WBAF announces that Josep Miquel Piqué, 17th President of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) has been recognised as WBAF High Commissioner for promoting and facilitating science and technology parks globally.
Josep Miquel Pique will represent the field of science and technology parks at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum as High Commissioner.
The central line of his activity is the promotion of Knowledge-based Economy and Society in order to consolidate Knowledge Cities on Smart Cities.
He is expert of the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission, member of the Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies of the United Nations Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Executive President of La Salle Technova Barcelona. He was the CEO of the 22@Barcelona and the Office of Economic Growth of the Barcelona City Council.
WBAF announces Josep Miquel Piqué, 17th President of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) will represent the field of science and technology parks at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum as High Commissioner.
Josep Miquel Piqué is a Telecommunication Engineer from La Salle and UPC and MBA from ESADE. He is Doctor on Ecosystems of Innovation from Ramon Llull University. He holds also diplomas from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of California-Berkeley. He is a disciple of Professors Henry Etzkowitz (co-founder of Triple Helix), Francesc Solé Parellada (Entrepreneurship) and Jerome Engel (Clusters of Innovation). He is Executive President of La Salle Technova Barcelona, President of XPCAT (Catalan Network of Science Parks), Vice-President of APTE (Spanish Network of Science Parks) and 17th President of IASP (International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation).
His long professional experience in university management has leaded him to promote and lead Postgraduate Programs, Technology Transfer Centers, University Incubators and Innovation Science and Technology Parks. He has promoted several hybrid organizations taking the partnership model University-Industry-Public Administration. In the field of public administration has been CEO of the District Innovation – 22 @ Barcelona, Director of Strategic Sectors of the Agency of Local Development – Barcelona Activa and CEO of the Office of Economic Growth of the Barcelona City Council. Among other projects he has participated in teams of Barcelona European Capital of Innovation and Barcelona Mobile World Capital.
Baybars Altuntas, WBAF Chairman, says, ‘’I believe that the participation of Josep Miquel Piqué, 17th President of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) in WBAF will bring a wide range of opportunities for startups, scaleups and high-growth businesses that are innovating through innovation and that more doors will open for economic development. Startups, scaleups, entrepreneurs, SMEs and high-growth businesses around the world through innovation will now be able to connect more easily with the global investors market, which will in turn open up splendid opportunities for the world economy”
As an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnerships for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the WBAF supports startups, develops entrepreneurial ecosystems, and helps venture capital and companies connect with international companies, fintechs and other relevant institutions. We are confident about our contribution to the economic development of countries by way of facilitating connections with entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Welcoming Josep Miquel Piqué, 17th President of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP)
It is with sincere pleasure that WBAF welcomes Josep Miquel Piqué, 17th President of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) to the world’s early-stage equity and capital markets. The world economy will be enhanced by espousing the values of Josep Miquel Piqué.
With its 94 High Commissioners, Senators and International Partners in 67 countries and by working together across borders, with a common vision, and with these smart dynamics in mind, we are well placed to bring about positive change in the global economy and to help create new jobs, social justice and freedom all around the world.’’
About the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)
An affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) is an international organisation aiming to ease access to finance for businesses from start-up to scale-up, with the ultimate goal of generating more jobs and more social justice worldwide. It is committed to collaborating globally to empower world economic development by creating innovative financial instruments for innovators, start-ups, and SMEs. The Forum interacts with leaders in all areas of society, first and foremost in business and political spheres, to help assess needs and establish goals, bearing in mind that the public interest is of paramount importance. WBAF engages a wide range of institutions, both public and private, local and international, commercial and academic to help shape the global agenda.
About GPFI
The Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) is an inclusive platform for all G20 countries, interested non-G20 countries, and relevant stakeholders to carry forward work on financial inclusion, including implementation of the G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan endorsed at the G20 Summit in Seoul. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is the Honorary Patron of the GPFI.
