable technology (smart watches, electronic bracelets, etc.) and other devices were studied, with respect to their effect on people, governments and businesses. The conclusions of this study can be found at this link.
The machinery revolution. An analysis of how new technological developments (Internet, robotics, artificial intelligence, etc.) will boost employment and job markets over the next decade, and a description of the best strategies for anticipating and facilitating changes. The conclusions of this study can found at this link.
Cybersecurity. Measures that should be taken to ensure the security of all information created by society were discussed, in a context of transparency, vigilance and safety. The meeting took place in December and conclusions will be published during the spring of 2016. Cybersecurity was also a topic of debate in the three rounds of conferences that took place for the first time in 2015, under the general name of NextPractice. Using these conferences, the Foundation and Bankinter aim to consolidate a community of innovation, which discovers the opportunities and effects of trends analysed by the Future Trends Forum. The other two central topics of 2015, within the context of NextPractice, were The second age of machinery and Open innovation.
This programme, launched in 2006 to influence education and to promote an innovative approach among future leaders, took place during the 2014-2015 academic year across nine universities, with an enrolment of 218 students. Students attended tutorials and practical classes, in addition to several meetings with entrepreneurs who explained their experiences, with an aim to understand the tools that innovation will offer in the future. At the end of the course, each student presented a self-designed business model.
More than 40 professionals make up the teaching staff. The 2015-2016 courses was initiated in 12 universities, a significant increase from the 2 universities (Deusto and Valencia Polytechnic) that took part in the first year.
In 2015, the Akedemia Open Project was initiated, which aims to open the Akademia experience to anybody who wishes to learn more about the particularities of the trends analysed in the Future Trends Forum. It offers online module courses, free of charge, with an instructional and pedagogic design, thus facilitating the understanding of innovation.
Alicante University collaborate in the project, contributing the technological platform. The first course of Akademia Open Project was titled Innovation applied to medicine: 'Health a-l -carte'. (Link)
It is a joint programme between the Foundation and Bankinter's Venture Capital area, launched in 2013, and which supports the enterprise in its early development phases, in addition to helping to promote the enterprise across Spanish society.
Around 1,200 projects have been presented since then, referring to a wide range of fields, such as renewable energies, nanotechnology and telecommunications. Of these 1,200 projects, 17% went past the initial filter and 1.6% received investments.
In 2015, funding was approved for seven projects:
PlayGiga. A cloud-based game distribution platform.
TalentClue. Recruitment software that automates the staff selection processes.
Clarive. Support tools for development and operations teams.
QaShops. Assistance to manufacturers and suppliers in publishing their catalogues around the world across all channels.
Starupxplore. Community of startups that connects with all players in the European ecosystem.
Viuing. The first portable device based on disposable, simple and functional TV technology, broadcasting in real-time everything that is going on at large events, public or private.
Hundredrooms. Metasearch engine for tourist apartments and holiday houses. It compares more than a million accommodations from a hundred different websites, offered by individuals.
Cre100do is a programme for business transformation initiated by the Bankinter Innovation Foundation, the Instituto de Comercio Exterior (ICEX) and the Circle of Employers, which, over the next 5 years, will accompany 100 Spanish companies on their path to become large businesses, and opening the path for many others.
Cre100do wants to develop a point of reference for the growth of companies that benefit the country, sharing highimpact concepts and business practices via the participation of 100 companies in the programme.
To do this, 15-25 companies are selected each year. Selected companies have an annual turnover of between 25 and 250 million euros, and the following five years consists of helping them to boost this turnover. Priority is given to sectors in which the positive impact of these companies can have a multiplier effect, applying criteria that allows for the growth potential to be assessed.
Top-level companies collaborate with the Cre100do programme, including: Accenture, Asesores Financieros Internacionales (International Financial Advisers), AT Kearney, Bankinter, Deloitte, Esade, Garrigues, IBM, IESE, McKinsey, Ramón y Cajal, PwC, Telefónica and the Foro de Marcas Renombradas Españolas (Forum of Renowned Spanish Brands). Top level independent professionals also provide their support to the project.
The companies selected in 2015 were Mascaró, Matholding, Gocco, GMV, Egile, Natura Bissé, Premo, Jobelsa, Istobal, Fini, Normon, Ibi, Textil Santanderina, Atarfil, Pikolinos and Chocolates Valor.
