If anything defines the Spanish approach to science and technology, it is our ability to leave everything until the last minute and somehow make it work—although sometimes only by the skin of our teeth. It is a unique gift combining creativity with improvisation, one that often baffles those who prefer to plan every step months in advance. In Spain, innovation does not follow a detailed plan; it is more of a race against time, in which everything seems about to collapse… until, miraculously, it turns out fine. In this chapter, we will explore the evolution of science and technology in Spain, from its history to today’s challenges and tomorrow’s promises. All of it, of course, with a touch of irony, because in this country we know science is serious, but it is not always taken as seriously as it should be.
