Basque Institute of Competitiveness

What is Orkestra?

Orkestra - Basque Institute of Competitiveness is…

An initiative of the University of Deusto, through the Deusto Foundation, for the study of competitiveness and regional development through different lines of research, with three goals:

Contribute to the improvement of the Basque Country's competitiveness
Promote the improvement of citizens' wellbeing
Create knowledge of regional competitiveness

Formed in 2006, the Orkestra team promotes transformative research. This type of research is defined by analysis, reflection, evaluation and the proposal of actions, in a permanent form, aimed at providing innovative answers for the resolution of the challenges considered, while research knowledge is acquired.

To this end Orkestra, who since its beginnings has been an example of success in public-private cooperation, works with a large number of networks, businesses, governments and institutions on numerous projects. In this way, aside from being an agent of change to drive competitiveness in the Basque Country, it has become today an international model in the analysis of regional competitiveness in a global environment.

Transparency Report 2023 - FUNDACIÓN DEUSTO / DEUSTO FUNDAZIOA

Supporting institutions

Orkestra has the support of public bodies and private benchmark companies concerning territorial competitiveness, which endow this transforming research project with stability. These institutions fulfil an active role in the organisational structure of the Institute and provide essential collaboration in the carrying out of the Institute's projects and activities.

Global partners

Governing bodies

Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Iván Martén Uliarte
Representative of Deusto Foundation

Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors

Emiliano López Atxurra
Petronor Representative
Chairman

Members of the Board of Directors

Ane Agirre Romarate Representative of Deusto Foundation	Jordi Albareda Representative of Deusto Foundation
Mikel Amundarain Leibar EVE Representative General Director	Javier Arellano Yanguas Representative of Deusto Foundation
Andrés Arizkorreta García Representative of Deusto Foundation	Ainara Basurko Urkiri Provincial Council of Bizkaia Representative Deputy for Economic Promotion
Patxi Calleja Mediano Iberdrola Representative Regulation Manager at Iberdrola Spain	Kontxi Claver Zurro Bilbao City Council Representative Councillor for Economic Development, Trade, Employment and Tourism
Jaione Ganzarain Epelde Basque Government Representative Deputy Minister for Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation	Ane insausti Altuna Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa Representative Deputy of Economic Development and Strategic Projects
Víctor Urcelay Yarza Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship and Continuing Education at the University of Deusto	Xabier Sagredo Ormaza BBK Bank Foundation Representative Chairman
Saray Zárate Fernández de Landa Provincial Council of Alava Representative Deputy of Economic Development and Innovation
Unai Alaña Díaz-de-Guereñu Iberdrola Substitute Representative Regulatory Analysis Manager	Unai Andueza Iraeta Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa Substitute Representative General Director of Economic Development
Alberto José Fernández González Basque Government Substitute Representative Technology and Strategy Director	Javier Garcinuño Zabala Bilbao City Council Substitute Representative Director of Bilbao Ekintza
Jon Goikoetxea Goiri BBK Foundation Substitute Representative Director of Research and Strategy	Ander Larrinaga Saiz Provincial Council of Alava Substitute Representative Director of Economic Development and Innovation
Cristina Múgica Vargas Provincial Council of Bizkaia Substitute Representative Director of Territorial Competitiveness and Tourism	Elias Unzueta Etxeita Petronor Substitute Representative Engineering Manager

Honorary Positions

Honorary Chairmen

Ignacio Mª Echeberria Monteberria Chairman of Orkestra from 2011 to 2019	José Luis Larrea Jiménez de Vicuña Chairman of Orkestra from 2006 to 2011
Michael E. Porter Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness (ISC), Universidad de Harvard

Honorary Members

Jon Azua Mendia Chairman of EnovatingLab	José Luis Curbelo Ranero Chairman and CEO of Cofides
José Ignacio Goirigolzarri Tellaeche Chairman of CaixaBank	Guillermo Ulacia Arnaiz

Advisory Board

Members

Christian Ketels (President) Visiting Executive Harvard Business School. Senior Research Fellow Stockholm School of Economics	Ana Teresa T. Lehmann Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Porto
Karen Maguire Acting Head of Division: Local Employment, Skills and Social Innovation at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)	Andrés Rodríguez-Pose Princesa de Asturias Chair and Professor of Economic Geography, London School of Economics
Xabier Goenaga Expert in Innovation Policies, SMEs, 3rd mission of Universities, China R&I and Economic Impact of Policies