At South Summit, we believe that innovation must go hand in hand with responsibility. That’s why we’ve spent the past few years rethinking how a global event can generate positive impact—socially, environmentally and economically. With ISO 20121 certification and the EventSost seal, we’re proud to say that South Summit has strengthened its position as one of Spain’s most sustainable and impactful platforms for innovation.
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From Spain to the World: Leading sustainable innovation by example
Why sustainability is not a side project
Since 2021, we’ve been working with a clear objective: to make every edition of South Summit a step closer to a fully sustainable event. That means reusing what we already have—signage, stages, carpeting, furniture—and reducing what we don’t need. It also means designing experiences, content and partnerships that align with long-term climate and social goals.
Companies, startups, investment funds, innovation hubs, and public organizations face a reality where social and environmental impact shapes not only reputation but also long-term viability. For companies and startups, embedding sustainability means developing products and services that address real planetary challenges and building trust with customers and partners. It drives purpose-driven innovation and market differentiation. Investment funds see sustainability as a way to mitigate risks, uncover growth opportunities, and secure solid returns aligned with ESG criteria. Innovation hubs and public organizations play a crucial role by fostering policies, infrastructure, and ecosystems that encourage responsible and collaborative practices.
Sustainability creates an environment where businesses and communities thrive together. Ignoring this agenda brings growing risks—from climate crises to regulatory pressures and shifting consumer behaviour. That’s why sustainability must be integrated into strategy, culture, and operations—not as an add-on but as a core pillar. This approach builds a resilient and just future, where innovation drives lasting positive impact for all.
99.4% of our content aligned with the SDGs
This year, 99.4% of all our content was directly linked to one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). And that’s not by chance. It’s the result of a focused agenda that brings together the most relevant voices in climate tech, social equity, circular economy and responsible business.
In our Sustainable Action track, we hosted leading entrepreneurs, investors and thinkers driving change through innovation, including Marci Zaroff (ECOfashion Corp), Juan de Antonio (Cabify), Irene Gálvez, (European Investment Bank), Andy Lürling (Lumo Labs), Nick de la Forge (Planet A Ventures), Maex Ament (Earth Capital), Nuno Brito Jorge (Goparity), Matias Møl Dalsgaard (GoMore), Carmen Izquierdo Serrano (nTeaser), Christophe Williams (Naked Energy), Diogo Reis (Exus Renewables), Juliana Schurmann (Impact Coalition Institute), Sergio Furio (Creditas), Stephanie Griffiths (Dataiku), Fernando Casado (Inclimo Climate Tech Fund), or Constantinos Economou, (Capital Dynamics). These sessions weren’t just inspirational. They were practical, filled with strategies, use cases and tools to accelerate sustainability in real business contexts.
Supporting the startups that are building the solutions
We also put sustainability at the heart of our Startup Competition, with a dedicated Climate Tech & Sustainability track. The winner of this vertical—and our Most Sustainable Startup Award—was Hera Materials, a Chilean company creating zero-emission construction materials using AI, robotics and circular economy principles. They’re just one example of the kind of founders we aim to support: bold, mission-driven and building scalable solutions with global potential.
What’s next?
We know that sustainability isn’t a destination—it’s a mindset, a constant iteration. But this year, with the certifications, the data, the content, and above all, the people, we’ve made real progress. These insights have helped us build better awareness campaigns around shared mobility, local consumption and sustainable travel habits—for this year and the next. As we continue to grow our global community, our mission is clear: to lead by example and ensure that innovation isn’t just fast or disruptive—but truly sustainable.