TEDxMADRID

TED is an annual event in which some of the most important thinkers, movers and shakers in the world are invited to share what they are most passionate about. “TED” stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, three major areas that together are shaping our future, although it actually includes many more topics, exploring “ideas worth spreading” that come from any discipline.

Attendees at TED talks call them the “ultimate brain spa” and a “four-day journey into the future”. The audience, made up of executives, scientists, creatives and philanthropists, is almost as extraordinary as the speakers, who have included such prominent figures as Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Frank Gehry, Paul Simon, Sir Richard Branson, Philippe Starck and Bono since TED first started in Monterey, California in 1984.

What is TEDx and TEDxMadrid?

In order to promote ideas worth spreading, TED created TEDx, a programme of independently organised local talks that allow audiences to enjoy an experience similar to a TED talk. The event TEDxMadrid combines viewing TED videos with live talks to promote connections and deep discussion within a small audience.

The speakers include Joan Vinyets (co-founder of A Piece of Pie, who develops his activities in the field of innovation applied to anthropology), Harry West (CEO of Continuum, an international design and innovation consulting firm), Xavier Vilalta (speaking about the idea of innovation, which is normally related with introducing something fresh and new), Gonzalo Rubio (who has managed to win the first prize of Imagine Cup Spain for three consecutive years), Andy Goodman (a pragmatic designer with great knowledge of people, technology and markets) and Sergio Alvarez Leiva (who dedicates his time to investigating subjects related with data visualisation).
For more information, all TED videos (with a maximum duration of 18 minutes) on science, technology, sustainability, poverty, etc. are available for free at http://www.ted.com and have been downloaded hundreds of millions of times for schools and universities as an educational tool for fostering discussion.