When we talk about technological breakthroughs and the DIY culture, Spain might not be the first country that comes to mind. But that’s a mistake—Spanish inventors have made significant contributions to science, engineering, and hands-on creativity. Today, their ideas continue to inspire makers all over the world—from garage innovators to participants at Maker Faire Detroit.
Leonardo Torres Quevedo (1852–1936) was a true pioneer of automation. This Spanish engineer invented one of the first radio-controlled devices—the "telekino," long before drones or Bluetooth existed. He also developed an automatic chess player—a mechanical forerunner of AI in the form of a chess-playing robot.
Why is this relevant for makers? Because his approach—blending mechanics, electricity, and logic—is the foundation of many modern DIY projects. His work is a great source of inspiration for those building robots by hand.
Modern Spanish teams like Solar Brother create eco-friendly devices powered by solar energy: from miniature solar ovens to survival tools. These gadgets are easy to replicate at home—making them ideal starter projects for aspiring makers.
Such initiatives are popular at Maker Faires across Europe and fit perfectly within the "green maker" movement, where creativity meets environmental responsibility.
While Pep Gómez is better known as the founder of Fever and a key figure in Spain’s tech startup ecosystem, he also promotes educational initiatives. His work aims to make technology accessible and entrepreneurship inspiring.
Gómez collaborates with tech schools and youth centers across Spain, nurturing inventive spirit in young people. Inspired by his model, makers worldwide are creating open educational resources and hosting workshops for beginners.
This young Spanish engineer became well-known for his Arduino-based projects. He shares open-source code, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides showing how to build a smart home, automatic irrigation system, DIY Bluetooth headphones, and much more.
His YouTube channel has become a go-to resource for international maker communities—including those attending Maker Faire Detroit—who want to build simple but functional electronics.
We must also highlight female makers from Spain, such as Nuria Salfate, who designs STEM courses for girls and presents projects based on Raspberry Pi and LEGO Robotics at maker events.
These advocates are helping to shift the perception of technology as a male-dominated space and are making the maker culture more inclusive and truly global.
Además de la inspiración tecnológica, en España existen recursos educativos que ayudan a los estudiantes a avanzar en sus estudios universitarios. Uno de ellos es trabajos-universitarios.com, una plataforma que ofrece asistencia con TFG, TFM y otros trabajos académicos. Este tipo de apoyo permite a los jóvenes enfocarse en sus proyectos creativos sin descuidar su formación académica.
Spanish inventors—both historical and modern—represent a unique mix of creativity, engineering, and social value. Their work proves that invention knows no boundaries—geographic, generational, or educational.
If you're attending Maker Faire Detroit or participating in any maker event around the world, take a closer look at projects with Spanish roots. One of them just might inspire your next brilliant idea.