Irene Cañete

BBVA is in the midst of its transformation process, and the creation of global products is one of the key pillars in its strategy to become a fully digital business. Early on the bank recognized the opportunity afforded by global product development and the upshot represented by being able to share best practices between countries. There are already measurable examples in different countries like Mexico, Spain, and Turkey, which corroborate the effectiveness of this strategy and its ensuing projects.

Only 7% of girls see themselves as scientists in the future. This is due to the gender gap that remains in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors, even though more than a century has passed since Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.  That’s why the International Day of Women and Girls in Science continues to be so important.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a neurologic condition that causes people suffering from it to be dominated by anxiety and develop unwanted thoughts that they cannot get rid of. Researchers at the Universidad Carlos III are applying artificial intelligence techniques to detect which brain areas are affected by this disorder. Emilio Parrado, a data scientist at BBVA was one of the researchers that took part in the project and explains how machine learning can bring huge improvements to any activity, including finance.

At the 10th edition of BBVA Open Talent, Dunforce, Sedicii and ChargeAfter were the fintech startups who took this year’s winning titles. Preparations are now underway so that the companies are ready to develop pilots in conjunction with the bank.

Some companies are now working to incorporate blockchain technology into smartphones. A cell phone that incorporates these characteristics could become the most secure on the market. This would be possible thanks to blockchain's intrinsic security provisions.

Novels, movies, articles ... much has been written about the future. From Jules Verne’s famed Journey to the Center of the Earth to flying cars that promise to revolutionize commuting. With the passage of time, ideas that seemed outlandish in the past have become a reality, causing us to think that ideas that seem impossible just might materialize.

He holds an undergraduate degree in physics. He's the founder of Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink, among other companies. He’s championed renewable energies, online payments and the space race. Elon Musk’s impressive resume brims with professional and economic success. What initiatives have made this entrepreneur one of top innovators of the 21st century?

Adapt or die. An emphatic statement, but one that perfectly captures the spirit that drives startups. The search for innovation is often what characterizes these entrepreneurs, who now how to seize the opportunities enabled by new digital technologies linked to an innovative business idea.

Meetings, reports, deadlines ... a symphony of tasks that can sometimes turn the workday into a slog. On top of all this, add the intention to live a healthy lifestyle and it might seem like an impossible task. Luckily, there’s always a smartphone at hand and an app to help you face the day.

On Tuesday, April 17, a panel of fintech professionals, investors and entrepreneurs gathered at BBVA Open Space, BBVA’s innovation hub in the heart of Madrid, to attend the first edition of BBVA Open Talks in Spain, and try to answer a question that is becoming increasingly relevant in a context marked by artificial intelligence:  "Are we aware of how we make decisions?"

End up hating the sound of the alarm. Have coffee for breakfast and with any luck a couple of biscuits. Drive right into the middle of a traffic jam and can’t find anywhere to park. All these problems can be avoided by creating for yourself the desired routine with a smartphone in hand and the best morning apps.

In an imperfect world, new technologies offer an opportunity to make certain improvements that benefit society. Blockchain, the driver of the new tech revolution, promises to help in solving key data traceability and transparency issues.