Oriol Pascual: When you work with science-based startups, innovation is everywhere

In the last 3 years the IQS Tech Factory startups have created over 230 jobs and already mobilized over €29 million in investments. They pay special attention to science-based entrepreneurship.

Oriol Pascual is the managing director of IQS Tech Factory, the only industrial accelerator in Spain. IQS promotes and provides support to promising tech ventures, and helps them go from a functional prototype to a first manufactured series. Since its founding in 2015, IQS Tech Factory has supported over 60 industrial startups in the fields of medtech, agrotech, sports, food and consumer tech, amongst others, a selection of which will come to 4YFN 2020 Barcelona.

We caught up with Oriol to get his thoughts.

Why are you coming to 4YFN? What do you want to explore?

We are coming to 4YFN to show to the world our awesome, science-based hardware startups. We believe in an economy where the manufacturing sector plays a relevant role. The startups we support today are tomorrow’s manufacturing companies.

What is your mantra when it comes to work and to innovation?

I’ll give you two: “Life is short, build stuff that matters” and “better to ask for an apology than for permission”.

What has been the biggest innovation or disruption to your field in the last 4 years?

Luckily, when you work with science-based startups, innovation and disruption is everywhere. From plant-based protein with meat-like texture, to a portable device to purify water, to a medical device that avoids lumbar puncture in newborn, or vertical farms that allow to grow vegetables inside cities, using 90% less water than in the field and no pesticides.

What technology are you most excited about 4 years from now and why?

I’m excited about clean technologies like renewable energy sources and clean mobility.

Spiderman or Batman?

Batman.

How did you come to that conclusion?

I just love his gadgets.