One of the things I’ve enjoyed most this summer has been building bridges between the Korean and Almería #Agritech ecosystems 🇰🇷🇪🇸 (1/2)
On 17–18 September, a Korean delegation coordinated by Startup Colors came to Almería with three Agritech startups — IOMTEK, MCE inc and Greener Lab Inc.,-— together with representatives of the Korea Innovation Foundation(INNOPOLIS) and HEREM.
Ahead of the mission, Aline Noizet asked me to help connect the delegation with the right local stakeholders. After learning more about the three startups, I proposed a shortlist of growers, companies and technology centres that could help them understand the Almería ecosystem and answer key #TechnologyTransfer questions: validation, positioning in the value chain, customers vs. partners, and realistic routes to pilots and commercialisation.
After a few mentoring sessions to better understand the startups and their technologies, we started Thursday at Fundación Cajamar’s Las Palmerillas Experimental Station and learned more about Cajamar Innova. I always say that Cajamar is probably the best entry point into the Almería agricultural ecosystem — and into Spanish agriculture more broadly — thanks to its accelerator, close links with growers and key industry stakeholders, and direct access to experimental infrastructure. Many thanks to Ricardo, Juan Carlos, Ramón, Lola and the wider Cajamar team for welcoming us so well.
From there, we visited BERDEA SAT, a reference in generational renewal, technology adoption and attention to detail. Beyond touring the facilities, we could understand everything that happens across the value chain — and the stakeholders involved — by following a courgette from the seed all the way to the final product reaching the table. Many thanks to José Luis Escobar and team 💚
After Berdea, we joined Export Asia, organised by José Páez, where Misión Andalucía also collaborated — and judging by the turnout, it was a great success.
We finished the day at Misión Agrotech with the Korea–Almería Agritech Exchange, a curated #OpenInnovation space connecting the Korean delegation with companies and startups from our ecosystem, including Misión #startups such as xAgro.org, pangea.iot, Grodi or Solaris Vita. Juan Jose Vázquez from COEXPHAL also helped give the delegation a broader view of how the Almería agricultural ecosystem works 🕸️
Several conversations are now continuing around potential pilots, local partners and commercial opportunities. Really looking forward to seeing what comes out of them!
Friday went even deeper into validation and commercialisation — but I’ll leave that for Part 2/2. Big thanks to 🇺🇦 Maren Lesche Aline Noizet Hyeri Seo and the whole Startup Colors team for the trust and smooth coordination, and to everyone in Almería who opened their doors and welcomed us so generously
29 September 2026 à 16h29
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