The Innovation Plan for Transport and Infrastructure aims to achieve greater economic and social profitability of public and private investments in Spain, as well as attract foreign investment.

Ineco’s recently-created General Management of Transformation, Internationalization and Innovation will be in charge of preparing the document, which aims to promote the digital economy in Spain. In the words of Íñigo de la Serna, minister of Public Works, “this plan will be a fundamental milestone in the government’s commitment to smart technologies.”

Boost for BIM at the 5th meeting of the Commission 

The Innovation Plan is in line with the government of Spain’s support for the development of BIM, a work methodology that manages the entire life cycle of buildings and infrastructure using computer tools.

The Ministry of Public Works hosted the fifth meeting of the BIM Commission, led by Ineco, which aims to promote the use of BIM, increase awareness of public administrations of the establishment of BIM requirements in infrastructure tenders, set a timetable for adapting the regulations for widespread application of the requirements, develop national standards to allow uniform application, and implement an academic training plan for this methodology in Spain, as well as facilitate its incorporation into programmes of study. The minister emphasized that the European Union has urged Spain to incorporate this methodology to try to bring about a regulatory change in procurement and tendering processes.

Last May, under the slogan Civil engineering to transform the world, Madrid hosted the fourth Civil Engineering Week (SICMA). Ineco, along with other companies and institutions, sponsored the event, which hosted a wide range of activities such as exhibitions, workshops, conferences, etc. These included a series of volunteer-led guided visits to large engineering works installed in central locations distributed throughout the city, including a floodgate from the Panama Canal in the Plaza de Colón, several water cycle pieces in the Plaza de Castilla, a tunnel boring machine at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, a wave-measurement buoy with accelerometer on the Paseo del Prado, and a stretch of rail tracks with sleepers and a rail truck next to the Reina Sofía Museum.

In addition, various facilities were opened to the public, such as the control centre of Metro de Madrid, the Torrespacio skyscraper and the EMT Historical Bus Museum. Conferences and round-table discussions were also held on various topics, such as civil road engineering in the face of climate change, and the internationalization of the sector, with participation by Ineco’s chairman, Isaac Martín-Barbero, and director of Internationalization, Sergio Navarro.

In April, the city of Miami hosted the 7th World Strategic Forum, with Ineco’s chairman, Isaac Martín-Barbero (in the photo, second to the right) participating in the presentation of the plenary session on Infrastructure: Engine for Growthand in the round-table discussion Shaping the Agenda for Sustainable Growth. Politicians and businessmen from around the world attend this forum –organized by a non-profit organization– which fosters dialogue between companies, governments and institutions on the development and evolution of the world economy.

Isaac Martín-Barbero is the new president of the company, replacing Jesús Silva, since last February 11th. Previously, he was managing director of ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones. He holds a degree in Law from the Universidad Autónoma (Madrid), and a commercial technician and State economist since 1999. He has also held the positions of managing director of the Directorate General for Services and director of the Services Division at ICEX.

Martín-Barbero has also held the positions of economic and commercial advisor to the Economic and Commercial Offices of the Spanish Embassies in Ankara (Turkey), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and has held different positions in Ministries of Industry and Trade, Interior and Economy, in the financial sector and in different Spanish and foreign universities. He is also the author of several publications.