The Industry 4.0 Awards recognize the commitment of Asturian companies to digital transformation and technological innovation.
Medioambiental Valledor, Excade, ALSA and Ewala were the main protagonists of the fifth edition of the Industry 4.0 Awards, whose ceremony took place on Thursday, May 8, at the El Molinón Enrique Castro “Quini” Stadium, gathering around 400 representatives from companies, business institutions, and local and regional administrations. The awards, promoted by CTIC Technology Centre and Caja Rural de Asturias, recognize Asturian companies that stand out for their strong commitment to digital transformation and the application of advanced technologies in their processes.
The event, presented and hosted by Pachi Poncela, began with an introductory video in which Antonio Romero, General Director of Caja Rural de Asturias, and Pablo Coca, General Director of CTIC, discussed the relevance of these awards and the need to continue promoting technological transformation in Asturias.
Next, entrepreneur Pedro Luis Fernández, president of GAM and CTIC board member, delivered an inspiring talk in which, with a close and humorous tone, he highlighted the values shared by sports and business: teamwork, adaptability, leadership, honesty, and humanity. He also emphasized the fundamental role of family businesses in the economic development of the region.
The highlight of the ceremony came with the presentation of the awards to the companies recognized in this edition:
• Medioambiental Valledor received the Industry 4.0 Award in the Primary and Agri-food Sector category for its ability to develop and integrate proprietary technologies applied to forest management. The jury valued its role as an innovation benchmark in southwestern Asturias, its contribution to rural employment, and the implementation of sustainable solutions. José Manuel Díaz Cuervo, CEO of the company, received the award from Inés Suárez, director of the EPI and president of the jury.
• EXCADE was recognized with the Award in the Industry and Construction category for its transformative effort in a traditional sector such as construction. The jury highlighted its pioneering use of technologies such as IoT, virtual reality, and geomatics, as well as its strategic vision, leadership in circular economy, and ability to open new business lines. David Álvarez, Technical Director of EXCADE, received the award from Antonio Romero, General Director of Caja Rural de Asturias.
• In the Services category, the award went to ALSA for its integration of artificial intelligence in fleet management, predictive maintenance, and customer experience, as well as its commitment to Asturias through the opening of its Innovation Center. The award was presented by Roberto Paraja, president of CTIC, and received by Mª Ángeles Vicente Fernández, CIO of the company.
• Finally, Rubén Fernández, co-founder and CEO of Ewala IT Services, received a special mention in the Services Sector category for his commitment to industrial cybersecurity, a key and critical area for the future of digitalization of industrial processes, in a field where there are still few specialized companies. The award was presented by David Guerra, Executive President of the Real Sporting de Gijón.
The event concluded with the announcement of the launch of the 6th Edition of the Industry 4.0 Awards.