Spain does not usually appear in the top positions of the Global patent rankingsneither its name appears frequently in the debates on technological innovation.
However, throughout history, inventors and inventors of the country have devised solutions that, although often discrete, have had a huge impact on everyday life worldwide.
In the World Creativity and Innovation Weekwe review some of the Spanish inventions that have crossed borders and have become indispensable.
Scrub, disposable syringe and other inventions that were born here
One of the most popular and internationally recognized inventions is mopdesigned by Manuel Jalón In 1964. The same inventor is also responsible for another key sanitary advance: the Disposable syringeintroduced in 1973.
Both creations were born with the aim of improving hygiene and facilitating daily tasks, and today are part of the usual furniture in half -world homes and hospitals.
Other gadgets that came out of Spanish ingenuity are the crank staplesdevised by Ignacio Urresti in 1945, and the Antigoteing oilcreated by Rafael Marquina in 1961 and inspired by a laboratory flask.
Both objects have been imitated to satiety, and although they seem simple, they hide a functional design and care story for detail.
Sweets, instruments and small revolutions
Not everything has been technical inventions: there has also been room for creativity in the field of playful and cultural.
In 1959, Catalan Enric Bernat created the Chupa chupsa candy with a stick that revolutionized the way of consuming sweets and whose image was designed no less than by Salvador Dalí.
In the musical field, the nineteenth century saw the birth of the Modern Spanish guitarthanks to Almeria Antonio Torreswhich modified the structure of the mandolin to create the instrument as we know it today.
And long before, in 1595, Felipe II I already used one reclining wheelchairconsidered the first documented design of this type of device.
From galleon to the minipimer: industrial ingenuity
Naval history also has a notable Spanish contribution: the galleonship developed in the 16th century for trade and war, which stood out for its resistance and load capacity.
On the mainland, another key contribution was the Minipimera hand blender created by Gabriel Lluelles In 1959, which was later acquired by the German brand Braun and internationally exported.
And for wine lovers, the Wine bootdesigned in 1873 by Gregorio Pérez and used even by the army during the Cuba War.
A country with more creativity than is seen
The list continues with inventions such as Modern fanperfected in the fifteenth century, castanets associated with Spanish folklore, or Simon switchcreated in 1925 and present in millions of homes worldwide.
Although we often know, many of the objects we use daily have their origin in the Spanish inventiveness.
In this week dedicated to celebrating the ideas that change the world, it is worth remembering that innovation does not always come from the great laboratories or is measured only in patents. Sometimes an attentive look is enough for the environment and an ingenious solution to leave a global footprint.
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