The APB brings together local government, research centres and the private initiative in the 1st Innovation Session

The APB brings together local government, research centres and the private initiative in the 1st Innovation Session

Palma

15/09/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) held the first Innovation Session this morning in its headquarters at the Port of Palma. Under the title "Caminando Juntos Hacia el Puerto del Futuro" [Moving Together Towards the Port of the Future], the session brought together the islands' key stakeholders of economic development: the university, local authority, research centres and private companies.

The event's opening committee had participation from the president of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol; the president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella; the mayor of Palma, Antoni Noguera; the dean of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Llorenç Huguet, General Business Director of Baleària, Víctor Terricabras; and the Director of Operations of Transmediterránea, Ramón Piñeiro.

The president of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol, expressed her desire to "encourage the private initiative to create business clusters and promote innovation, research and employee retention on the Balearic Islands". She also said that "our Government should help companies push these processes towards innovation".

Meanwhile, the mayor of the city, Antoni Noguera, pointed out that the current wave of redevelopment and modernisation sweeping the city of Palma is undoubtedly connected to the evolution of the port as a unifying element of economic development. According to the mayor, it is crucial "to merge the public and private initiative to build a modern and equipped city that is designed to please its citizens".

The president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, drew attention to the list of projects linked to the innovation of the public body. "Our aim is to continue moving towards innovation, which is why we have come to an agreement with the Secretary of State of Investigation, Development and Innovation to move the headquarters of the Oceanographic Centre of the Balearic Islands to the Muelle Viejo of Palma".

Following the opening committee there was a series of talks on the transformation of the city model, or the innovative projects being implemented by the APB alongside other bodies and companies.
The First Innovation Session came to a close with a round table discussion on the new challenges and opportunities that will need to be faced in forthcoming years to contribute to the economic growth of the Balearic Islands will also be debated at the event.
 

Ramon Llull 2030

The initiative forms part of the project known as RamonLlull 2030, which is promoted by the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), the Government of the Balearic Islands, the Chamber of Commerce, the Palma City Council, the Architect Association of the Balearic Islands (COAIB), Endesa and the APB. The project observes and analyses the evolution of the islands' economic model and concludes that the Balearic Islands need to undertake activities that complement the tourism activity, provide added value, contribute to deseasonalisation and, above all, that have zero impact whatsoever on the environment.

The APB has long since participated on and undertaken research and innovation projects. The organising of this session reaffirms the commitment of this public organisation to the progress and to the economic and social future of the islands.