Iberdrola to invest €1.6 billion in R&D through 2028 to accelerate electrification

Iberdrola’s corporate campus in San Agustín del Guadalix (Madrid) today hosted the twelfth edition of the company’s Digital Summit, an event organised by the IT department that has become a leading forum for sharing knowledge and best practices in digital innovation.

During the event, the company reaffirmed its commitment to investing €1.6 billion in R&D between 2025 and 2028 to support the electrification of the economy. 

Through the Digital Summit, Iberdrola promotes a digital culture across the organisation, showcases strategic initiatives and helps employees develop the skills needed to drive innovation. 

Held under the theme EnergIA that Transforms, this year’s edition focused on the pivotal role of artificial intelligence as a driver of change in both the energy sector and the wider economy. The event opened with a keynote address by Pedro Azagra, CEO of Iberdrola, who explored how AI is reshaping business and technology, including the way it is transforming workplace culture, while highlighting the importance of harnessing its potential responsibly to create new opportunities for innovation.

The Digital Summit 2026 programme combined strategic discussions with contributions from leading experts representing companies including Microsoft, Google, IBM, ABB, Plain Concepts, Gestamp and BYD. Participants discussed how AI is being deployed at scale, the strategic value of data and its impact on key areas such as cybersecurity, customer experience, robotics and quantum technologies.

Attendees also had the opportunity to visit an innovation showcase, where eight partner companies — AWS, NTT DATA, Capgemini, EY, Salesforce, SAP, Minsait and Tecnalia — presented a range of cutting-edge technology solutions.

Artificial intelligence: driving transformation at scale

The event also underscored the role of digitalisation as a cornerstone of Iberdrola’s strategy, highlighting the integration of advanced technologies across the value chain to accelerate electrification and build a more efficient, sustainable and data-driven energy system.

Iberdrola is already deploying artificial intelligence across all its businesses, with a clear focus on generating business value. The Group currently has more than 300 AI projects underway, aimed at driving growth, boosting productivity, improving operational efficiency, enhancing service quality and strengthening system resilience.

This strategy is supported by a comprehensive redesign of business processes, continued investment in talent development, the adoption of technologies that meet the highest standards of quality, security and resilience, and an active portfolio of robotics and applied AI solutions.

Iberdrola has also strengthened its position as a leader in responsible AI. The company became the first energy company to certify an AI management system under the ISO 42001 standard and has received international recognition, including being named among the world’s leading AI-for-sustainability initiatives by IRCAI, a UNESCO-affiliated organisation. Iberdrola has also established strategic partnerships with technology leaders such as AWS and Microsoft, including the development of its first corporate agent-based platforms.

These initiatives form part of Iberdrola’s ongoing transformation, with the goal of embedding artificial intelligence across the business as a driver of growth, competitiveness and long-term value.