- The “Roads to Development” conference brings together global leaders and institutional leaders at the University of Navarra to address the challenges of human and sustainable development
On October 20 and 21, the University of Navarra hosted the international conference “Roads to Development: Work, Markets, and Institutions,” which brought together more than 450 participants and was supported by the Government of Navarra through Sodena. The event was opened by the president of Navarra, María Chivite, and the rector, María Iraburu, who agreed on the importance of moving towards human and sustainable development that prioritizes the common good and ethics.
The conference, organized in collaboration with Sodena, provided an international forum for reflection on the current challenges of development, integrating dimensions such as health, education, the environment, and institutions. Internationally renowned figures such as Nobel Prize winner in Economics Joseph E. Stiglitz, Jeffrey D. Sachs, and Stefano Zamagni shared their views on the need to strengthen trust in science, cooperation, and the quality of institutions as pillars of social progress.
“Without freedom of thought and social openness, the continuous production of knowledge cannot be maintained,” warned the Nobel laureate, who is also a professor at Columbia University, while pointing out the fragility of institutions even in consolidated democracies.
Joseph E. Stiglitz stated that “development is only possible when accompanied by human development” and that “the economy must serve society, not the other way around.” During his speech, he emphasized that the progress of societies is not based solely on the accumulation of wealth, but on a culture that believes in the human capacity to learn, cooperate, and transform reality.
He recalled that the great leap in well-being experienced by the West since the 19th century was based on the ideals of the Enlightenment, which “taught us that knowledge and reason can improve the world.”
The Minister of Industry, Ecological Transition, and Digital Business, Mikel Irujo, who spoke and introduced Joseph E. Stiglitz, emphasized during his speech that “in Navarre, we offer stability and agility. But above all, we don’t want just any investment. Everything we do is for and by the people. We are committed to values and corporate social responsibility, where I must highlight family businesses and the social economy.”
He also highlighted its university system, “a benchmark in the world,” as well as its seven leading technology centers, including the National Renewable Energy Center, the National Center for Food Technology and Safety, and the Center for Applied Medical Research, associated with this University. “All of this provides the necessary ingredients to aspire to develop a synthetic biology strategy,” he said.
The organization of this conference positions Navarre as an international benchmark in sustainable development and demonstrates Sodena’s commitment not only to sustainability and business growth but also to the integration of other dimensions such as health, education, the environment, and institutions.
