The General Deputy of Biscay, Elixabete Etxanobe, inaugurated the twentieth edition of the “Impact Week” Conferenceorganized by Impact Europe and the Provincial Delegation of Biscay through its affiliated company “Seed Capital Bizkaia”. The European Congress brought together more than 1,000 international representatives from main economic agents in Europededicated to social impact investing and sustainable finance. This market mobilized more than 80 billion in 2022.
Investment and pension funds, foundations, corporate impact agents, financial institutions, public funders, universities, incubators and accelerators attended the event to network and detect new opportunities in a market which in 2022 managed to mobilize 80,000 million euros in Europe. The forum aims to promote investment in the development of projects with both an economic and social return, addressing topics such as sustainability, reducing inequalities or promoting social cohesion.
During his speech, Etxanobe highlighted Biscay’s historic commitment to impact investment. The territory is building a unique ecosystem through its commitment to innovative and sustainable projects in areas such as energy, the circular economy, the silver economy, long-term care, health, education and even professional integration and inclusion. “We are a pioneer government in the promotion of projects with a social impact. For ten years, the Provincial Delegation of Biscay “It is the first public administration in Europe to launch a fund to support projects with a strong social impact.”.
“Today we came to talk about something more than numbers or discussions about numbers: we are building an innovative, sustainable and inclusive future for all. Because We believe that real progress is not only measured in terms of GDP, but also in terms of quality of life, the cohesion and balance of our society and the capacity of our companies to generate shared value.“, explained the Biscayan deputy general.
The official opening of the congress also included the participation of Roberta Bosurgi, CEO of Impact Europe, organizing entity of the event in collaboration with the Provincial Delegation of Bizkaia and the company attached to its Economic Promotion department, Seed Capital Bizkaia.
Bosurgi stated that “Biscay is a unique example in the world of a regional government that promotes investments with social impact. “We are excited to bring our global community of change agents together in Bilbao to learn from the territory’s impact leaders and work together for a better future.”
Transformational leadership
Biscay collects the witness of Turin as host this year’s edition for its exceptional record in promoting inclusive economic growth. Following the opening, a series of conversations took place around transformative leadership with international and local leaders in the social impact economy. Adam Weiss, European Program Director at ClientEarth, spoke with Leslie Johnston, CEO of the Laudes Foundation, about leadership in achieving climate justice.
For his part, the President of the Athletic Club, Jon Uriarte, shared his vision of community leadership with Óscar Ugarte, Managing Director of “Seed Capital Bizkaia”. Third, Alejandro Oñoro, CEO of Ilunion, spoke the importance of inclusive leadership with Lourdes Márquez de la Calleja, director of alliances and international relations at the ONCE Foundation. Behind them, Sana Kapadia, Heading for Change’s lead catalyst, discussed gender-responsive leadership with Roberta Bosurgi, CEO of Impact Europe.
Next, investor and advisor Erik Bruun Bindslev addressed the need to climate finance to transform food systems in conversation with Åsa Skogström Feldt, Managing Director of Social Entrepreneurship at IKEA. Finally, Alberto Sanz Serrano, ICEX Director of Finance and Investor Relations, spoke about leadership in investment geography with María Ángeles León López, founder of the Open Value Foundation.
