The Wave’s prelude: numbers triple with 10,000 entries and Aragon “well positioned”

The Autonomous Community of Aragon has been riding the innovation and technology train for months. The driving force behind this train is the more than €33 billion in investments announced within the technology hub in recent months, but events like The Wave are another key focus. It is organized by the Government of Aragon, and the technology giant Amazon Web Services (AWS) is also a founding partner.

Zaragoza is thus preparing this week to hold the second edition of this technology congress from Wednesday to Friday , turning the Aragonese capital, and more specifically the Congress Palace located at the Expo, into the epicenter of innovation. The Vice President of the Government of Aragon, Mar Vaquero , visited the event’s setup on Monday and expressed her “great satisfaction and excitement” with the growth of the congress, which reinforces the region’s commitment to becoming the most important technology hub in southern Europe .

“Last year we already exceeded expectations, and this year we’re doing it again with three times the number of events on offer,” Vaquero told the media. The Wave will not only bring together important companies in the sector, but has also broken a record number of registrants with 10,000 , a peak figure that triples the 3,300 from the first edition, in 2024. “It will undoubtedly be a universe of technological exploration and innovation. That’s what’s happening in Aragon ,” Azcón’s deputy announced.

A BOOMING SECTOR AND ARAGON WELL POSITIONED

The general manager of AWS in Spain, Suzana Curic , stated that “Aragon is positioning itself” as a benchmark, and this event demonstrates this. “There is a lot of interest in Aragon, and we believe this will continue to grow.” Regarding AI, one of the major pillars of this conference, the AWS spokesperson argued that it will be a key focus at The Wave and will transform society. “It has to be responsible, and we’ll see how companies implement it,” she emphasized.

The Wave’s growth is taking place in a completely different environment than a year ago. During this time, Aragón has announced billion-dollar corporate investments  in the technology sector, consolidating its position as a magnet for cutting-edge companies, especially those linked to Artificial Intelligence and data storage. 

Vaquero also noted that the region already has three major technology centers available to technology companies, and that it is also doing so by structuring the community across the three provinces with DAT Alierta in Zaragoza; Walqa in Huesca; and Tecnopark in Teruel. “The future cannot be left out. We invite all companies, regardless of their size, to become more competitive by applying technology. We are going to learn a lot,” the vice president stated.

AWAKENING VOCATIONS, AMONG THE CHALLENGES 

Beyond its business impact, The Wave also seeks to inspire new generations. The vice president emphasized the importance of fostering vocations among young people, providing them with a unique opportunity to explore the world of technology. ” Our students will be able to direct their academic or professional training toward a sector with enormous potential ,” she asserted. 

At the same time, Vaquero emphasized that Aragon has “a great opportunity” to lead the digital transformation and bring technology to every corner of the region. “We will continue to promote its reach for all Aragonese and all services, from healthcare to education,” he concluded.