DEAR PARTICIPANT

The I Congress on Innovation in Construction, Building, Infrastructure and Concessions (IC2), to be held in Santander during the first week of June 2026, represents a unique opportunity for international networking, collaboration, and boundary expansion for all stakeholders in the sector.

Construction is a key economic and social driver at a global level, and Spain has established itself as an international benchmark, thanks to the innovative capacity of our companies, universities, and research centers. This combination of knowledge, technology, and strategic vision has enabled our organizations to lead the transformation toward a more sustainable, digital, and competitive construction industry.

This congress is born from the union of three major pillars of innovation and knowledge in Spain:

• The Spanish Construction Technology Platform (PTEC), which brings together more than 160 companies in the field of construction innovation.

• The University of Cantabria, through its prestigious School of Civil Engineering, an international reference in research and academic training in the field of civil infrastructure and building.

• The Network of Construction Clusters, which brings together more than one thousand companies and organizations across the country committed to the transformation of the sector.

The collaboration of these entities ensures a pioneering, high-level scientific event that aims to showcase Spain’s role as a leader in innovation while opening new avenues for international cooperation.

For this first edition, we will have the honor of welcoming Chile as Guest Country, which will allow us to strengthen ties with Latin America and foster strategic academic and business alliances in a sector that faces shared global challenges.

The Palacio de la Magdalena, the congress venue, will serve as a meeting point where representatives of leading companies, innovation centers, universities, and international experts will exchange experiences and knowledge around the major challenges of the future: digitalization, sustainability, industrialization, energy efficiency, resilient infrastructure, and new models of concession and management.

IC2 is much more than a congress: it will be a platform to discover collaboration opportunities, foster knowledge transfer, and showcase the innovative strength of the construction sector, not only in Spain but on a global scale.

The congress content is broad and diverse, designed to cover every aspect of our practice. For this reason, we have prepared an innovative and up-to-date program with a strong scientific foundation. Through lectures, workshops, sessions, and the participation of renowned national and international experts, as well as leading companies in the sector, priority topics will be addressed, such as digital transformation, sustainability, energy efficiency, new construction materials, automation, robotics, and financing for innovative projects.

We encourage you to take an active role in this transformative space, where companies, institutions, and academics will work together to shape the future of construction.

We look forward to welcoming you in Santander, from June 1st to 5th, 2026.

Dear Colleagues,

It is both an honor and a pleasure to announce the First Congress on Innovation in Construction, Building, Infrastructure and Concessions (IC2), the first international congress held in Spain dedicated to the technological and digital transformation of a sector that is essential for building a better world.

This congress will bring together the most expert and accredited voices of a sector that looks to the future with optimism and enthusiasm—a future that will undoubtedly be shaped by technology; one that is increasingly digital and compels us to evolve continuously on the basis of training, sustainability, and innovation.

In addition to analyzing the technological revolution in the sector, IC2 will serve as a meeting point to share experiences, present new technologies, and debate the main global challenges—thus establishing a landmark date in the calendar.

Taking into account the international scope of the Congress, and in light of the uncertainty generated by current geopolitical tensions, it will become clear that construction will be strategic in ensuring that the European Union does not lose competitiveness in such a turbulent global context. It will be key for channeling and effectively executing the investment needed to strengthen the internal market against the resurgence of protectionism, and for turning this wave of populism into an opportunity to reinforce the liberal democracies that prevail within the EU.

Construction thus emerges as a key ally in accelerating the ecological and digital transitions that set our roadmap for the future.

Our sector stands as an example of modernity and dynamism. It is modern, highly specialized, and, in order to consolidate its leadership, must make a firm commitment to innovation—the very commitment that has made this Congress possible, ensuring it becomes a benchmark for all.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Pedro Fernández Alén
President of the National Construction Confederation
and of the Construction Labor Foundation