Likewise, Felipe VI maintained that “Spain has the opportunity to champion science and technological development with a European seal” and asked to continue promoting scientific notions in adolescence, such as the STEM alliance, which he cited, because “we cannot waste even one iota.” of talent.”
Felipe de Borbón also spoke of strengthening “the bridge between academia and industry” before an eminently scientific audience, since the awards presented at the Lonja de los Mercaderes are intended to promote and enhance the development of scientific knowledge, research, and innovation. technological and cultural, medicine and entrepreneurship.
This year they were Antonio Echavarren Pablos (basic research); Olympia Bover Hidiroglu (economics); Guillermina López-Bendito (medical research); Carlota Escutia Dotti (environmental protection) and Daniel Maspoch Comamala (new technologies). The award-winning Alfonso Jiménez Rodríguez-Vila (entrepreneurship) thanked him for the award on behalf of everyone.
Calling for greater focus on I D i was also the motto of the speech by the president of the Valencian Foundation of the King Jaume I Awards, Vicente Boluda, who pointed out that we must “put aside political disputes and reach agreements that put science, “research and entrepreneurship among the priorities of our nation.”
Boluda said that Spain is “at the bottom of Europe in I D i” and that “we occupy position 41 in the OECD,” and asked that strategies be aligned to advance in science and research. “The countries that advance the most are those that have public policies involved with I D i,” she recalled. And yesterday was the day to demand more efforts, but also to praise the achievements achieved, as the King pointed out when giving as an example the milestone of the Elche company PLD Space, responsible for the launch of Miura 1, the first Spanish rocket.
Also the speech of the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, reinforced the idea of focusing more on science, as he spoke of generating "a friendly environment conducive to innovation and generating, thanks to this, greater wealth and prosperity." Likewise, he highlighted the commitment to knowledge and innovation as a “cross-cutting axis of the future strategy” for any territory that wants to “compete for economic and social leadership.”
Without direct mention, but already appealing to the political context, Mazón also insisted that “there should be no territories that are left behind” and defended that “the prosperity of the Valencian Community will never be complete if it is not the prosperity of Murcia, Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon and Catalonia.”
The head of the Consell also pointed out that the Valencian Community brings together “unique conditions, resources and people to be among the most competitive regions in Europe.” Mayor María José Catalá, as host in the city, highlighted the European Green Capital that Valencia will hold in 2024 and pointed out that the city will contribute to the world “its own narrative, without radicalities that can destroy areas of well-being and always in common agreement with reason and science.”
