ANCES OPEN INNOVATION 2025 is here—the open innovation program in which nine major companies present their technological challenges to startups

Ances Open Innovation (AOI), the open innovation program of the National Association of Spanish Business Incubators (ANCES), of which CEIN is a member, is now underway. Nine major companies—true leaders in their respective sectors—have launched their respective technological challenges so that startups and innovative young companies can submit their solutions.

The leading companies in this 8th edition of Ances Open Innovation are Cojali, COVAP, Denso Ten, Grupo Orenes, Iberdrola, Macrosad, MAPFRE, Meisa, and Mundiplan. Ances Open Innovation will thus feature vital sectors of our country’s economy: “One of the main characteristics of Ances Open Innovation is the diversity of our leading companies. So far, we have received over 600 proposals, from which 79 winning solutions have emerged. The winning startups begin a collaboration process with the established company responsible for the challenge. There are even several cases of companies that were finalists but not winners who have managed to maintain a fruitful relationship with the lead company thanks to their participation in AOI,” state Álvaro Simón de Blas, president of ANCES, and Cristina Fanjul, vice president and coordinator of this program.

Once the call for proposals is launched in February 2025, companies will have until March 7 to submit their solutions. In April, ANCES will announce the finalists who will present their proposals at the Ances Open Innovation Final Event, to be held in May in Madrid.

THE CHALLENGES, ON THE WEBSITE WWW.ANCESOPENINNOVATION.COM

The Ances Open Innovation 2025 website provides detailed information about the challenges posed by the nine leading companies, as well as registration forms and a summary of the seven previous editions of AOI. Here is a summary of the challenges:

COJALI. An AI-based solution designed to transform the visual management of parts and components at Jaltest Diagnostics, the global leader in multi-brand diagnostics and repair for commercial vehicles. The challenge is to develop a solution capable of processing Jaltest Diagnostics’ extensive catalog of technical images, standardizing and optimizing them to provide a clearer, more consistent, and more accessible representation. This will enable mechanics to interpret the information more quickly and efficiently, streamlining diagnostic and repair processes.

COVAP. Innovative AI-based solutions that optimize COVAP’s efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness throughout the entire agri-food chain, from primary production to the end consumer.

DENSO TEN. Implement an automated physical inventory system for the warehouse area—where the raw materials supplied to the SMT workshop are stored—to significantly reduce the inefficiencies caused by this process in production operations.

GRUPO ORENES. Create a real-time video analytics system powered by artificial intelligence, interconnected with the Alarm Monitoring Center of the Grupo Orenes Security Department. This system must trigger alarms when certain abnormal operations occur in our devices due to misconduct by external agents or discrepancies in certain parameters.

IBERDROLA. Innovative hardware and digital solutions in the field of photovoltaic energy. We are interested in any technology that can improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase durability, or facilitate the integration of photovoltaic systems into different environments.

MACROSAD. Develop digital solutions for the Home Care Service (SAD) that incorporate key elements, such as: personalization (tailoring services to each person’s individual needs), early detection (proactive identification of situations posing a risk of isolation or loneliness), and efficient care (rapid and effective interventions that promote quality of life).

MAPFRE. Optimizing the medical appointment management process through the use of AI when we do not have access to the schedules of doctors and specialists who see patients at facilities outside of MAPFRE.

MEISA. Implementation of innovative solutions to reduce downtime through one or more Industry 4.0 technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced robotics, 3D printing, and mixed reality (MR), among others.

MUNDIPLAN. Development of a virtual travel advisor using AI, designed to interact with our customers online, enhancing the user experience by providing quick and accurate responses to inquiries about destinations, reservations, and the services we offer. Communication can be either written or verbal.