Innovation as an essential part of Ferrovial’s business strategy

The rapid and constant technological changes we are seeing today are a source of opportunities and challenges for companies. Innovation plays a crucial role as growth factor, both nationally and internationally, and R&D is the necessary element for improving a company’s ability to generate and use knowledge and so strengthen its competitive advantage.

Innovation is part of Ferrovial’s DNA, and as such is part of all its business model processes: for creating new solutions; improving and streamlining ways of working;  and managing talent, amongst others. It is the driving force behind the company’s progress and development.

There are many different examples of innovation within Ferrovial relating to new technological processes or new ways of solving problems. Here we provide an overview of Ferrovial Blog articles where innovation is the star player.

Find out how innovation forms a key part of Ferrovial’s business strategy

When implementing a construction project, the context and all of its peculiarities must be taken into account. And so innovation in construction can be used, for example, to protect the wildlife living in and around the project site. This is the case with the activities undertaken to protect bats during construction of the Barranco de la Batalla stretch of the A-7 motorway in Alcoy (Alicante, Spain).

An example of the way in which innovation facilitates works processes is Google Glass, which rationalises the work of maintenance staff on street lighting. In fact, Ferrovial’s innovative Light For Glass received the title of Best Innovation Project in the Smart Industry category at the EnerTIC Awards.

Smart technology is surging ahead in leaps and bounds, and it therefore makes sense to think of ways to transfer such smart technology to our cities. An excellent example of this is the Sheffield Smart Lab project, where entrepreneurs have the chance to help solve some of the city’s most significant challenges, focusing on energising the city centre and supporting people to live independently.

How can you carry out building works in one of the world’s busiest airports? The main priority here is avoiding disruption to Heathrow Airport’s daily operations, whilst meeting the highest standards of health, safety and quality throughout the project, particularly during restricted working hours, by means of effective construction methodologies, safety measures and stringent monitoring. This allows us to carry out small innovations which have a huge impact on the airport.

Innovative developments and research are endeavouring to make motorways self-sufficient and more sustainable. This is the case of the ESPHERA project, which is exploring the feasibility of integrating renewable energy into motorways. The big question is: will motorways eventually be able to use renewable energy to maintain themselves? In this interview, Andrés Santos, from Ferrovial’s Innovation Team, provides the answer.

On the occasion of South Summit,  one of the leading start-up conferences in Europe, we interviewed Federico Flórez, Ferrovial CIIO, who explains what innovation means for a company like Ferrovial; the role of start-ups and the characteristics shared by entrepreneurs; how to apply wearables in everyday tasks; and the importance of social networks today.

Technological innovation is a key player in work processes, and an essential element of business strategies. Innovation is everywhere, and it must be used in a holistic way in all aspects and areas of today’s companies.