Frontier engineering is opening up new pathways to tackle problems that still lack efficient solutions through traditional methods. By combining disciplines such as mathematics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and cryptographic analysis, specialist teams are developing innovative solutions to anticipate the technological challenges of the future.
Lucas Alaniz, a PhD in Engineering and an expert within the Smart Products division, explains that the key difference from conventional engineering is that, in this field, there are no predefined procedures. “In traditional engineering there are manuals, methods and established processes. In frontier engineering, we often have to discover the path ourselves,” he notes.
To achieve this, specialists integrate knowledge from different fields and create new models and algorithms from scratch. The aim is to explore solutions to emerging problems or needs that have not yet fully materialised, but which will shape the evolution of technology in the coming years.
This approach combines applied research, technological development and the creation of proof‑of‑concepts capable of translating knowledge into real-world applications. It is a way of working that bridges innovation and practical utility in areas where conventional engineering still falls short. “People think it is purely research, but that is not the case. Research is part of it, but it is not everything,” Alaniz adds.
In this way, frontier engineering becomes a space where different disciplines converge to develop new technological capabilities and explore solutions capable of transforming how complex problems are addressed.
Recently, Lucas Alaniz was selected by Spain AI as one of the 50 most influential professionals in the field of artificial intelligence and has taken part in the Forbes AI Summit Madrid, where he presented his research on the critical infrastructure sector.
