Closing Ceremony of the First Edition of the Deusto-Biscay Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network (RIEG)

On 10 July, the University held the closing ceremony of the first edition of the Deusto-Biscay Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network-RIEG, an initiative led by the University of Deusto in collaboration with the Biscay Regional Council. This project aims to attract Latin American STEM talent and strengthen the innovation ecosystem through networked cooperation among all involved stakeholders, with a focus on people. As part of the event, the first cohort of the Dual Master's Degree in Innovation and Technology, a programme that combines academic learning with placements in companies within the business sector in Biscay. 

During the event, María José Aranguren, Vice-Rector for the San Sebastian Campus and Institutional Relations, highlighted the objective of the RIEG network: to attract STEM talent to our territory in a context marked by European demographic challenges. She expressed special thanks to the Biscay Regional Council and its Bizkaia With The Talent initiative for supporting a project that brings together universities, businesses and institutions to drive personal growth, education and collaboration. She also highlighted the cooperation with Jesuit universities in Latin America belonging to the AUSJAL Network and the value of international alliances to transform contexts and generate opportunities.

In this regard, Garbiñe Henry, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, explained that «the Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network was established through the collaboration between the University of Deusto and 14 Jesuit universities in Latin America, with the aim of cooperating and strengthening ties in innovation and entrepreneurship among the different universities. One of its objectives is to attract talent to the region, and to achieve this, the University of Deusto has made the Dual Master’s in Innovation and Technology available to the Network. This year, 21 participants from Latin America with STEM backgrounds or experience have been able to come to Biscay through the programme».

The event also included a panel discussion, chaired by María Lambarri, Director of the Unit for Relations with Social and Economic Agents, during which participants and partner companies from this edition shared their experiences. Representing the companies were Vanessa Magui, Talent Development Manager at Haizea Bilbao, and Xabier Nieto, Deputy Director at Grupo Fertor.

The participants were represented by Julissa Sánchez from Peru, who completed her dual placement at Sidenor, and Paola Ibarra from Mexico, who joined Laboral Kutxa as part of the Master’s programme. A public acknowledgement was also made of the 22 partner companies collaborating in this first edition: Alba Energy, BBVA Technology, CAF Signalling, Deloitte, Grupo Fertor, Gestamp, Haizea Bilbao, Iberdrola, IDOM, Laboral Kutxa, Liftra, N World, NTT Data, Petronor, PharmaBioServ, Saitec, Sener, Sidenor, Tecnalia, Teknei, Vicomtech and Zyonia. 

As a gift and token of appreciation, they were presented with a sustainable design piece made from recycled fishing nets by the startup Gotaa Lab, incubated at Innogune — the University of Deusto’s entrepreneurship hub on the San Sebastian campus.

Next, Andoni Eguíluz, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; Janire Gordon, Master’s Programme Director; and Irene Cuesta, Director of Continuing and Dual Education, presented the diplomas, sashes, and gifts to the Master’s participants. Earlier, the Dean highlighted that this Master’s programme is a clear example of how professionals should be trained to collaboratively transform the business landscape of Biscay. He also highlighted the value of their work in an exponential society that demands young talent capable of facing technological challenges through innovation. The 2024–2025 cohort includes young professionals from five countries — Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina — who have completed their Dual placements at the aforementioned companies.

The day concluded with a talk by José Luis Larrea, Chairman of the Deusto Social Lab Advisory Board and member of the Board of Governors at the University of Deusto, entitled "The challenge of talent: attracting, welcoming and retaining". In his talk, he addressed the major challenges of talent in a transforming world, emphasising the need to attract, welcome and retain people in our regions from a deeply human perspective, and the importance of public institutions, businesses and educational organisations working together in alignment and cooperation to achieve this. He argued that talent is not a resource, but a living, personal, and relational reality that requires bonds, shared purposes, and environments that foster its development.

Finally, Ainara Basurko, Regional Deputy for Economic Promotion of the Biscay Regional Council, spoke positively of public-private collaboration as a driver of regional transformation.

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