February 10, 2026
Foz promotes a strategic modernization of its urban water cycle with a new management contract
Yesterday, a conference organized by the Valencian Association of Entrepreneurs took place at the Sabadell Hub (eTA) in collaboration with Fundación LAB Mediterráneo, IVEFA and EY.
The day focused on the challenge that innovation poses for family businesses and included the participation of the CEO of Gimeno GroupMyriam Gimeno, who highlighted during the opening of the meeting that innovation “must be part of the culture and values of the family business and is the lever for differentiation, continuous improvement and growth.”
Following the welcome, Cristina Cruz, director of the IE Center for Families in Business, professor at IE University and author of the report “Family businesses facing the challenge of innovation”, presented the main conclusions of the study carried out and highlighted four strengths common to family businesses that are leaders in innovation, which explain the enhancing effect of the “family factor” on innovation: the long-term vision, the entrepreneurial mindset, the agility in decision-making and the sense of purpose that guides them.
Next, the round table “How and why does the family business innovate?” began, moderated by Christian Moreno, director of senior management, teaching and research programs at EDEM, with the participation of Teresa Cercós, director of Quality, Environment and Innovation at Importaco; Pablo Juan, head of Industrial Organization at Vicky Foods; Javier Romeu, CEO of TIBA; and David Villafranca, general manager of Pinturas Isaval.
They all agreed that innovation has been present in the projects since their inception, which has allowed these family businesses to pass from generation to generation and be the engine of change.
Francisco Vallejo, president of IVEFA, was responsible for closing the event. In his speech, he emphasized that family businesses “have demonstrated resilience, passion for what we do, and a long-term vision.” “We innovate through values management, and we are innovators by tradition.”
