The director general of the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain states that “TRUST Lab combines research, innovation and practical application. This type of project contributes to strengthening European digital sovereignty”. He argues that “artificial intelligence has become an extraordinary catalyst, capable of amplifying our capacities for analysis, design and decision-making”. He adds that “AI does not replace the engineer: it expands their ability to transform knowledge into value for society”. A naval and ocean engineer, he has held the position of director general of the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain for the past decade. Javier Pérez de Vargas believes that “technological advances will only be sustainable if they are supported by a fundamental pillar: cybersecurity”. In his view, “technological ethics is not an option, it is an obligation”.
Ángela de la Llana
Friday, 6 March 2026
Profile
Javier Pérez de Vargas is a naval and ocean engineer and director general of the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain. In this interview, he reflects on the role of engineering in the face of major technological changes, the impact of artificial intelligence, the need to strengthen cybersecurity and the value of initiatives such as TRUST Lab in promoting knowledge, talent and digital sovereignty.
Interview
How do engineers deal with the technological changes that affect our lives? Is artificial intelligence the new driving force of engineering?
Engineers are used to working in environments of constant change and, precisely for that reason, we do not merely adapt to these transformations; we lead them. Artificial intelligence has become an extraordinary catalyst, capable of amplifying our capacities for analysis, design and decision-making. However, it is important to underline that AI does not replace engineering, but rather drives it towards a new dimension. We are facing a technological revolution that is redefining entire sectors, from industry to public services, with a direct impact on social development. AI is changing the way we conceive engineering. It is no longer just a calculation tool, but a strategic ally for designing, optimising and anticipating more efficient solutions. We must promote the integration of AI as a natural element of training and professional practice. We want engineers to understand not only how to use artificial intelligence, but also how to build it responsibly, understanding its social impact. Because AI does not replace the engineer: it expands their ability to transform knowledge into value for society.
However, this progress will only be sustainable if it is supported by a fundamental pillar: cybersecurity. We cannot talk about real progress if systems are not secure, if data are not protected and if citizens’ trust is not guaranteed.
What are the main challenges facing the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain in an increasingly technological and digitalised world?
The main challenge for the Royal Academy of Engineering is to anticipate major technological changes and help guide society in their adoption. This means promoting engineering that is more interdisciplinary, more connected to innovation and industrial reality, and more committed to social impact.
Another key challenge is to promote the development of highly qualified talent capable of responding to the demands of an increasingly digitalised environment. Europe, and Spain in particular, will need engineers who not only master technology, but also understand its ethical, economic and social dimensions.
In addition, the Royal Academy of Engineering acts as a reference advisory body at the service of the State and Spanish society in general on matters related to engineering, industry, digitalisation, innovation, entrepreneurship and education.
What do you do to remain relevant actors in the industrial and technological ecosystem?
Our relevance is based on our ability to act as a bridge between knowledge, business and institutions. We generate strategic thinking, promote informed debate and convey recommendations that help make more robust decisions.
Spain is moving towards an economic scenario driven almost exclusively by services, with a clear focus on digital solutions, in which artificial intelligence, connectivity, the Internet of Things, virtual or augmented reality, additive manufacturing, quantum solutions and other technologies are playing a leading role. This scenario will require a renewal of the professional models of engineers, supported by an evolution of the educational models related to engineering in Spain. Engineering will continue to be fundamental to our productive model and, with it, the professional performance of engineers, but it will have to face a period of transition that will require clear objectives and effort.
The challenges of the new engineering direct professionals towards specialising in the generation of solutions to complex and interrelated problems, with different design criteria, where it is difficult to assess which of them is the most appropriate, and, especially, with economic and time constraints that are decisive. The new engineer will have to operate in an interconnected, diverse and multicultural world, strongly influenced by new technologies that will also change very rapidly. They must be prepared for jobs that do not yet exist. The competitive advantage of the new engineer will lie in their ability to continue learning throughout their career: the workplace will become their classroom. Learning will be embedded in professional activity. Lifelong learning will be one of the obligations of engineering professionals. They will have to be prepared to show differential value in a growing number of jobs. The best-paid jobs will be the most complex, creative and multidisciplinary.
All of this will have consequences for the training provided by universities. They will have to adapt to the new scenario and remain useful and attractive to the labour market. The new engineering must ensure that technological development is accompanied by the corresponding development of human beings in terms of responsibility, values and awareness.
