Capgemini Drives Tech Hub Creation in Small Towns to Boost Local Economies and Retain Talent

Salvador Magán, head of the Aerospace and Defense area at Capgemini Spain, has called for the establishment of technological centers in smaller municipalities to invigorate local economies. This initiative is aligned with the Spanish government's strategy to decentralize the defense industry, aiming to reduce the migration of skilled professionals to other European countries and foster innovation within Spain. Magán emphasized that beyond technology itself, Spain’s technological sovereignty depends fundamentally on "talent, knowledge, and collaboration." He stressed the need for creating high-value opportunities, linking universities with industry, and building an innovation ecosystem that supports skilled jobs nationwide.

Alongside Magán, Alfredo Sanz, director of Global Risks and Security at Grupo Oesía, highlighted the importance of a unified European defense market to meet future technological and defense challenges effectively, stating that scale and access to the latest technology are essential. Furthermore, Pablo Pérez Román, director of Defense and Security for the public sector at Accenture Spain, underscored the role of technological consulting as a strategic partner to the Ministry of Defense, facilitating the adaptation of dual-use technologies originally designed for civilian use to military applications.

This concerted effort represents a broader push not only for economic revitalization in smaller towns but also for strengthening Spain’s strategic autonomy and innovation capacity in the defense sector.