09/05/2025
Aragon Strengthens Its Strategic Role in Dual Technologies with Industry Leaders During the 2nd SME Week in Aragon
AERA, the Aeronautics, Space, and Defense Cluster of Aragon, collaborated and organized the Dual Industry Meeting, promoted by the Directorate for SMEs of the Government of Aragon and the Directorate for Innovation and Industrial Promotion, with support from the Aragonese Development Institute (IAF).
Within an increasingly challenging geopolitical landscape, Aragon today hosted a key event that brought together representatives of leading companies, academic institutions, and military authorities to discuss the present and future of the defense industry, cybersecurity, and the opportunities of the dual-use ecosystem in the region.
The event began with welcoming remarks from Ana Sanz, Director of SMEs and the Self-Employed of the Government of Aragon, who emphasized the role of Aragon in SMEs, innovation, industry, and the future, stating:
“That is why we are here today—to build bridges, to generate synergies, and to position Aragon as a land of opportunities in a strategic industry at both national and European levels.”
Next, Alejandro Ibrahim, President of the Aeronautical, Space, and Defense Cluster of Aragon (AERA), highlighted that “the Draghi Report emphasizes the development of SMEs and the global increase in investment, making it essential to strengthen critical supply chains (microelectronics, secure communication systems, AI applied to defense).”
Following that, in the round table “Defense Industry in Aragon”, moderated by Daniel Rey, Director of IAF, the companies Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E), ARPA, and INSTALAZA participated, discussing their growth processes through innovation, qualified employment, and technological sovereignty, while addressing challenges such as internationalization and public–private collaboration.
Rafael de Solís, CEO of the Robotics Unit at EM&E, emphasized the growing demand for robotic solutions at the international level and the importance of strengthening ties with Aragonese suppliers. César Fernández, Director of ARPA, highlighted his company’s ability to maintain the highest quality standards, its investment in R&D&I, and its strong customer focus. Luis Ciria, representing INSTALAZA, stressed their dual strategy of reinforcing growth and sustainability while developing more complex and efficient systems.
The event continued with a strategic conversation on the national ecosystem, moderated by Alejandro Ibrahim, Director of Teruel Airport and President of AERA, featuring representatives from the Joint Cyberspace Command (MCCE) and CESTE International Business School. Lieutenant Colonel Enrique Castañeda, from MCCE, shared the vision of MCCE as an integrated cyber defense system that combines military capabilities with civilian and private sector collaboration, highlighting the key role of artificial intelligence in cyber defense. He emphasized the need for education and training to respond to cybersecurity threats, especially in AI, telecommunications, and computing.
Mateo Barrios, ICT Director at CESTE, stressed the importance of adapting university education to real market demands and promoting public–private collaborations for new research systems to attract and retain talent in the region.
The closing session, titled “Dual Ecosystem in Aragon”, was moderated by Inés Villa, Managing Director of AERA. The discussion focused on the opportunities that dual-use technologies offer for the Aragonese industrial network. Representatives from UMEC, EQUIMODAL, and Aragón Photonics shared specific examples of applied innovation in sectors such as precision machining, sustainable logistics, and advanced fiber-optic detection.
Diego Alierta, CEO of UMEC, highlighted Aragon’s role as a strategic industrial hub and explained the scale of traceability and certification in his company, referencing the UNE-EN 9100 aerospace quality standard.
María Domínguez, CEO of EQUIMODAL, described how her company applies innovation and digitalization in the dual logistics field, using lighter materials and new energy, storage, and production systems.
Aitor García, Technical Coordinator of Aragón Photonics, presented the capabilities of DAS technology for monitoring in critical environments and advocated for attracting scientific and technical profiles—especially graduates and PhDs—to the growing and precise dual photonics technology sector.
Special mention was made by Inés Villa, Director of AERA, announcing the General Assembly of the EACP (European Aerospace Cluster Partnership), organized by AERA, which will be held in Zaragoza and Teruel Airport in November 2025, gathering 42 European aerospace clusters from 23 countries.
The event concluded with remarks by Mar Paños, Director of Industrial Promotion and Innovation of the Government of Aragon, who emphasized the importance of the defense sector and the role of the Aragon Defense Hub in this event.
Throughout the day, it became clear that Aragon has the potential to become a forerunner in the dual-use industry. Collaboration among companies, institutions, armed forces, and academic centers stands out as the key to successfully facing the challenges posed by a constantly evolving global environment.
