What is the IPI?
The Initiative for Productivity and Innovation (IPI) is a project launched by the Cercle d’Economia with the aim of addressing one of Catalonia’s main structural challenges: low productivity.
With a transformative outlook and a strong commitment to impact, the IPI seeks to position Catalonia among the most competitive and innovative regions in Europe by 2030.
To achieve this, it promotes rigorous analysis, dialogue among key stakeholders and the development of concrete proposals to improve economic efficiency, innovation capacity, talent management and the governance of both public and private ecosystems – always guided by a commitment to sustainability.
The IPI is not only a forum for reflection but also a platform for action, designed to generate real change in public policy, the business sector and Catalonia’s production model, consistently keeping the wellbeing and cohesion of society as a whole in mind.
Think tank
Assessment of the impact of R&D funding on business performance.
Backcasting exercises to plan innovation strategies.
International benchmarking with leading regions.
Study of sectoral and territorial variations in productivity.
Action tank
Diagnosis of the innovation ecosystem and proposals for improvement.
Series of sectoral dialogues and debate forums.
Support for scientific spin-offs and knowledge transfer.
New funding mechanisms and support for start-ups and deep-tech ventures.
Development of dual-technology projects.
Team
Advisory Board
The IPI Advisory Board is made up of professionals of recognised standing in the fields of economics, innovation, business and scientific research.
Its role is to provide strategic guidance, contribute expert knowledge and ensure the quality and relevance of the proposals developed.
Chair
Xavier Vives - Professor, IESE Business School
Members:
José Luis Agell — Partner, Pear VC
Oriol Aspachs — Director of Spanish Economy, CaixaBank
Enric Banda — Senior Advisor Barcelona Supercomputing Center & Strategic Advisor at LEITAT Technological Centre
Albert Bravo — Director, Innovation Growth Lab
Clara Campàs — Managing Partner and Co-founder, Asabys Partners
Cristian Canton — Associate Director, Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Xavier Ferràs — Professor of Operations, Innovation and Data Sciences, ESADE
Teresa Garcia-Milà — President of the Cercle d’Economia and Director, Barcelona School of Economics
José A. Garrido — ICREA Research Professor & Vicedirector, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Fina Lladós — Vice President General Manager lberia at Amgen
Núria Mas — Professor and Head of the Department of Economics, IESE Business School
Andreu Mas-Colell — President, BIST
Pedro Mier — Technology Entrepreneur
Miquel Puig — Economist
Roser Roca — Managing Director & CEO, Airbus GeoTech - Barcelona
Israel Ruiz — President, Engine Ventures
Vicente Salas — Emeritus Professor, University of Zaragoza
Maria Terrades — Director General, Parc Científic de Barcelona
Lluís Torner — Founder, Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
This multidisciplinary team provides a plural and rigorous perspective, strengthening the IPI’s role as a reference point for the analysis and design of policies to enhance productivity and innovation in Catalonia.
Executive Committee
Miquel Nadal — Director General, Cercle d’Economia
Xavier Vives — Chair, IPI Advisory Board
Lluís Torrens — Technical Director, IPI
Clara Bassols — Director of Communications, Cercle d’Economia
Alejandro Algaba — Communications Adviser, IPI
Fellows
Manuel García-Santana — Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business of Pompeu Fabra University and Affiliated Researcher at the Centre for Research in International Economics (CREI)
Ricard Gil — Professor in the Department of Strategic Management at IESE Business School
Ramon Xifré — Associate Professor at IQS School of Management, Ramon Llull University
Institutional Council
This body will soon be established and will include representatives from government, universities, technology centres and industry.