In 2025, business technological leaders in Spain face the future with a cautious optimism, aware of the need to adapt to an increasingly complex economic, political and technological panorama. Digital transformation has become a national priority, as evidenced by the strategy “Spain Digital 2025”, which seeks to guarantee 100% connectivity of the population with high -speed Internet and lead the deployment of 5G in the country.
It is a reality that cybersecurity is positioned as a central concern for these leaders. The growing sophistication of cyber attacks and digital dependence in sectors such as energy, finance and transport, demand advanced protection strategies.
Sustainability, AI and Naas: Spain in 2025
The Spanish technology industry faces significant challenges in terms of financing and talent. Despite the remarkable boom in the development of technological startups, especially in the software sector, obstacles such as bureaucracy, initial financing and the shortage of qualified IT professionals persist. It is estimated that the technology industry in Spain will need more than 100,000 million euros to boost the startup ecosystem and develop the technological sector.
Sustainability has also become a strategic pillar. Digitization and the fight against climate change are faced, since the development of AI and other digital technologies require high consumption of energy and water, which could make efforts difficult to combat climate change. Spain has emerged as a key destination for investment in data centers, attracted to its commitment to renewable energies and its favorable geographical location.
In 2025, innovation promoted by sustainability, the appearance of Regulations on AI and the maturation of Network as a Service (NAAS) They will occupy an important place in the Agenda of the Cios, acting as key promoters of business agility. The most successful leaders will be those that integrate responsibility, adaptability and sustainability in the core of their digital strategies, guaranteeing long -term resilience and a competitive advantage.
AI is not only a technological trend, it is a central engine of digital transformation. Gartner predicts that by 2026, more than 90% of companies They will use multicloud environments. This year, a greater adoption of solutions that offer multicloud connectivity, high speed, reinforced security and greater flexibility is expected.
The global regulatory environment for AI is rapidly evolving, since companies and political leaders struggle to balance innovation with ethical considerations. While Japan adopts ethical guidelines and Singapore experiments with a “Regulatory Sandbox” approach, Spain is adopting a proactive approach to implement the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, establishing solid compliance frameworks before its full applicability in August 2026.
Why should Cios prioritize sustainability, the governance of AI and NAAS to boost their growth in Spain in 2025?
The Spanish Agency for Artificial Intelligence (Aesia) will be responsible for enforcing the AI Minutes and acting as a single contact point for the European Commission and the European Artificial Intelligence Committee. To facilitate compliance and innovation, Spain introduced a “Regulatory Sandbox” in November 2023 through Royal Decree 817/2023. This Sandbox offers a controlled environment so that both public and private organizations can test AI systems in front of the requirements of the future act of the EU. These measures underline Spain’s commitment to lead in the regulation and innovation of AI, ensuring that IA technologies are developed responsible and aligned with European standards.
The AI approach for good is also accelerating. According to Colt’s investigation, 64% of the CIOS recognize the role of AI in supporting environmental and governance strategies. IA applications, such as the use of generative models to improve the accessibility of employees neurodiversity or use of AI to map the urban green area for natural cooling in cities, highlight how companies are integrating AI in a responsible way.
Greentech and innovation promoted by sustainability
Sustainability has transcended as a fashion word to become an essential component of the business strategy. The digital infrastructure report reveals that 71% of the CIOS They are now responsible for the sustainability efforts of their organizations. This change is catalyzing a wave of innovations in Greentech focused on reducing the environmental impact while operating efficiency.
The energy demands of AI and the great language models have highlighted the urgent need for more ecological technologies. Companies are exploring solutions that minimize energy consumption without compromising performance. This impulse towards sustainability is not simply regulatory compliance, it is a business need influenced by the expectations of interest groups and competitive differentiation.
Buyers and suppliers of companies increasingly align their environmental objectives. Research in the SOBE Digital Infrastructure report reveals that 66% of global cios They expect their technological suppliers to help them reduce their carbon footprint, while 17% would change supplier if ESG’s objectives were not aligned. In addition, the growing importance of the Scope 3 report, which tracks emissions throughout the supply chain, is influencing B2B decision making. The focus on sustainability information will continue to intensify in 2025 and the results in ESG will become a key factor of competitive differentiation.
The rise of the Network as A Service (Naas)
The 2025 marks a new era for the Network AS A Service (NAAS), since companies look for more flexible, scalable and optimized network solutions for AI. The operators are developing sophisticated portals with a deeper automation and an API -based integration, allowing fissureless connectivity with global partners. This change is driven by the rapid adoption of multicloud environments and Gartner expects that by 2026 more 90% of companies will expand their capacities to multi cloud architectures.
With cyber attacks evolving at an unprecedented pace, companies are resorting to Zero-Tust Networking (ZTN) already Secure Access Service Edge (Sase) to protect their data and infrastructure. The World Economic Forum placed misinformation, fake news and cybersecurity between the 5 main worldwide threats in the short term in 2024, which highlights the urgency of having more solid security architectures
2025 is a year of important transformations in the business technological panorama. It is a year of challenges and opportunities for the CIO. Those who proactively address the challenges and opportunities that present the regulation of AI, green technology and NAAS will be better positioned to boost innovation, improve security and achieve sustainable growth. The responsibility and a deep commitment to sustainability will be the identity of the identity of successful technological leadership in the coming years.
