EIT Climate-KIC Spain attends the 1st Technological Innovation and Circular Economy Summit Madrid 2018
In The News
07 Jul 2018
Madrid, 6/07/2018.- The Advanced Leadership Foundation (ALF) has organized in Madrid the First Summit of Technological Innovation and Circular Economy. The Summit was aimed at increasing public awareness of how the circular economy and innovation are competitive advantages for companies, institutions, entrepreneurs and the country as a whole, thus promoting a faster and more efficient transition towards a sustainable economic model in Spain.
The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, Sir Christopher A. Pissarides and Finn Kydland , awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2010 and 2004 respectively and Barry Barish , Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017 will lead the Summit.
The 44th President of the United States stressed during his speech that in the fight against global warming “we have learned that we can create more jobs, opportunities and businesses by doing the right thing in climate change and energy“. Our mission is to “teach young people to think differently in order to create a new generation of leaders“. “Somewhere in the world there is a child who, if given the opportunity, can discover how to cure cancer or how to feed the world”. Regarding Climate Change Obama has stressed that “most of the problems we face are human, not technological”.
The meeting was also attended by international experts such as Ndaba Mandela , President of Africa Rising; Dasho Karma Ura , Minister of Happiness of the Kingdom of Bhutan; Zurab Pololikashvili , Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization; Alzbeta Klei n of International Finance Corporation (World Bank); Cristina Garmendia , President of COTEC; José Luis Bonet , President of INCYDE; Rebeca Minguela , CEO of Clarity; Diego Fernández Elices , General Director of Investments (CIO).
All of them will be responsible for training future Spanish leaders in technological innovation and circular economy.
Elected among 1957 candidates, Advanced Leadership Foundation (ALF) has selected the 300 Spanish opinion leaders including 3 members of the EIT Climate-KIC Spain team, José Luis Muñoz, the general director, Cliona Howie, Business Development Lead, Sustainable Production Systems, and Guadalupe García, Entrepreneurship Manager & Innovation Ecosystem.
In the words of José Luis Muñoz, “it was an honour to have participated in this summit and to attend the different panels with speakers of such a high level“. For the director general of EIT Climate-KIC Spain, the summit sent a clear message: “We do not have to choose between economic development and caring for the planet. The circular economy makes both things compatible. And this message coincides with the one we have been sending from EIT Climate-KIC for some time now,” he said.
The selection criteria of the candidates has been based on the ability of each of them to share knowledge about technological innovation and circular economy in their areas of influence, their leadership potential, social and community impact, their commitment to the subject and ability to carry out at least 10 talks per year since the end of the Summit. In this way, 3,000 talks will be held with a direct impact on more than 300,000 people throughout the country.
For the President of ALF, Juan Verde, “the transition to the circular economy at local, regional, national and international level necessarily involves the involvement of civil society. Hence the importance of this Summit as a starting point for the birth of a network of opinion leaders with influence among the population”.
The candidates selected to attend the Summit were able to broaden their knowledge with Nobel Laureates, world leaders in green economy and sustainable development, and representatives of national politics and economy.
The Summit of Technological Innovation and Circular Economy has being supported by Air Europa, INCYDE Foundation and the European Social Fund. Other collaborating companies are Amadeus, Ecoembes, Naturhouse, Suez, Zelenza, REE, Aleia Roses, Aborgase and Hispanic American College, among others.
About Advanced Leadership Foundation (ALF)
The Advanced Leadership Foundation (ALF) is a non-profit organization, based in Washington DC and delegations in Madrid and Buenos Aires, committed to the identification and training of world leaders. ALF develops work development programs (professional practices) and executive training programs in the USA. UU and abroad, aimed at providing the necessary tools to young professionals, and the skills and corporate connections to acquire a competitive advantage.