Francisco Uhía, Head of R&D at Ecoforest, receives the 2026 SECYTEF “José Miguel Corberán” Award for Innovation and Technology Transfer  

Innovation originating in Spain continues to gain recognition both at home and abroad. Francisco Uhía, Head of R&D at Ecoforest, has been awarded the SECYTEF “José Miguel Corberán” Award for Innovation and/or Technology Transfer 2026, one of the leading honours awarded by the Spanish Society of Refrigeration Sciences and Techniques (SECYTEF) to professionals whose work has made a decisive contribution to technological progress in the sector

The award recognises his research and professional career

The award recognises a career dedicated to bridging the gap between research and industry and to transforming knowledge into innovation with a real-world impact. A journey that began in academia and continues today at Ecoforest, where he leads the development of new technologies in the field of heat pumps and renewable air conditioning, helping to strengthen the Galician company’s position as an international leader in energy innovation. 

Francisco Uhía’s nomination was recognised for his contribution both during his time as a researcher at the university and for the work he has carried out at Ecoforest, where the company’s ongoing commitment to R&D&I has become one of the main drivers of its growth and differentiation. 

“From the very beginning of my research career at university, I learnt the value of sharing data, analyses and conclusions with the scientific community. This is the only way to drive the advancement of knowledge, just as the achievements of those who came before us allow us to continue ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’,” explains Francisco Uhía. 

The head of the R&D department says he accepts this award “with immense gratitude and humility”. “Receiving this recognition from the Spanish Society of Refrigeration Science and Technology is a great honour. I am particularly grateful to receive it because it comes from a community of professionals and researchers of the very highest calibre, and their recognition means a great deal to me,” he says. 

The SECYTEF “José Miguel Corberán” Award was established with the aim of recognising the professional excellence and impact of those who drive innovation and technology transfer in fields such as refrigeration, heat pumps and their applications – technologies set to play a strategic role in the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the economy. 

With this recognition, Ecoforest adds a new milestone to its history of innovation, reaffirming the value of talent and research as fundamental pillars for developing technological solutions capable of meeting the energy challenges of the future.