Last Friday, the Industrial, Technological and Innovation Area of Granada (CITAI) held the second edition of its annual awards, honoring Enrique Herrera Viedma, Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and Vice-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Granada, with the CITAI Vision of Progress Award 2025. At the DaSCI Institute (Data Science and Computational Intelligence), where Herrera is a leading researcher, we proudly celebrate this recognition as a testament to the powerful alliance between science, academia, and technological development.
A Strategic Collaboration Recognized
The CITAI Vision of Progress Award celebrates individuals who have played a decisive role in advancing Granada’s innovation ecosystem. Enrique Herrera was recognized for his instrumental role in facilitating strategic projects such as the arrival of the UGR-DONES buildings to the Escúzar Technology Park, and for promoting future initiatives like the AI Data Center, which is expected to attract an initial investment of €1 billion.
The award ceremony gathered over 250 representatives from academia, industry, and public institutions. Herrera was praised for his ability to think long-term, make pragmatic decisions, and build bridges between the university and the productive sector. His vision has been key to positioning Granada as an emerging hub for artificial intelligence on the international stage.
A Celebration of Progress
The event, hosted by journalist Fernando Díaz de la Guardia, also served to highlight CITAI’s rapid growth. Sergio González, CITAI’s Managing Director, reviewed the progress made over the past three years, including the arrival of major companies such as Lidl, Amazon, Rovi, and Forch. He also announced the upcoming arrival of HSN, a Granada-based company building new facilities on a 120,000 m² plot.
González revealed plans for a state-of-the-art AI Data Center, which could eventually reach €10 billion in investment depending on its technological infrastructure. He emphasized the private nature of the initiative, its debt-free status, and the strategic support from CaixaBank, Caja Rural Granada, and local companies like Cuerva and Agrihat.
In a heartfelt moment, González paid tribute to Paco Castillo, the first landowner to sell property for the development of CITAI, whose vision helped make the project viable and inspired others to join.
Economic Insight and Institutional Advocacy
The event featured a keynote by economist José María O’Kean, who described CITAI as a “real dream” and discussed the challenges of today’s economy, including geopolitical tensions and the need for constant adaptation. He called on companies to invest in training to complement the rigidity of academic institutions and reflected on generational shifts in societal values.
Carlos Infanzón, President of CITAI’s Council, delivered a brief but impactful speech advocating for greener development and less bureaucratic obstacles for private initiatives. He emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements, such as a new roundabout to better connect the park’s facilities.
Enrique Herrera: Science with Social Impact
Enrique Herrera accepted the award with emotion and humility, expressing gratitude for the recognition from a non-academic institution. He reaffirmed his commitment to a university that drives major projects with socioeconomic impact, and welcomed the announcement of the AI Data Center as a milestone in the collaboration between CITAI and the University of Granada.
Reflecting on his career, Herrera recalled the opportunity given by former rector Pilar Aranda to serve as Vice-Rector, which allowed him to contribute to initiatives like IFMIF-DONES and deepen his understanding of the university’s role in society. His appointment was later reaffirmed by current rector Pedro Mercado, who described Herrera as a “brilliant mind” capable of turning knowledge into social relevance.
In the field of artificial intelligence, Herrera has been a driving force behind Granada’s growing reputation. He played a key role in securing the city as host of the IEEE Conference on Artificial Intelligence 2026, one of the world’s leading events in the discipline. “I hope it helps showcase the potential of our AI ecosystem to the world,” he said.
A Shared Honor
Although the award bears his name, Herrera emphasized that it is a recognition of the collective effort of the University of Granada and his team. He dedicated the honor to his colleagues, his family, and especially his mother, who encouraged him to leave his hometown of Jódar to pursue education. The ceremony concluded with a guitar performance by José Manuel Cano and a celebratory cocktail, marking a weekend of pride and promise for Granada’s future in science and innovation.