You have commented on numerous occasions that the future depends on all sectors embracing artificial intelligence, and you have stated that “those who do not do so will have no place in the productive model in which we operate”.
In my opinion, the sectors that will become benchmarks in future productive models will be those that provide high added value, respond to customer expectations quickly and in a multidisciplinary way, and do so at a price the market can afford. In this scenario of business sustainability, digitalisation processes play a fundamental role and, within this broad field, the gradual and strategic application of artificial intelligence becomes a guarantee of survival, growth and success. However, it is essential that this adoption be carried out according to clear criteria, combining efficiency with responsibility. AI must be at the service of people, contributing to social well-being and economic development, and not generating new risks. For this reason, it is essential to incorporate cybersecurity from the outset, guaranteeing the integrity of systems, the protection of data and the reliability of algorithms.
One of the purposes of the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain is to promote and develop engineering, innovation and technology. How do you work with these concepts, given how quickly these variables are advancing?
Today’s society is essentially changing. Human beings, especially in their professional dimension, must review their model of relationship with the environment and take part in the social evolution we are experiencing. In this scenario, engineering becomes an aggregator of diverse and complementary knowledge, and a facilitator of new solutions to the problems society faces. From the Academy, we work to accelerate the transfer of knowledge to society, encouraging collaboration between universities, companies and public administrations. Our goal is for innovation to have a real impact and contribute to collective progress. In this regard, we believe that all technological innovation must be designed with security criteria from the outset. Cybersecurity should not be added later as an extra layer; it should be integrated into the very design of solutions. Only in this way can we ensure that technological progress is sustainable and generates trust in society.
We are seeing situations in which AI is used in unethical and unsafe ways. How could we tackle this problem? What limits should be imposed on this concept, which has arrived strongly and is here to stay? Are we moving towards an increasingly insecure and unstable world?
In my opinion, the limits lie in ensuring that the decisions proposed by artificial intelligence tools do not violate our fundamental rights as people and do not transgress those principles that we consider fundamental in our society, such as the right to life and equal opportunities, among others.
For the time being, human beings are behind the development of artificial intelligence. We must ensure that these professionals are aware of the great responsibility they assume in their technological developments and, in this way, with sufficient ethical awareness, ensure that the moral and social responsibility limits in the application of AI are never crossed.
It is up to all of us to create a positive and constructive environment around the implementation of AI in our daily lives. At this historic moment, technological ethics is not an option; it is an obligation. The Royal Academy of Engineering has the vocation and responsibility to bring technical rigour and a humanistic vision to the debate on AI regulation. Our role is to ensure that the development of these technologies respects fundamental rights.
We are committed to AI that is trustworthy, transparent and auditable. In short, ethics must be the compass of technological development. To address these challenges, it is necessary to establish clear regulatory frameworks, promote international standards and foster a culture of responsibility in technological development.
Cybersecurity plays an essential role here, as it makes it possible to protect both the systems and the data on which automated decisions are built. We are not necessarily facing a more insecure world, but rather a more complex environment, which requires greater rigour, greater control and a greater awareness of risks.
How do you assess the work of cybersecurity experts in the face of the major cyber threats that surround us?
The role of cybersecurity experts is now absolutely critical. They are the ones who ensure the secure operation of essential infrastructures, from communication networks to financial systems and public services.
Their work allows digital transformation to advance with guarantees, protecting both organisations and citizens. In a context of increasingly sophisticated threats, their contribution is strategic for economic and social stability. In this sense, cybersecurity must be understood as an investment in trust and resilience.
Do you consider initiatives such as TRUST Lab, the cybersecurity and secure communications laboratory promoted by the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, to be positive?
Initiatives such as TRUST Lab represent a clear example of the path that Europe must follow. In an increasingly competitive global context, it is essential to develop our own capabilities in areas as critical as cybersecurity and secure communications. TRUST Lab combines research, innovation and practical application, generating useful knowledge and training highly qualified talent. This type of project not only strengthens the technological ecosystem, but also contributes to reinforcing European digital sovereignty. Europe needs to promote many more initiatives of this kind, enabling it to reduce external dependencies and guarantee technological development aligned with its values. Cybersecurity is not only a technical matter, but also a key element for the strategic autonomy and future stability of the continent.
“TRUST Lab combines research, innovation and practical application, generating useful knowledge and training highly qualified talent.”
