La Salle Technova Barcelona, the innovation park of La Salle Campus Barcelona, has celebrated one of the events commemorating its 25th anniversary. The campus brought together several generations of entrepreneurs, investors, and academics to honor the journey from university to company creation. “From campus to venture: 25 Years of Tech Entrepreneurship, Investment & Innovation at La Salle Technova Barcelona” served as a convergence of ideas, projects, and conversations to recognize the trajectory of La Salle-URL in the fields of innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship, as well as the people who made it possible.
One of the highlights of the event was the masterclass delivered by Jerome Engel, an international reference in innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture capital; adjunct professor at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business; and honorary doctorate recipient from Universitat Ramon Llull. Engel shared his vision on business growth and the evolution of entrepreneurial ecosystems on a global scale. His presentation, based on experiences from Silicon Valley and other international hubs, emphasized the importance of connecting talent, investment, and knowledge.
During the event, an special award was also presented to La Salle Technova Barcelona, accepted by its executive president, Josep M. Piqué. This award recognizes its contribution to the development of the La Salle-URL innovation park and the growth of the campus, fostering an innovation ecosystem that connects talent, industry, and society. In this regard, the General Director of La Salle-URL, Josep M. Santos, emphasized: “Progress belongs to those who are willing to take a step forward, and today we want to recognize that spirit”.
The event also featured two panel discussions reflecting the diversity and continuity of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The first, focused on the evolution toward scaleups, included experts such as Elena Rico, impact investment lead for Iberia; Xavier Capellades, entrepreneur and former leader of the Technova program; and Tania Sagaste, expert in venture capital and expansion operations. Finally, the second panel featured Carlos Galán Ramón, founder of MENTOR; Max López de Lamadrid, co-founder of Glimmer; and Cristina Grau Vílchez, co-founder of Twintual.
