The Universitat Jaume I hosted the fourth edition of the conference "Economic Intelligence: Business Strategies for New Global Challenges," organized by the Vittoriano Bitossi Sustainable Innovation Classroom in collaboration with the Master's Degree in Economic Intelligence at the University of Jaume I.

The event featured a keynote address by Manuel Illueca, president of the Official Credit Institute (ICO), who opened the conference with a presentation focused on the role of the ICO in the new geopolitical context. Illueca emphasized the need to strengthen strategic financing mechanisms for Spanish companies, especially in sectors sensitive to international tensions, the energy transition, housing, and business internationalization. He also highlighted the public nature of the ICO, whose board members are independent professionals who act with management autonomy based on criteria of professionalization and good governance.

Furthermore, the key role that the ICO has played in recent years in areas such as financing during the pandemic, promoting ESG criteria, export support, response to the conflict in Ukraine, guarantee management, and commercial relaunch was highlighted.

The event brought together experts from the business, financial, and academic fields, including representatives from leading companies such as David García of FCC, José Leopoldo López of Banco Santander, Jorge Quintana of ACK3, María Dolores Parra of Colorobbia España, and Javier Ordóñez, director of the Master's Degree in Economic Intelligence at the University of Valencia (UJI).

The roundtable, moderated by Ana Isabel Páramo Carretero, addressed key issues such as risk anticipation, competitive intelligence, and sustainability as a strategic axis. The importance of an organizational structure that encompasses everything from the Board of Directors to all levels of the company was highlighted, integrating economic intelligence as a tool to anticipate geopolitical and economic changes.

Among the main conclusions, attendees agreed that economic intelligence is consolidating as a key tool for decision-making in volatile contexts. They also emphasized that public-private collaboration is essential for strengthening business resilience in the face of global crises. Economic intelligence also represents a long-term competitive advantage when properly integrated into an organization's strategy. Finally, the importance of training in this area was underscored, given that companies increasingly require professionals with skills in strategic analysis and uncertainty management.

Universitat Jaume I–Business Foundation (FUE-UJI) CIF: G-12366993