International Seminar on Metropolis for the Future

The Association Bilbao Metropoli-30 holded a new edition of the International Seminar on Metropolis for the Future, within the framework of the Encuentros BM30 Topaketak meetings. It took place, in virtual format, throughout the week of April 26-30 2021, every day from 12:00 to 13:00 (CEST).

This seminar, which was first held in 2018 under the sponsorship of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, addressed different international initiatives linked to global urban challenges, from which useful lessons can be drawn. Therefore, each day of the last week of April, the Association offered a presentation of a different project developed in the international arena followed by a debate with an organization from our environment currently working on a similar topic.

Below are the organizations that participated each day of the week:

Monday, April 26:
Institutional opening: Oihane Agirregoitia, Councillor for Public Services, Civic Engagement and Internationalization at the Bilbao City Council
International presentation: “The Falling Walls Project” by Sebastian Turner, founder of the project
Tuesday, April 27:
Institutional opening: Nora Sarasola, Director of the BBK Foundation
Presentación Internacional: “Social Progress Index” by Fredrik Lindegren, Head of Culture of the City of Umea (Sweden)
Wednesday, April 28:
Institutional opening: Elías Unzueta, Chief Innovation Officer at Petronor Innovación and Coordinator of the H2 Sectorial Forum within the Basque Energy Cluster
International presentation: “Leuven. European Innovation Capital” by Mohamed Ridouani, Mayor of Leuven (Belgium).
Thursday, April 29:
Institutional opening: Leire Bilbao, CEO Innobasque (Basque Innovation Agency)
International presentation: “The Creative Administration project” by Charles Landry, author, speaker and international advisor on creative cities
Friday, April 30:
Institutional opening: Iban Rodríguez, Mayor of Leioa (Bizkaia – Spain)
International presentation: “Child-friendly Cities” by Anuela Ristani, Deputy Mayor of Tirana (Albania)