Representatives of the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO), the Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER), and the Fundación Innovación y Desarrollo (Innovation and Development Foundation, FIDBAN) held a meeting with the president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Mr. José Luis Bonet, to discuss the strengthening of FIDBAN’s international network.
The Vice Rector of UNEATLANTICO, Ms. Silvia Aparicio, and the President of FUNIBER, Mr. Santos Gracia, together with the Director of Institutional Relations of FUNIBER, Mr. F. Álvaro Durántez, and the Director of FIDBAN, Mr. Diego Lainz, met in Madrid with the President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Mr. José Luis Bonet.
During the meeting, Dr. Gracia highlighted the main strengths of FUNIBER, which stands out as an academic cooperation network with international projection. Through its agreements, projects, and activities, the Foundation has contributed to the socioeconomic development of the more than 30 countries where it is present. In addition, FUNIBER plays an active role in the promotion of scientific and academic research.
FIDBAN, established by a Board of Trustees, which is the governing body of the latter and which currently includes, in addition to the four promoters and founders —-Universidad Europea del Atlántico, SODERCAN, FUNIBER, and CITICAN— representatives of the City Councils of Santander and Torrelavega and the CEOE-CEPYME, is dedicated to creating and promoting an international network that links entrepreneurial projects with capital investors. During its more than five years of activity, it has promoted 20 rounds of investors in the region of Cantabria and close to 10 in Latin America. As a result, numerous project promoters have come forward in search of funding, and approximately 40% of the participating companies remain active.
Strengthening FIDBAN’s international activity was one of the main objectives of the conversation held with the President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. In this sense, we seek to consolidate agreements with business organizations, incubators, and accelerators through the “Capítulos” (Chapters). Therefore, a collaboration agreement with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce could boost and strengthen this objective at the international level.
Likewise, the possibility of UNEATLANTICO and the Chamber of Commerce collaborating in academic training and student internships with the support of FUNIBER was also discussed.