The Minister of Economy and Finance Alícia Romero visits UVic-UCC, where she takes part in a seminar on how the local world can face global challenges

The Minister of Economy and Finance of the Government of Catalonia, Alícia Romero, visited the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) this morning, while attending the seminar titled "New public-private partnerships for addressing global challenges from the local world in environments with shared agendas."  

Alicia Romero was welcomed to UVic-UCC and signed the book of honour in the Sala Mecenes hall in the Casa de Convalescència, where the Rector's Office is based, and was accompanied by Francesc Trillas, the Secretary of Economic Affairs and European Funds; Víctor Soria, the general manager of Economic Activity, and Elia Tortolero, the Catalan Government's representative in Central Catalonia. She was welcomed to the University by the rector of UVic-UCC, Josep Eladi Baños; the president of the Balmes University Foundation and mayor of Vic, Albert Castells; the general manager of the Balmes University Foundation, Jordi Baiget, and the vice-rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer of UVic-UCC, Eva Espasa. Bet Piella, the councillor for Economic Strategy and president of Creacció, was also in attendance.  

The minister subsequently opened the economic seminar, organised by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and UVic-UCC, with a speech entitled "Shared agendas as an instrument for addressing global challenges from the local world." Alicia Romero was accompanied by the president of the Balmes University Foundation and the rector of UVic-UCC in the event's opening session, which took place in the University's Paranymph. 

The key role of universities in creating knowledge in the territory 

Alicia Romero emphasised the idea that "the generation of knowledge that takes place at universities is crucial to be able to provide robust answers to the emerging global challenges of the future, related to mobility, sustainability and food, for example." The minister pointed out the need for networking and collaborative work, and mentioned the role played by Vic and Manresa within the framework of UVic-UCC: "We must be able to share strategies and look for joint solutions in order to move forward and create knowledge, but also be able to transfer it so that it has an impact on the territory." She also said it is necessary to work together on the basis of a public-private partnership for the country's economic development, and to "continue to share agendas in order to be stronger and more resilient." 

In his speech opening the seminar at UVic-UCC, which marked the tenth anniversary years of the university federation agreement, Albert Castells emphasised the ties between the cities of Vic and Manresa and between the Osona and Bages regions, and highlighted "the role played by the University in bringing together and balancing the territory and promoting its social transformation." Castells said that in order to move towards a green, healthy sustainable and more efficient transition, "we need the involvement of all agents in the territory more than ever, and in that regard, the University is more essential than ever."  

Josep Eladi Baños said that the event marked "a turning point for demonstrating universities' commitment to shared agendas," and he emphasised social commitment as UVic-UCC's fourth mission, in addition to teaching, research and knowledge transfer. Baños pointed out that "UVic-UCC is a key player in the socio-economic transformation of the territory thanks to instruments like shared agendas" and that "we will only be able to address future challenges, such as inclusive development models, by working collaboratively." 

Next, the Minister of Economy and Finance visited UVic-UCC's BETA Technology Center in the Can Baumann building in Vic, where she visited the facilities and held a working meeting with its senior managers, Sergio Ponsá, the director of the BETA Technological Center, and Laia Llenas, the assistant director.