- From 25 to 29 November in Bilbao, Impact Week 2024 will host the main economic stakeholders in sustainable social impact investing, a market that in 2022 generated 80 billion euros in Europe alone
- The programme of activities, featuring over 150 top economic/financial speakers, strengthens Bizkaia’s international position as a pioneering territory in social impact investing
- Over 1,000 people are expected to attend the various organised events
- For more information, visit www.impactweek.eu
Bizkaia will be the international meeting point for Europe’s main economic stakeholders dedicated to mobilising capital for the development of a sustainable economy from 25 to 29 November. A growing market that, according to the latest report published by Impact Europe, the European network that promotes this type of investing, reached 80 billion euros in 2022 in Europe alone.
Impact Week, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is organised by Impact Europe in collaboration with the Bizkaia Provincial Council and the company affiliated with the Department of Economic Promotion’s, Seed Capital Bizkaia. Bilbao-Bizkaia takes over from Turin as the host of this year’s edition due to its outstanding track record in promoting inclusive economic growth.
“Bizkaia is a globally unique example of a regional government powering social impact investing. We are excited to gather our global community of changemakers in Bilbao to learn from impact players in the region and to work collectively for a brighter future”, explained Roberta Bosurgi, CEO at Impact Europe.
Impact Europe brings together over 300 organisations from 35 countries, including foundations, impact funds, corporate impact stakeholders, financial institutions, public financiers, universities, incubators and accelerators and startups, including Seed Capital Bizkaia, which will play a leading role as host of the conference’s 20th edition.
The aim of the forum is to promote investments in the development of projects that facilitate genuine social transformation, addressing issues such as sustainability, the reduction of inequalities and the promotion of the social economy.
A high-impact programme
More than 150 top economic/financial agents will visit Bizkaia from 25 to 29 November to take part in the activities held at the Euskalduna Jauregia Palace, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and BAT, B Accelerator Tower, as part of Impact Week 2024. Over 1,000 people are expected to participate in the various events.
The official conference programme of events will begin on Thursday 28 November at the Euskalduna Palace with a speech from the Deputy General of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe, joined by leading figures in social impact philanthropy globally such as Roberta Bosurgi (Impact Europe), Leslie Johnston (Laudes Foundation), Shiva Dustdar (European Investment Bank Institute) and Adam Weiss (ClientEarth), along with speakers from the Basque Country and Spain including Jon Uriarte (Athletic Club) and Alejandro Oñoro (Ilunion).
In the lead-up to the event, BAT-B Accelerator Tower will host a dozen key impact investment events organised by the Bizkaia Provincial Council through Seed Capital Bizkaia. In these sessions, which will be free to access after registering until capacity is reached, representatives from prominent Basque and Spanish economic/financial entities such as Oxfam, Latimpacto, Microbank and the Impact Foundations Fund, among others, will provide a space for dialogue, the exploration of synergies and new opportunities for fostering a more sustainable economy.
Furthermore, the European Investment Fund, European Commission and European Investment Bank will hold their first impact equity forum, “Making It Count. Impact Equity Forum”, on Tuesday 26 November at the Euskalduna Conference Centre.
Thanks to a full programme of activities, Impact Week 2024 has become the leading forum for impact investing in Europe. The celebration of its 20th anniversary in Bizkaia highlights the territory’s role as a leader in promoting a sustainable economy. You can register to attend Impact Week 2024 by clicking here.
Bizkaia, pioneer in social transformation investing
“Hosting Impact Week will boost Bizkaia’s strategy of positioning itself as a leading ecosystem at European level in investing in social and environmental impact projects with a financial return”, said Ainara Basurko, Bizkaia Provincial Council’s Deputy for Economic Promotion.
The Bizkaia Provincial Council is a pioneering public administration at European level in promoting projects with social impact, establishing itself in recent years as a transformative force that reshapes value creation through public initiatives.
Seed Capital Bizkaia has been managing financial instruments for 35 years with a view to promoting innovation and the regeneration of the region’s business fabric. Along these lines, it supports innovative and sustainable projects in areas such as health, circular economy, education and culture and labour insertion and inclusion.
About Impact Europe
Impact Europe, formerly the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA), is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation focused on promoting impact investing in Europe. It is an international network that brings together over 300 organisations (foundations, impact funds, corporate impact stakeholders, financial institutions, public financiers, universities, incubators and accelerators) from 35 countries. This year it is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It engages in impact investing, a concept that applies venture investment principles and practices to the social and environmental sphere through a strategic, measurable and innovative approach to achieve a significant and sustainable social impact.
About Seed Capital Bizkaia
Seed Capital Bizkaia is a public company attached to the Bizkaia Provincial Council’s Department of Economic Promotion, founded in 1989. It is committed to managing financial instruments in order to promote innovation and the regeneration of the business fabric in Bizkaia. It aims to contribute to the promotion and development of new or existing companies in the territory, supporting projects that have a positive impact on society. Its core values are efficient resource management, quality of service, respect for the environment, social responsibility, transparency and integrity.
