Workshop of EIC Spring 2019 Conference in Madrid

08 April 2019

Madrid. This year’s EIC Spring Workshop was hosted by EIC’s Spanish member SEOPAN on 05 April 2019 in Madrid. It revolved around the question what impact disruptive innovation in society and the built environment might have on the activities of international construction companies. The workshop featured presentations and panel discussions by high-level experts in the field of new business, digital transformation and from leading European construction companies.

CHANCES OF DISRUPTIVE CHANGE

The overthrowing of existing structures creates new markets and value networks, displacing established market-leading firms, products, and alliances. The EIC Spring 2019 Workshop in Madrid has explored new ideas, arguments, examples, challenges and opportunities of disruptive innovation and the impact such innovation has on our infrastructure industry. Participants were knowledgeable experts, relevant contractors, innovative startup representatives and disruptive technology companies who contributed key-note speeches and discussed in high-level panels.

The three workshop sessions were moderated by Laura Tordera (Ferrovial Agroman), Telmo Pérez Luaces (Acciona) and Antonio Burgueño (FCC Cosntrucción). They discussed in on the lead topics of “Mobility”, “New Market Players” and “Effects on the Construction Industry” with their panellists, - respectable representatives from Sacyr, Telefónica, Microsoft, Zeleros, CEMEX Ventures, Encord, KPMG, AECOM and Aarsleff.

KEY FINDINGS

Miguel Segarra, the overall moderator, condensed the Workshop insights into five key messages:

  1. Disruption and change are going to be part of the future. Be ready for it.
  2. We are not in an era of change; we find ourselves in a change of era.
  3. No single company can drive transformation in isolation.
  4. Be agile: "The big elephants are trying to dance with the gazelles".
  5. The most important thing is to get people involved in managing the change.

All Workshop Presentations and Video Links can be found on the Conference Website.