The Challenges of the Basque Country in Technology and Innovation under debate in the Kursaal
The Challenges of the Basque Country in Technology and Innovation under debate in the Kursaal
The Challenges of the Basque Country in Technology and Innovation under debate in the Kursaal
The purpose of the Conference was to identify the technological challenges that the Basque society faces in the coming years, starting with the Basque Government’s 2015-2020 Science and Technology Plan, to reinforce its strengths as a hub of innovation in Europe.
On 24 October, Mondragon Unibertsitatea organised a conference in collaboration with Jakiunde in order to analyse the technological challenges of the Basque Country in the future. The conference was integrated by morning meetings and roundtables on energy, advanced manufacturing and bio-health, areas that have been identified as strategic for the Basque Country.
The congress was opened by the Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu Renteria, with collaborators such as the Basque Government and the Mondragon Corporation. The meetings and roundtables were offered by Manu Salaberria (Innobasque), Elias Unzueta Etxeita (Petronor), Laureano Simón (Innobasque) and López Usoz (IK4 Ideko Danobat), who spoke about innovation, energy, bio-health, and advanced manufacturing, respectively.
The purpose of the Conference “Challenges of the Basque Country Autonomous Community in Technology and Innovation” was to identify the technological challenges that the Basque society faces in the coming years, starting with the Basque Government’s 2015-2020 Science and Technology Plan, to reinforce its strengths as a hub of innovation in Europe.
To complete the conference, a manifesto was published listing the strategic priorities identified during it.
The Basque Country is a high-innovation European region, being the only one in the State to be qualified by the European Commission. Given the Basque Country’s business and scientific-technical positioning, efforts should be redoubled and resources optimised to achieve levels higher than the current ones, known as the “Research and Innovation Smart Specialization Strategy” (RIS3).
The adopted strategy should focus on the strengths and technologies with the greatest possibility of achieving the maximum economic and social return.
Although some technologies are a common development platform for the three priorities mentioned, such as Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, others specific to each of the Challenges.
In the current scenario, in addition to technology, collaboration and the establishment of alliances comprise another pillar of success for reaching competitiveness in the new business models.
The third and last value is about talent. In light of a changing environment, we need leaders who add new skills to the knowledge and mastery of new technologies, as well as an innovative and entrepreneurial attitude, market and management knowledge, and skills for multidisciplinary and individual work. Moreover, new training plans and a commitment to emerging technologies are necessary.