Hiriko

Barroso will point out “HIRIKO” as a model of european social innovation

As a tribute to the memory of Diogo Vasconcelos whose visionnary commitment to social innovation has greatly inspired the European Commission, President Barroso will participate on January 24 to the “Global Launch of Hiriko Driving Mobility”, a large scale European social innovation initiative offering a systematic solution to major societal challenges: wurban transportation, pollution and job creation.

The event will take place in Brussels on 24th January. The presentation will be held at the headquarters of the European Commission and will be attended by senior officials dealing with social innovation as well as representatives of regions and municipalities, the industry and investment sectors from all over the world. The Basque authorities, together with the group of entrepreneurs led by Jesus Echave will also be attending the meeting. Diogo Vasconcelos, who died in July at the age of 43, was a renowned innovator, senior manager of the Cisco multinational corporation.

According to Johannes Laitenberger, the chief of staff of the President of the European Commission, “Diogo Vasconcelos has left behind him an empty space in the world of social innovation in Europe. He championed innovative systems that combined economic performance with sustainability and social inclusion. For many of us he was a significant source of inspiration at a time when Europe is forced to confront considerable challenges in a fresh and creative way.”.

Social solutions

According to Jesus Echave, chairman of HIRIKO-AFYPAIDA, “what Europe needs is precisely people like Vasconcelos, people with an ability to address the current challenges with clear and innovative ideas to ensure a social and economic development that is respectful with the planet. The European Commission is a leading actor in the promotion of social innovation. This is why we have chosen this occasion to launch the first HIRIKO prototype in Brussels, with the participation of President Barroso.”.

“HIRIKO is not just an industrial and technological project of the highest level”, Echave says. “It also provides solutions in terms of employment, urban mobility, business cooperation and attention to disadvantaged groups. In HIRIKO we fully apply the concept of “social innovation” to a new product that will allow the big leap forward that is being carried out during this century by intelligent cities and regions in terms of mobility“.

In Brussels, Managers from firms like Guardian, Forging Products, TMA, Ingeinnova, Maser Mic, BRW, Sapa, MIT (USA), Etud, Afypaida and DENOKINN will be attending the event, together with Jesus Echave and Inigo Antia.