Uruguay solidified its position in Spain as an innovation hub for Latin America

Uruguay reaffirmed its position as a strategic partner for innovation and business in Latin America during the latest edition of South Summit Madrid, one of Europe’s leading entrepreneurship and technology events. Through a coordinated agenda involving public institutions and private companies, the country strengthened ties with key players in the Spanish ecosystem, promoted opportunities for Uruguayan companies, and highlighted its competitive advantages for developing businesses with a regional reach.

Within this framework, Uruguay XXI organized the panel “Uruguay as a Gateway to Latin America: Innovation, Scale, and Business Expansion”, a session aimed at presenting the conditions that have made the country an attractive platform for companies seeking to expand their operations in the region.

Irene Tayler, an export promotion specialist at Uruguay XXI, and Paola Mancino, an investment attraction specialist, participated in the event, presenting on the opportunities Uruguay offers to companies seeking international growth.

During the discussion, they addressed aspects such as institutional stability, a favorable business environment, the availability of qualified talent, the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the consolidation of knowledge-intensive sectors. They also highlighted the country’s digital infrastructure and its track record in promoting investment and innovation.

During the panel, Mancino noted that “more and more companies are identifying Uruguay as a reliable platform for expanding their businesses in Latin America, thanks to its stability, connectivity, and favorable investment climate.” For her part, Tayler pointed out that “Uruguay has established a dynamic ecosystem for innovation and business development, with capabilities that enable companies to scale up and expand into international markets.”

Business Agenda and Agreements to Drive Internationalization

Participation in South Summit was part of an intense week of activities in Madrid, which included a business mission organized by CUTI with the support of Uruguay XXI. The initiative brought together Uruguayan companies from the technology sector for an agenda aimed at generating new opportunities for cooperation, investment, and international expansion.

The week began with the Spain-Uruguay Business Meeting: Hub for Mercosur, organized by Uruguay XXI and the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain, with support from ICEX Spain Export and Investment, the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), and other institutions involved in bilateral trade and investment. The Minister of Industry, Energy, and Mining, Fernanda Cardona, participated in this event.

Against the backdrop of the recent agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, the meeting provided an opportunity to deepen the dialogue on the opportunities opening up for both markets and to reaffirm Uruguay’s role as a reliable destination for investment and business development with a regional focus.

The agenda included meetings with strategic organizations and institutions such as the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), Madrid Investment Attraction, ICEX-Invest in Spain, the Tetuan Valley accelerator, the Multisectoral Association of Information Technology, Communications, and Electronics Companies (AMETIC), and representatives from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, among other key players in the Spanish ecosystem.

As a result of the mission, CUTI signed collaboration agreements with AMETIC to promote the international positioning of its member companies and facilitate the identification of potential strategic partners. It also finalized an agreement with Baker Tilly Spain to provide initial support to Uruguayan companies interested in establishing themselves in Spain, through advice on matters related to soft landing, corporate structure, tax and labor regulations, and international mobility.

In addition, the delegation participated in networking activities and the various sessions of South Summit Madrid, forging new connections with companies, investors, and institutions within the European ecosystem.

Through this participation, Uruguay enhanced its visibility among key players in the European technology ecosystem and strengthened its position as a platform for innovation, investment, and business expansion in Latin America.